26.04.24
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On view now at the British Library, Beyond the Bassline uses photography, immersive soundscapes, and films to celebrate the rich cultural and sonic legacy of the UK’s Black communities.

Beyond the Bassline, a new exhibition celebrating five centuries of Black British music has opened today at London’s British Library.

Curated by Dr Aleema Gray, in collaboration with Dr Mykaell Riley, it uses art & photography, soundscapes, artefacts and film productions to trace the rich history and influence of the UK’s Black communities on music and culture.

It explores the stories and work of important characters and musicians throughout history, with the likes of 18th century composer Ignatius Sancho and Dame Shirley Bassey featuring, as well as the peaks of the calypso, jazz, grime, and jungle movements.

  • Amanda Ira Aldrigde aka Montague Ring (1866-1956), opera singer, pianist and voice teacher. Image public domain

  • Girl selecting a record, beneath Jimmy Cliff poster, in record shop. Photo by Richard Saunders 1983

  • Steel Pulse photosession in Handsworth Birmingham 1978

Collaborators include South London platform and collective Touching Bass, who worked with filmmakers Tayo Rapoport and Rohan Ayinde to create and present a multi-screen installation at the end of the exhibition, while a corresponding book has also been published with a series of essays, features and interviews.

Speaking to Crack, Dr Gray said: “What we’re trying to do [is] expand what perceptions of Black British music is – we’re looking at music as a conversation, we’re looking at it as a vehicle for community. We start out in the 15th century and we take it right the way up to contemporary genres, such as grime, jungle [and] afroswing.”

Also celebrated are the Black spaces at the centre of innovation, from the clubs, carnivals and studios to the kerbsides where music has been made and shared. “We feature a lot of club spaces throughout the show, and I think the one that I’m personally drawn to is the Four Aces, which was founded by Newton Dunbar in East London.

“It was one of the first Black owned clubs in Dalston and it was the first place that you [could] go to hear Black musicians performing such as Jimmy Cliff and The Israelites,” she continued. “We’ve done this exhibition because now is the time and the time is now – to record, document our stories, of African and Caribbean culture.

“There is so much richness and diversity but it’s not being documented or cared for, and I think bringing this exhibition to life is a way to think about what does preservation mean in the context of popular British culture.”

Tickets for Beyond the Bassline are available via its official website, while the institution is also presenting a series of talks and gigs to go alongside the exhibition. Explore those here.