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Ticket Prices, Opening Times, Directions and More. Plan Your Visit ADMISSION PRICES Book Online & Save No advance booking fee. Each general entry ticket to the BME is valid for 12 months. You can return as many times as you like during regular operating hours. ID is required on each return visit. Gift Aid: The BME will receive 25p for every £1 of your ticket purchase if you are a UK taxpayer and agree to gift aid your ticket. We use these funds to support the Museum and continue growing our collection. Download your declaration and return it to us when you arrive or we will supply you with a declaration on arrival. Thank you for your support. OPENING TIMES January–March Open Wednesday to Sunday (Closed Monday and Tuesday) Exception: We are also open on Monday 16 and Tuesday 17 February. 30 March–4 September Open seven days a week. Online booking for Spring/Summer 2026 coming soon. Daily hours: 10:00am–5:00pm Last entry: 4:15pm Recommended visit time: 90 minutes Star Café & Bar: Open until 4:30pm. More info. For full details, click Book Now at the top of the page and scroll through the calendar. PLANNED CLOSURES From time to time the Museum has a planned closure for a private hire or install. Always check the website before travelling and book in advance to avoid disappointment. Closed Tuesday 12 May, Monday 8 June and Tuesday 9 June for exhibition install. Discover the history of British Rock and Pop with your smartphone. Download the free Smartify app and hear about how popular music not only reflected the society in which it was made but also helped to shape it, from 1945 to the present day. It’s a journey that takes in Rock & Roll, Mod, Glam, Punk, Heavy Metal, New Romantics, Boybands, Girl Bands, Indie Bands, Dance and more! The audio tour will tell you more about the subject of each gallery and give you the opportunity to learn more about some of the items on display. To use Smartify in the Galleries, scan the QR code at the start of your journey and follow the tour around the museum. Please bring your own headphones to get the best experience. AUDIO TOUR ACCESSIBILTY We aim to ensure all of our visitors' access requirements are fully met. Click through to accessibility for more information. Please feel free to contact us to discuss your requirements. GROUP VISITS The British Music Experience is an ideal day out for groups of all ages. Groups of 10+ adults receive discounted entry. For coach parking, please see Getting Here below. For all group, school and travel trade enquiries, contact info@britishmusicexperience.com GETTING HERE How to Find Us The British Music Experience is based in the Cunard Building, Pier Head, Liverpool Waterfront. The main entrance is located on Canada Boulevard, on the river side of the building, opposite the Mersey Ferry terminal. For visitors with special mobility requirements, we have an accessible entrance at the side of the building on Brunswick Street. Please ask staff at our main entrance and they will be happy to assist. Public Transport Multiple train providers have services to Liverpool Lime Street including Avanti, London Midland, TransPennine Express, Northern Rail and London Northwestern Railway. Merseyrail's James Street and Moorfields stations are the nearest stations. All buses into Liverpool drop-off at the Liverpool ONE bus station adjacent to the Albert Dock on the Liverpool Waterfront. Boat The Cunard Building is directly opposite the Mersey Ferry terminal. Road Follow signs to the Waterfront, Albert Dock and Mersey Ferries. Access to the Cunard Building is via Brunswick Street only. There is limited on-street metered parking (£10 for up to four hours) along both sides and at the front of the building. There are six disabled bays on Brunswick Street and one on Water Street. Parking charges apply from 7am to 11pm, 7 days a week. There are a range of car parks across the Waterfront. For more information on car parking click here . Why not use Q-Park and receive 10% discount on all parking products! When pre-booking your car parking, just quote LIVBME. Click here to book. Coach Parking A short-stay coach drop-off point is available for pre-booked groups outside our main entrance on Canada Boulevard. Longer stay coach parking is available across Liverpool and there is a dedicated coach park at Kings Dock. For more information on coach parking in Liverpool, please refer to the Liverpool Groups Guide . ! Widget Didn’t Load Check your internet and refresh this page. If that doesn’t work, contact us.

