For centuries, Black communities have created music in the UK, melding global influences into a Black British sound that has echoed through generations.
Beyond the Bassline: 500 Years of Black British Music at the British Library is the first major exhibition of its kind anywhere in the world. It is about more than just music. It’s about the places where these sounds were born: the clubs, the carnivals and the stages. It is the voice of community, resistance, culture and joy. It is a celebration of the trailblazers and innovators that brought new music to the UK, and the layered Black experiences that have birthed a thriving musical culture and history.
This pop-up display from the Living Knowledge Network is brought to Bradford through a partnership between the British Library and Bradford Literature Festival. The Living Knowledge Network is a UK-wide partnership of national and public libraries, which supports libraries to meaningfully connect with their communities by expanding access to inspiring experiences and sharing the UK’s national heritage.
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