Let's Go Yorkshire Sound System Culture National Tour

In 2013, Let's Go Yorkshire developed an arts and heritage project named Sound System Culture in Huddersfield, where for many years a thriving sound system scene existed, out of all proportion to the size of the town. The project revisited an era when Jamaicans played their music at dances in Venn Street nightclub that helped put the town on the British reggae map. Huddersfield played host to many of the biggest names in reggae music, including singing artists, sound systems and bands, throughout the 1970s and ‘80s. Many artists would insist on playing at Venn Street when arranging a UK tour, due to the size of the crowd in attendance and the legendary northern hospitality.

To chart the untold history of reggae music and sound systems in this northern town LGY developed a collection of oral histories and a photographic exhibition accompanied by a book, film and interactive sound installation. The installation consisted of a traditional sound system, a turntable and a stack of 10-inch dubplate vinyl which included sound bites from the people interviewed for the project. The installation toured the carnival circuit in the north of England in 2013.

In 2014, the project expanded into a national tour, to document the vibrant sound system culture of Bristol, Birmingham and London, culminating in three new exhibitions reflecting the sound system scenes of these cities. Venues supporting the tour included Colston Hall (Bristol), The Drum (Birmingham) and The Tabernacle (London). These large, well established venues allowed us to engage diverse audiences with this important and largely undocumented social history.

View my website http://soundsystemcultureblog.tumblr.com/