See You Down the Front Podcast present a night of acoustic music from four aclaimed North-West artists. Absolute Acoustic 29 January 2022 - 7pm We’re delighted to welcome back the See You Down The Front podcast for a second Absolute Acoustic evening at BME. Headlining will be Ivan Campo, an Indie folk trio who met in the city of Preston whilst studying contemporary music at the University of Central Lancashire. The band had the pleasure of supporting Shack and The Pale Fountains between 2007 - 2008 and this will be their first gig back in Liverpool for 10 years. Their latest track 'The Girl Who Dreamed', with its light and uplifting aesthetic that combines wistful guitar hooks and sweeping vocals, is the first in a string of songs planned for release leading up to their tenth album. Their last album 'Season of the King' secured the band a 4th live session on BBC 6 Music, as well as a special appearance on prime-time Spanish TV programme, Late Motiv, performing 'The Bloodhound and the Fox'. Alongside them on the bill is Galileo Girl, artist name for the psych folk solo work of Abigail Woods, a Liverpool-based musician. Influenced by the Pentangle, Sandy Denny, P.J Harvey and Bjork, Galileo Girl has performed solo and with guests for fundraising and artistic events in Liverpool and Chester, and as part of the Brighter Sounds artistic residency lead by Welsh artist Gwenno. This residency culminated in a performance at Liverpool’s Sound City festival in 2019. Always willing to embrace collaboration, electronica, and spoken word, Galileo Girl aims to make acoustic meditative music that transports audiences to another place and time. Also appearing will be Matthew McGurty, a singer-songwriter from Liverpool. His debut album ‘Unravelling’ is an eclectic mix of early pop influences intertwined with folk, blues and jazz elements that create a unique yet familiar and sentimental sound. His follow-up album, is due to be recorded next summer and he’ll be previewing some of the songs written for it at this show. In recent years Matthew has played in venues across the UK, most notably in the O2 Academy in his home city of Liverpool supporting the great country artist Hank Wangford, headlining a stage at Threshold Festival and a set at the wonderful Southwell folk festival. Opening the evening will be another performer on home ground in Liverpool – Esme Bridie. Esme creates raw and honest songs with intricate guitar lines and emotive vocals. Her lilting singer-songwriter style is characterized with elements of jazz, rock and pop. Esme writes about hope, feminism and resilience. Her music is delicate yet at the same time, strong. In her live shows the young performer draws audiences in with her touchingly personal style and entrances them with exciting guitar lines and driving band arrangements. Tickets £10 - on sale Monday 20 December, 10am Doors 6.45pm. Curfew 10.15pm. Please note, our museum galleries are closed during events. Ivan Campo Matthew McGurty Galileo Girl Esme Bridie

Events Archive- Souvenir: 40 Years of OMD Souvenir- 40 Years of OMD Oct 2019 -Jan 2020 Liverpool’s British Music Experience Unveils a Brand New Exhibition Souvenir: 40 Years of OMD Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark (OMD) continue their 40th anniversary celebrations with an exhibition marking the band’s impressive legacy at the British Music Experience, the Cunard Building, Liverpool. The exhibition kicks off with a private view on October 10 and opens to the public on October 11 and will run through the end of the year. The news of the exhibition, Souvenir: 40 Years of OMD, is another exciting installment of the band’s anniversary celebrations which first saw the reissue of their first four classic albums on 180g vinyl, mastered at half speed by Miles Showell at Abbey Road and housed in their original iconic die cut sleeves designed by the legendary Peter Saville, followed by the huge world tour. The band, Andy McCluskey, Paul Humphreys, Martin Cooper and Stuart Kershaw will be starting the tour in October in Portugal, stretching through to February 2020 finishing in Paris and including 21 UK dates. The band have also just announced the release of a special box set. OMD have sold an astonishing 25 million singles and 15 million albums, which has established them as electronic synthesiser pioneers and one of Britain’s best-loved pop groups. Their 13 albums include recently reissued ‘Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark’ (1980), ‘Organisation’ (1980), ‘Architecture & Morality’ (1981) and ‘Dazzle Ships’ (1983). The