A major exhibition documenting 500 years of Black music in Britain is heading to the British Library this spring. Beyond the Bassline takes inspiration from the British Library’s sound archive to tell the stories of the people, spaces and genres that have transformed the landscape of British music, and is the first major exhibition of its kind.
On from April 26 to August 26, the exhibition will span classical, gospel and jazz through to reggae, jungle and afroswing, exploring the influence of Black British musicians and creatives since the 16th century. Beyond the Bassline highlights the spaces – physical, digital, and symbolic – that have nurtured creative expression and inspired numerous Black British music genres, from The Reno in Manchester, Bristol’s Bamboo Club, and The Four Aces in London, to carnivals, community centres and record shops across the country.
Featuring over 200 exhibits, Beyond the Bassline includes audiovisual material showcasing interviews, performances, and footage from significant events such as the MOBO Awards and Top of the Pops, along with collectables and memorabilia from historic venues and objects retrieved from the demolished basement of The Reno in Manchester. Visual art by renowned artists like Errol Lloyd and Denzil Forrester will be featured as well as musical instruments from renowned artists including a double bass belonging to Gary Crosby and a 1950s steelpan from the Horniman Museum.
Accompanying the exhibition is a dynamic program of public events, including live performances, club takeovers, and in-conversation with events with prominent singer-songwriters like Eddy Grant and Joan Armatrading.
Visitors will also experience a specially commissioned film, “iwokyi: within the echo,” exploring the transformative power of Black British music to shape future narratives. Produced by NOIR and featuring an original score by Melo-Zed, the film is a collaboration between directors Tayo Rapoport and Rohan Ayinde, alongside the South London-based curatorial platform Touching Base.
Throughout the exhibition, new soundscapes, artworks, and films created by community-rooted groups like Jukebox Collective and Rastafari Movement UK Wellbeing, as well as individuals like Khadijah Ibrahim, offer fresh perspectives on Black British identity through the lens of music.
Curated by Dr Aleema Gray at the British Library in collaboration with Mykaell Riley at the University of Westminster, Beyond the Bassline follows a three-year partnership to research, foreground and reposition six centuries of African musical contributions to the UK.
Dr Aleema Gray, lead curator of Beyond the Bassline at the British Library, said: ‘The exhibition represents a timely opportunity to broaden our understanding of Black British music and situate it within a historical conversation. Black British music is more than a soundtrack. It has formed part of an expansive cultural industry that transformed British culture.’
Beyond the Bassline tickets are currently on sale and cost £15 with concessions available. There will be Pay What You Can days on the first Wednesday of every month. Find tickets here.
Find the British Library at 96 Euston Road, NW1 2DB.