From April 26th to August 26th, the British Library will be home to Beyond the Bassline, the first major exhibition documenting “the influence of Black British musicians, creatives and entrepreneurs on popular music since the 16th-century.”

Beyond the Bassline will feature more than 200 exhibits which bring this rich history to life through a range of mediums including interviews, memorabilia, costumes, visual art, musical instruments, and much more. 

The exhibition will also include new works, created by the likes of Jukebox Collective, Rastafari Movement UK Wellbeing, Friendly Pressure, and Khadijah Ibrahiim, in order to compliment the archival work featured. 

Accompanying Beyond the Bassline will be a number of live performances, club takeovers, and in conversation events, offering additional ways for people to get involved beyond just visiting the exhibition.  

Given the underlying goal of Beyond the Bassline, it’s only fitting that the exhibition’s final day is also the second day of Notting Hill Carnival.