opening night of the exhibition will consist of a private view of the exhibition (attendees will also be able to browse the incredible BME collection too) and a Q&A with Andy McCluskey and Paul Humphreys. Items on display include the bands’ instruments, stage outfits, prints, posters and Andy’s binders full of ideas, photos and press cuttings. Also included is the Vox Jaguar Organ on which Paul played Electricity, Messages and Enola Gay and the 1974 Fender Jazz Bass played by Andy on Enola Gay, Messages, Souvenir, Joan of Arc and Tesla Girls. To complement the exhibits, there will be a short film featuring live footage of the band on the main stage screen at regular intervals throughout the day, and interactives that let you hear how the most iconic instruments on display sounded in the original recordings. The Merch Store will have a great range of OMD items for sale, including t-shirts, prints, limited edition box sets and books. Founding band member Andy McCluskey commented “A one-off concert at Eric's Club in Mathew Street in October 1978 just to satisfy our need to be able to say "at least played our crazy songs live", turned into a remarkable 40-year odyssey. We are honoured to have an exhibition at BME in Liverpool celebrating the journey from a two-piece experimental band with a borrowed tape recorder, through all the hits and world tours. It is incredible to look back at the primitive instruments on display and remember that it was with this miscellaneous collection of decaying junk that we set out to "change the world!" Harvey Goldsmith, CBE, Chair of the Trustees for the British Music Experience said “We are thrilled to celebrate OMD’s 40 years with this exhibition. This much-loved band formed in the Wirral will shine a light on the extremely popular electronic synth music of the ‘80s. A must for all fans.” Kevin McManus, Head of UNESCO City of Music for Liverpool welcomed the exhibition to the city saying, “OMD are one of the great Liverpool groups so it is only fitting that they are celebrating their anniversary in the city. The BME is the perfect place for what is a unique exhibition and a fascinating insight into an extraordinary 40-year career that has made OMD well known across the world. I was lucky enough to see them in their very early days and we should recognise them not just for their great songs but for their role as pioneers of British electro/synth pop.” Tickets go on sale for the opening event on the 10th October 2019 on Friday 30th August at 10:00am, and are priced at £10 each. Souvenir: 40 Years of OMD will close on Jan 5 2020. About OMD Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD) are an English electronic band formed in Wirral, Merseyside in 1978. Spawned by earlier group The Id, the outfit is composed of co-founders Andy McCluskey (vocals, bass guitar) and Paul Humphreys (keyboards, vocals), along with Martin Cooper (various instruments) and Stuart Kershaw (drums); OMD released their debut single, "Electricity", in 1979 on the iconic Factory Records label, and gained popularity throughout Europe with the 1980 song "Enola Gay". The band achieved broader recognition via their album Architecture & Morality (1981) and its three singles, all of which were international hits. https://store.omd.uk.com

Opportunities to work at the BME, on either a contracted or volunteer basis Opportunities The British Music Experience is the UK’s Museum of Popular Music – a place where visitors relive the moments that helped put UK music on the map. Boasting an unrivalled collection of stage outfits, objects and instruments, the museum charts the beginnings, rise and influence of British pop from 1945 to the present day. The Museum includes galleries, learning zones, audio visual experiences, an interactive instrument studio, a dance area and a live music venue. The Learning and Public Programmes, together with our temporary exhibitions further enrich the visitor experience through a range of events; from educational workshops for school children, to master classes and gigs hosted by industry experts. Finally, there is a gift shop filled with the best of music heritage merch and a café, open to the general public, overlooking the Mersey. Find out more about our latest opportunities. Volunteers As a volunteer at the BME, you'll get the chance to: Gain behind-the-scenes experience, meet other music enthusiasts, help visitors discover the stories of iconic artists and their influence on music history and be a part of preserving British music culture. Head over to our Volunteer page for more information. .

