National touring exhibition Lets Play Vinyl launches with public event celebrating UK sound systems

A free public event entitled ‘Talking Sound Systems’ will be held at Attenborough Arts Centre to launch national touring exhibition Let’s Play Vinyl on Saturday 14 October from 1.00- 2.30 pm in the Princess Diana Hall.

Music experts will gather to discuss the pioneering role that sound systems play in black music, and the impact that they continue to make on the industry as a whole. The event will open with a round-table discussion, with industry experts examining the past, present and future of UK sound systems.

Immediately after the round-table, from 3:00pm until 6:00pm, attendees and guests will have the chance to bring and spin their own reggae vinyl on the Heritage Hifi interactive sound system.

Professor Mark Banks, Director of the CAMEo Research Institute for Cultural and Media Economies, said:  “The history of sound systems is a fascinating story of the ways in which black music helped to shape UK cities, their communities and patterns of cultural production, and the fact that they continue to thrive and move in new directions is testament to their enduring value and influence.

“As partners on the AHRC Bass Culture project and in support of Let's Play Vinyl we wanted to organise a public event that showcases the sound systems of today and considers their creative and commercial future.”