Goldsmiths – University of London is hosting a vinyl and sound system celebration this January with an exhibition, discussions, workshops and club nights.
An exhibition entitled Let’s Play Vinyl, featuring 21 images by photographer Elliot Baxter who was commissioned by Let’s Go Yorkshire, portrays the current generation of reggae sound system operators.
Kicking off the exhibition is a four-day festival at Goldsmiths’ campus in New Cross, including Sound System Outernational Vinyl Weekender from 11 to 14 January with a launch party at Goldsmiths Professor Stuart Hall Building; a screening of Legacy In The Dust: The Four Aces Story (2008) by Winstan Whitter; Skin Deep Sonic Transmissions and Unit 137 full sound systems; workshops on how to build your own sound system and toasting; a conference and the launch of Stuart Hall: Conversations, Projects and Legacies, edited by Julian Henriques and David Morley with Vana Goblot. The book examines the career of the cultural studies pioneer, interrogating his influence and revealing lesser-known facets of his work.
About the festival, Professor Julian Henriques, from the Department of Media and Communications at Goldsmiths, said: “In the midst of the current vinyl ‘revival’ it is important to recognise the hugely important role that the Jamaican sound system played in turning the domestic record player into a musical instrument in its own right”.
Martyn Haigh, Director of Let’s Go Yorkshire, says: “The contemporary exhibition captures the spirit of the current generation of UK soundmen and women who are carrying on what previous generations started. We have commissioned photographer Elliot Baxter to take a selection of portraits to bring together a visually stunning exhibition of talented sound system operators, saluting them as productive entrepreneurs creating their own arts ecology in today’s Britain.”
The exhibition forms part of the Let’s Play Vinyl National Tour developed by Let’s Go Yorkshire in partnership with the University of Leicester; Goldsmiths, University of London; Birmingham City University; and the University of Huddersfield.
Visit Goldsmiths website to find out more.
Featured image: Thali Lotus, founder of CAYA sound system. Bedford 2017. Photo by Elliot Baxter.
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