Award-winning author and comedian Marc Burrows celebrates his new book, Mistletoe & Vinyl: The Story of the Christmas No.1 with an evening of comedy and Christmas songs. Marc Burrows Mistletoe & Vinyl: The Story of the Christmas Number One Wednesday 10 December - from 7.30pm Are you hanging up your stocking on the wall? Award winning author and comedian Marc Burrows celebrates his new book, Mistletoe & Vinyl: The Story of the Christmas Number One with an evening of comedy and Christmas songs, taking a deep dive into this most British of festive traditions. Explore the stories and the songs behind the soundtrack that makes Christmas, well, Christmas. The festive top spot was something that, prior to 1973, wasn’t particularly important but has since become a cornerstone of the December news cycle and, for years, an annual cultural moment … that may have reached the end of its life … He traces the origins of the concept, through the Beatles and the-years-when-it-wasn’t-really-a-thing, the Glam rock boom, Band Aid, novelty records, the X-Factor years and the awful Sausage Roll charity records of the 2020s, supported by interviews with figures involved in some of the most iconic hits and notable chart battles of the past half century and obsessive, in-depth research. He explores the sometimes fascinating and sometimes weird and unlikely stories behind some of the most beloved (and some of the most utterly loathed) songs in British musical history. “An essential guide for those of us who hate or indeed love this annual struggle for artistic commercial dominance. It will answer some questions, settle some arguments, but I sense, will start many more” - Phill Jupitus About Marc Burrows: Marc Burrows is an award-winning author, comedian and music journalist based in Bristol. His books on David Bowie & Marc Bolan, Manic Street Preachers and Nirvana have received rave reviews and his 2020 biography of Sir Terry Pratchett won the Locus Award for Best Non-Fiction book, with the stand-up show of the same name selling 15,000 tickets and counting. “A joyous tribute … Magical” - Sunday Times “Full of Joyous Enthusiasm” - Broadway Baby “Unmissable” ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ - Three Weeks ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ - Edinburgh Reviews The show will be followed by a book signing with Marc. Books will be available to purchase at the event from Linghams Bookshop. All tickets £10 - books sold separately. BOOK NOW Please note our museum galleries are closed during all evening events.

PRIVACY POLICY British Music Experience is committed to safeguarding your privacy online. We’ll always keep your data safe and secure. Please read the following to understand how your personal information will be treated and how we use it. 1. The important stuff We will only use your data to give you information about British Music Experience. 2. Locked down We’ll protect your data like it’s our own. 3. No spam You decide what and how you hear from us. You can unsubscribe at any time. 4. Just the essentials Once we no longer need you information, we won't keep it without your permission. 5. Got a question? You can contact our privacy team by dropping us a line at info@britishmusicexperience.com or calling 0151 519 0915. Or if you’d like to, you can write to us at: The British Music Expeience Cunard Building Liverpool L3 1DS UK What personally identifiable information is collected from you What cookies are and how they are used Who is collecting the information? How the information is used With whom the information may be shared What choices are available to you regarding collection, use and distribution of your information? How you can access, update or delete your information What security procedures are in place to protect the loss, misuse or alteration of the information? How British Music Experience protects children’s privacy What personally identifiable information is collected from you? The British Music Experience collects information in a variety of ways from different parts of the service. Some information is gathered when you register. During registration to the mailing list, British Music Experience asks for your email only. From time to time, we may ask you for personal information, including (but not limited to) when you enter a contest or promotion sponsored by British Music Experience. If you contact British Music Experience, we may keep a record of that correspondence. 2. What are cookies and how are they used? British Music Experience uses cookies to store information about you. A cookie is a small amount of data that is sent to your browser from a web server and stored on your computer. www.britishmusicexperience.com uses cookies to tell whether a website user has logged-in, where to find details that can be used to pre-fill parts on on-line forms and to personalise your visit to the website. They are also used to track anonymously which areas of the site are popular and which are not used; this allows us to monitor and improve the navigation and content of the site. Internet browsers normally accept cookies by default; however, it is possible to set a browser to reject cookies. 