Black Sound London: A Century of British Black Music Takes Centre Stage at the Barbican
The influence of British black music and black sounds runs deep. From jazz, reggae, and soul to grime, drill, and Afrobeats, the genres pioneered by black artists have shaped UK culture for over 100 years. A new free exhibition at Barbican Music Library, opening 10th March, explores the artists, communities, and moments that helped define the country’s musical landscape.
Curated by Lloyd Bradley, one of the UK’s leading historians of black British music, ‘Black Sound London’ brings together rare records, posters, film footage, and first-hand accounts from the people who lived through these cultural movements. The exhibition covers key figures such as Lord Kitchener, Eddy Grant, Jazzie B, Ms Dynamite, Dizzee Rascal, and Central Cee, showing how their work built upon the foundations of past generations.
“Too often, British black music history is told by those who weren’t part of it,” says Bradley. “This exhibition hands back the narrative to the community that shaped it, ensuring these stories are recorded by the people who lived them.”
The exhibition will explore how pirate radio, independent record shops, and grassroots venues gave British black artists a voice long before mainstream platforms caught on. Visitors will see how underground movements became global successes—turning once niche sounds into some of the UK’s most celebrated musical exports.
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Chris Hayward, Policy Chairman of the City of London Corporation, highlights the importance of the exhibition, saying:
“This is more than just a history of music—it’s a story of resilience, creativity, and community. ‘Black Sound London’ shows how British black music shaped the country’s cultural identity and continues to inspire artists worldwide.”
Step Into Music History
This exhibition is about preserving history for future generations. That’s why it features two Heritage Collection Days, where visitors can bring their own memorabilia, gig tickets, flyers, vinyl, or photographs, to be 3D-scanned and archived as part of British black music history.
Got a piece of British black music history? Bring it along and be part of the archive.
Heritage Collection Days – Dates Announced Soon
🔗 More info at Barbican Music Library.
“If we don’t preserve these stories, they will disappear,” says Bradley. “This is a chance for people who were there—who lived this music—to contribute to an archive that will ensure these moments are never forgotten.”
A Legacy Built on Community
The journey of British black music spans more than a century, beginning with the arrival of the Southern Syncopated Orchestra in 1919, continuing through the sound system culture of the Windrush generation, and evolving into the global rise of grime, drill, and Afrobeats.
It wasn’t an easy road. With little mainstream representation, artists and producers had to build their own networks. From recording studios in council flats to pirate radio stations broadcasting from rooftops, the community found ways to make itself heard.
“We had no industry backing, no major platforms,” says a former pirate radio DJ featured in the exhibition. “We built everything ourselves—because we had to. But that’s why British black music is what it is today.”
The exhibition shows us how these efforts paid off. Today, British black artists are among the biggest names in the industry, shaping not just UK culture, but global music trends.
Be Part of the Story
Whether you’re a lifelong fan or discovering these genres for the first time, ‘Black Sound London’ offers a unique look at a deep-rooted musical legacy. Through photographs, film, sound recordings, and personal accounts, the exhibition tells the story of British black music as it should be told, by the people who made it happen.
For full details, visit Barbican Music Library.
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