I went along to the second meeting today at Handsworth Library of a new music heritage project being commissioned by English Heritage. The project will provide an interesting exploration of the musical heritage of the Soho Rd from the 1950s right up to the modern day. It may surprise people to learn once the project is complete the influence and contribution that Handsworth musicians have had on the music industry like Steel Pulse . Creative Community Networks will be running a series of workshops with young people and the community to record the sound of the Soho Rd and produce a final exhibition.
Watch this space for information on the fouthcoming community events CCN are keen to get local people to share photos, memories and other materials that they may have? If you’re interested or to have a look at the citywide Birmingham muscial heritage project visit
http://www.birminghammusicheritage.org.uk/videoplayer/project.html
Tags: english heritage, Handsworth, handsworth library, music, soho rd, steel pulse
Have you seen Pogus Caesar’s great shots of musicans like Jimmy Cliff, Dennis Brown, Beshara and Mighty Diamonds – nearly all of these artists played at Santa Rosa Club aka Rialto on Soho Road( now long gone)
Go to either Digital handswoth or OOm gallery websites
Beshara have a song called “I Had A Dream” which is on youtube and in the video they show a great little clip of Rialto on Soho Road.
Andre thanks great video. It does have a good shot of the old Rialto. There will be a preview evening on April at 6.30 in Handsworth Library where a film and sounds documenting the important music heritage of Handsworth will be played. All welcome it is a free event
Are you looking at visiting artists or bands that emerged from the Ghetto in the 80′s? This must include Unity who became HIM,and was the first winner of the Princes Trust Awards for Bands competition in 1982 and played alongside Phil Collins of Genesis at the First event by the charity at the Dominian Theatre London. They have not been recognised in recent years by the Trust at its events to celebrated the work of the trust. They were a great Rasta dub band who pioneered a unique Rock and Heavy Metal sound in the 80′s. Also Senator, Eclipse, Conerstone, Salam Foundation, and Amlak to name a few local talents worth researching.
Will the Handsworth Music film be shown again anytime soon?
Hi Yes it will be at Soho Museam soon once it has been finished and also on various internet sites You Tube, my blog etc.
I will update a post once it is ready. Thanks for your interest
Tracey
This map, by Job Bounds, is a great help
http://www.birminghamitsnotshit.co.uk/2009/06/brum-music-map.html
and has already been turned into a work of art exhibiting at the new gallery at the MAC
News is that pogus caesar’s new book muzik kinda sweet will feature pics of the great reggae artists who performed in handsworth in early days.
http://www.soulculture.co.uk/blogs/urban-music-black-music-do-we-need-a-new-term/