3. Who is collecting the information? When you are on the British Music Experience website and are asked for personal information by British Music Experience, you are sharing that information with British Music Experience alone, unless it is specifically stated otherwise. We will never share your data with a third party without your permission. 4. How is the information used? British Music Experience’s primary goal in collecting personal information is to provide you, with a customised experience. By knowing a little bit about you, the British Music Experience is able to deliver more relevant content and, hence, a better service to you. British Music Experience also does research on our member’s demographics, interests and behaviour based on the information provided to us upon registration to the mailing lists, during a promotion, from our server logs or from surveys. We do this to better understand our users. This research is compiled and analysed on an aggregated basis. 5. With whom may the information be shared? As a general rule, British Music Experience will not disclose any of your personally identifiable information except when we have your permission or under special circumstances, such as that the law requires it. British Music Experience may preserve content and may disclose content to any third party if required to so by law or belief that such preservation or disclosure is necessary to: a) comply with legal process b) enforce the Terms of Service c) protect the rights, property, or personal safety of British Music Experience, it’s members and the public 6. What are the choices available to you regarding collection, use and distribution of your information? If you do not wish to receive our mailings, you can unsubscribe at any time by clicking on the “unsubscribe” link included on all communications. You also have choices regarding cookies. By modifying your browser preferences, you have the choice to accept all cookies, to be notified when a cookie is set or to reject all cookies. If you choose to reject all cookies, you will be unable to use the parts of the British Music Experience service that requires registration in order to participate. British Music Experience does not sell or rent user information to anyone. Your rights You have a lot of rights relating to your personal information: The right to be informed about how your personal information is being used (like this notice!) The right to access the personal information we hold about you The right to request the correction of inaccurate personal information we hold about you. The right to request that we delete your data. The right to stop direct marketing messages, which you can do by unsubscribing. The right to complain to your data protection regulator — in the UK, the Information Commissioner’s Office How can you access, update or delete your information? You may change or request to see any data we hold or any or all of your information by contacting British Music Experience team via info@britishmusicexperience.com . 8. What security procedures are in place to protect the loss, misuse or alteration of the information? Unfortunately, no data transmission over the internet can be guaranteed to be 100% secure. As a result, while we strive to protect your personal information, British Music Experience cannot ensure or warrant the security of any information you transmit to us or from our online products or services, and you do so at your own risk. Once we receive your transmission, we make our best efforts to ensure its security on our systems. 9. How British Music Experience protects children’s privacy? The safety and privacy rights of children are very important to us. British Music Experience is a general audience website. British Music Experience will not rent or sell children’ personally identifiable information to anyone. 10. What else should I know about my privacy? You should be aware that you access other websites, using the links provided, these are outside our control. If you provide personal data to other companies, the privacy policies of those companies determine these uses to which that information is put and the British Music Experience’s Privacy Policy will no longer apply. This policy may change from time to time, so please check back periodically. Ultimately, you are solely responsible for maintaining the secrecy of your password and any information about yourself. Please be careful and responsible whenever you are online.

