Spotlight on the Trailblazers: Celebrating Music’s Visionaries

The Black Sound exhibition is taking place in Coventry to highlight the trailblazers of black British music in the region.

It forms part of a series of events hosted by Coventry University, narrating a century of musical innovation, the organizers announced.

Black music authority Lloyd Bradley remarked: “When individuals think of black British music, places like London, Bristol, Manchester, and Birmingham come to mind, but I feel Coventry’s significance in the narrative is not acknowledged as much as it deserves.”

According to creative director Scott Leonard, this marks the inaugural occasion for the exhibition to be held outside London.

The exhibition, a partnership with the university’s Gallery of Living History, commenced at the Delia Derbyshire building on Saturday and continues until 28 February.

The exhibition traces the evolution of modern black music in Britain from 1919, beginning with the arrival of the Southern Syncopated Orchestra from the United States.

It extends up to the release of We Know It’s Christmas last year – a counterstatement to the 40th anniversary remake of Band Aid’s Do They Know It’s Christmas by British-Ghanaian artist Fuse ODG.

The organizers indicated that Coventry, known as the birthplace of 2 Tone, was perfectly situated to host the event, which will also explore the broader black music heritage of the city.

2 Tone music originated in Coventry during the 1970s and was a fusion of Jamaican reggae, ska, and British punk styles.

Panel discussions are scheduled for 7 and 8 February, alongside films and lectures.

Live presentations will feature the Coventry Youth Orchestra and contemporary performers including Danniella Dee, a founding member of Coventry’s all-female dub collective, Sisters in Dub.

The concluding event will be a Heritage Collection Day on 8 February, where attendees can bring items or memorabilia to be scanned, ensuring their digital preservation for future generations to explore.