Ticket stubs, flyers, signed LPs, and vivid memories of meeting a music legend are among the items and experiences being sought by the curators of Barbican Music Library’s current free exhibition.
Lloyd Bradley and Scott Leonard, who are presenting a celebration of British black music, ‘Black Sound London’, are asking fans to bring a particular memory of London’s black music scene and a cherished piece of memorabilia to a ‘Heritage Collection Day’ this Saturday (14 June) and Saturday 5 July, both held from 11am to 3.45pm.
During their visit to the Corporation-owned library, the item will be 2-D or 3-D scanned and the fan interviewed about their recollections, in order to preserve their story for future generations.
The exhibition shows how, over the course of a century, British black music went from flourishing underground to emerging on its own terms on to the main stage.
Author of ‘Bass Culture: When Reggae Was King and Sounds Like London: 100 Years of Black Music in the Capital’ and exhibition co-curator, Lloyd Bradley, said:
“Whether it’s an autograph from a concert framed on a bedroom wall, an old ticket folded carefully in a wallet or purse, or remembering a chance encounter with a major star, we want to see these items and preserve the stories behind them before they disappear forever.
“We want to know what it meant to come face-to-face with a legend, be lost ‘in the moment’ at some intimate underground gig, or to feel the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end when you heard ‘your’ song being played on pirate radio.
“These exhibitions and our heritage collection days are valuable, because they enable and empower the British black music community to tell their stories of what the music scene was like, and what it meant to them.”
The exhibition at Barbican Music Library supports Destination City, the City Corporation’s growth strategy for the Square Mile.
Chairman of the Corporation’s Culture, Heritage, and Libraries Committee, Brendan Barns, said:
“Fans of British black music should make the most of this unique opportunity to contribute to music history by telling their stories and having one of their treasured belongings preserved for Black Sound UK’s archives.
“In the meantime, visitors to the library’s free exhibition have been enjoying their trip down memory lane and learning more about the genre’s beginnings, and how it has flourished over the last century.
“Attracting businesses, workers, and visitors will ensure that the City continues to play a leading role in driving the London’s and UK’s economy. Exhibitions like this one are bringing people back to the office throughout the week and boosting footfall on Mondays and Fridays.”
The Corporation is one of the largest funders of heritage and cultural activities in the UK, investing over £130m every year.
The City Corporation manages a range of world-class cultural and heritage institutions, including the Barbican Centre, Tower Bridge, Guildhall School of Music & Drama, Guildhall Art Gallery and London’s Roman Amphitheatre, The London Archives, and Keats House. We also support the London Museum and are the principal funder of the London Symphony Orchestra, based at the Barbican Centre.
ENDS
';