Film screening of the 2007 award-winning biopic about Joy Division frontman, Ian Curtis. Film Night: Control Thursday 28 November, 7.30pm To coincide with the Vox Phantom VI Special guitar, owned by Ian Curtis and played in the video for Joy Division's Love Will Tear Us Apart going on display in the museum, we're hosting a screening of Control - the 2007 biographical film about the life of Ian Curtis, singer of post-punk band Joy Division. The guitar will be available to view before and after the screening. Samantha Morton and Sam Riley star as Deborah and Ian Curtis, and the film portrays the events of the couple's lives from 1973 to 1980, focusing on their marriage, the formation and career of Joy Division, Ian's struggle with epilepsy, his extramarital affair with Belgian journalist Annik Honoré, and culminates with Ian's suicide in May, 1980. Control is the first feature film directed by Anton Corbijn, who worked with Joy Division as a photographer. The screenplay by Matt Greenhalgh is based on the biography Touching from a Distance by Curtis's widow Deborah, who served as a co-producer on the film. Tony Wilson, who released Joy Division's records through his Factory Records label, also served as a co-producer. Curtis' bandmates Bernard Sumner, Peter Hook, and Stephen Morris provided incidental music for the soundtrack via New Order. The film won five British Independent Film Awards including Best Film, Best Director for Corbijn, Most Promising Newcomer for Riley, and Best Supporting Actor for Toby Kebbell. It was named Best Film at the 2007 Evening Standard British Film Awards, and Greenhalgh was given the Carl Foreman Award for outstanding achievement in his first feature film at the 61st British Academy Film Awards. Tickets £8 adult / £7 BME Annual Pass holder (pass required). On sale Friday 18 October. Running time: 2 hours 2 minutes Director: Anton Corbijn Certificate: 15 Please note, our museum galleries are closed during film screenings. There are no ads or trailers, the film starts at 7.30pm.

Gift the Histroy of British Rock and Pop Gift the History of British Rock and Pop Gift Vouchers Buy an e-voucher for the music-lover in your life and they can visit t he British Music Experience - the UK’s only museum dedicated to celebrating British music. The museum boasts an unrivalled collection of memorabilia, stage outfits and instruments and includes galleries, interactive zones, audio visual experiences and holographic performances. They can also get hands-on in the Gibson Brands Interactive Studio by learning to play guitar, drums or keyboards and dance their way through the eras in the Dance the Decades studio. E-vouchers can be used across the museum, so can be used to purchase general entry tickets and can also be used in the Star Café and Merch Store. Simply choose the amount you wish to gift and customise the voucher with your own message. The recipient will receive an email with all the detail and if they have an iPhone, they can download the voucher to their Apple Wallet. Please note, the recipient can only redeem the gift voucher in the museum - they cannot buy tickets online. There is no requirement for them to pre-book, they just come along on the day and time they wish. Buy Now

SUSTAINABILITY At the British Music Experience we strive to be as sustainable as possible, by taking the following actions: Using compostable takeaway cups for our hot drinks at both of our Café locations Washing and reusing crockery and cutlery in the Star Café Using recyclable Merch Store and Star Café bags Reducing plastic packaging wherever possible Working with local suppliers wherever possible Using dual flush toilets to reduce water usage Having a paperless ticketing system and minimising printing wherever possible Being part of the building-wide recycling programme for all the museum waste Using sustainable and recycled materials whenever possible for exhibition displays Using LED A/V and lighting equipment Having energy efficient lighting with motion sense in all our back offices

Sam Ryder personal appearance at BME ahead of his sold out gig at the O2 Academy Liverpool Sam Ryder at the BME 25 March 2023 - 1.30pm Sparkling with symbolism, Sam Ryder’s iconic jumpsuit worn on stage at the 66th Eurovision Song Contest 2022 is on display at the BME ahead of the city hosting the 67th edition of the song contest 2023. To mark the outfit coming into our collection, we are thrilled to welcome Sam Ryder to BME on Saturday 25 March for a chat before his sold-out evening gig at the O2 Academy, Liverpool. Sam Ryder's meteoric rise to success started through TikTok videos during lockdowns, with his show-stopping falsetto vocals causing the videos to go viral. He went on to represent the UK at the Eurovision Song Contest 2022 in Turin, Italy with the song Space Man, finishing first in the jury vote and second overall. Sam released his debut studio album, There’s Nothing But Space Man! (2022) which landed Number 1 in the Official UK Albums Chart and saw him nominated for Best New Artist at the 2023 BRIT Awards, becoming the first Eurovision act to be nominated in this category. Sam will be on our main stage, chatting to The Guide Liverpool ’s Jay Hynd. Jay says: "I cannot wait to speak to Sam about that iconic Eurovision performance, and the journey that led him there. He is of course, the reason why our city gets to host the contest this year so we'll be celebrating his success and finding out why we should be so excited about May in Liverpool " Important ticket information Anyone with a valid general-entry ticket to the BME is eligible to join this event – please read the ticketing details below carefully: Please note this is a standing event and takes place in front of our main stage. To guarantee entry to the Q&A, you must purchase a general entry museum ticket online for any time slot on Saturday 25 March, from 10am – 12pm (midday). Timeslots booked after this time will NOT be valid for the event. Anyone holding a BME Annual Pass (purchased between 26/3/22-24/3/23) is eligible to join this event but not guaranteed entry. ID may be requested prior to entry. Capacity is strictly limited. If you are an Annual Pass holder, we recommend getting to BME early to ensure entry to the event. Once we have reached our main stage capacity, we will not be able to let anymore Annual Pass holders in until the event finishes. BME opens at 10am. The event starts at 1.30pm prompt. All ticket holders are very welcome to stay in the museum for the remainder of the day – we close at 5pm.

Rudies Come Back, the Rise of Two Tone - film screening and panel discussion. Your Local Arena - Rudies Come Back: The Rise of 2-Tone Film screening and panel discussion Thursday 17 October 2024 - 7.30pm With its home in Coventry, its roots in reggae and its multiracial bands, 2-Tone was a British musical phenomenon. As part of Black History Month, this Your Local Arena special screens Rudies Come Back, the energetic 1980 BBC Arena film made by Jeff Perks right at the moment that 2-Tone was emerging, capturing its unique blend of 1960s blue beat and ska with 1970s reggae, soul and punk. The film will be followed by a panel discussion. Guests include: legendary reggae musician and producer Dennis Bovell, drummer June Miles-Kingston from the Mo-dettes and Fun Boy Three, author, artist and music expert Zoë Howe, and filmmaker Jeff Perks. It promises to be an unforgettable evening highlighting the racial unity sparked by the 2-Tone movement, which stood in direct opposition to the Far Right in the late 1970s and early 80s. Born in Barbados in 1953, Dennis Bovell MBE is an accomplished multi-instrumentalist, sound engineer, composer, band leader and producer. He came to London when he was twelve and has been in bands since his schooldays. He formed Matumbi in 1970, whose songs include the top ten hit ‘Point of View,‘ and produced Janet Kay‘s huge single ‘Silly Games.’ He has worked with artists as diverse as I Roy, Steel Pulse, Bananarama, Fela Kuti and Ryuichi Sakamoto. Dennis continues to release his own music. June Miles-Kingston is a singer and drummer, best known for co-founding the post-punk band The Mo-dettes (1979–1982).Throughout the 1980s, she lent her drumming and vocal talents to an array of notable British artists across genres like post-punk, new wave, and pop, collaborating with acts such as The Communards and Everything but the Girl. Jeff Perks wears two hats – artist and filmmaker. He graduated from the National Film and Television School in 1978. He has produced and directed films for the BBC’s Omnibus and Arena programmes on artists, cartoonists, punk bands and women comediennes. When Channel Four started, he formed Riverfront Pictures and went on to make over forty films for the new channel. As an artist, his work has appeared at the Whitechapel Art Gallery, Battersea Arts Centre and his first one-man show was at Stockport Art Gallery. His current exhibition John Bull, a collaboration with Michael Rosen, is running at The Green Man Gallery. Author, visual artist and sometime musician Zoë Howe has produced acclaimed biographies of The Slits, Poly Styrene, the Jesus & Mary Chain, Wilko Johnson, Stevie Nicks, Florence + The Machine, Lee Brilleaux and others. Zoë was part of the founding team behind the award-winning documentary Poly Styrene: I Am A Cliché, and she has made radio programmes for Absolute Radio, Resonance FM and Soho Radio amongst others; she currently presents the Rock ’n’ Roll Witch show on Soho Radio. Musically, Zoë has worked with Viv Albertine, Helen McCookery Book, Steve Beresford, Mick Jones & others. Zoë is a Royal Literary Fund writing Fellow at Newnham College, University of Cambridge, and her debut novel Shine On, Marquee Moon was shortlisted for the Virginia Prize for Fiction in 2016. Her next book Witchful Thinking (a handbook for the modern Wise Woman) was published by Llewellyn in 2022. Your Local Arena is a unique project featuring iconic films from the archives of BBC TV’s Arena, the pioneering cultural documentary series. It includes new poems inspired by the Arena films and panel talks to explore the continuing relevance of the Arena archives today. The Your Local Arena concept was developed by Lucy Hannah and Speaking Volumes, with Arena’s award-winning director/editor Anthony Wall as creative consultant, and funded by Arts Council England. Your Local Arena is a Lucy Hannah & Speaking Volumes co-production  featuring BBC Arena’s film archive. Funded by Arts Council England. Tickets £5 Buy Tickets

What's on offer at the UK's Museum of Popular Music. DISCOVER THE ULTIMATE HISTORY OF BRITISH ROCK & POP As the UK’s only museum dedicated to celebrating British music, the British Music Experience boasts an unrivalled collection of memorabilia, stage outfits, instruments, images and footage. The museum charts the beginnings, rise and influence of British pop from 1945 to the present day and includes outfits worn by artists from Mick Jagger, Freddie Mercury and Dusty Springfield, to Adam Ant and The Spice Girls and musical instruments played by some of the world’s most renowned artists from Queen's Roger Taylor and Marc Bolan, to Ian Curtis and the Sex Pistols. You can even find the original statues from the Brits and the Apple Corp front door from Saville Row. The Museum includes galleries, interactive zones, audio visual experiences and hologram performances. You can get hands-on in the Interactive Studio by learning to play guitar, drums or keyboards, dance your way through the eras in the Dance the Decades studio and get your voice studio-ready in the Vocal Booth. THE INTERACTIVE STUDIO This fully interactive part of the British Music Experience gives you the chance to learn and play on a whole range of amazing instruments. Here you'll find electric, acoustic and bass guitars, as well as Roland drums, synthesisers and keyboards. VOCAL BOOTH Get your voice studio ready in our Vocal Booth. Situated inside the Interactive Studio, the vocal booth features 28 iconic tracks from the eras. Our professional vocal coach Jennifer John guides you in a range of techniques to get the best out of your voice. DANCE THE DECADES Suitable for all ages, our Dance The Decades Experience brings together 70 years and 12 iconic dance styles in one spacious booth. Our virtual teacher is on hand to teach you all the moves that ruled the dance floors of the past and then you can strut your stuff and try it out for yourself. For the real extroverts who love to show off their skill, there is a handy phone holder, so you can film yourself. STAR CAFE & BAR The licensed Star Café & Bar is located off our main foyer, and is open to the general public (no ticket required). It offers a delicious selection of Illy Coffee, specialist teas, fresh cakes, cold drinks, toasties and paninis. More Info. MERCH STORE EVENTS, LEARNING & PUBLIC PROGRAMMES The Merch Store is open daily and sells a range of band t-shirts, books, vinyl and memorabilia, alongside items from our temporary exhibitions past and present. Learning and public programmes, together with our events programme and temporary exhibitions further add to the experience. We offer educational workshops and bespoke tours for school children, and a range of public events including film screenings, Q&As, book launches and live gigs. We are even available for private hire if you’re looking to host an event with a wow factor.