Two October Hybrid Events Explore Brent’s Rich Black Music History Beyond Reggae
Two events will be within The Brent Reggae Album Covers Exhibition running until the end of October, which will be led by historical musicologist and exhibition curator Kwaku. It invites local residents, music enthusiasts and members of the wider community to share knowledge, memories and material that can help build a fuller record of Brent’s black music history.
The first event, Updating The Brent Black Music History Project, takes place on Monday 12 October 2026, 6–8pm at Harlesden Library, with participation also available via Zoom.
In 2007, local voluntary organisation BTWSC published the ‘Brent Black Music History Project’ DVD and booklet — a landmark attempt to document the borough’s rich black music heritage.
Nearly 20 years on, project lead and historical musicologist Kwaku intends on bringing the story up to date.
Join Kwaku and a panel of local knowledge experts for a presentation and interactive workshop examining what has happened since the original project — and what may have been missed, overlooked or yet to be documented.
Whether you simply want to listen, share memories, identify people and places, contribute information or help fill gaps in the original resources, everyone with relevant knowledge is welcome to participate.
The event will provide an opportunity to hear local stories and help shape the next chapter of Brent’s black music history.
No booking is required to attend in person. However, to be kept updated or those wishing to join via Zoom can book through: https://BBM.eventbrite.com.
The second event marks African History Season under the theme of ‘It Was Also About Other Black Musics’. It takes place on Saturday 31 October 2026, 6–8pm in the library and via Zoom. It’s a fun, interactive and family-friendly edutainment session looking beyond reggae to explore some of the other black musics made, performed, recorded, distributed or promoted in Brent.
Led by Kwaku, the session will explore the borough’s contribution to a broader range of black musical traditions and the record companies, shops, venues and individuals that helped bring a wide range of black music, besides reggae, to audiences.
Members of the public are invited to bring along a vinyl record with a Brent connection — whether made by an artist from the borough, released by a local record company, sold through a Brent record shop, recorded locally, or connected to the borough in another way.
Records will be played and discussed as part of the session, helping to uncover stories and connections that may not appear in existing histories.
Before the 31 October curator presentation, there will be an unveiling of a new plaque at The Reggae Tree, outside the Hawkeye records store, from 5–5.45pm.
The occasion will also launch a community appeal to help locate the original Reggae Tree plaque, with the intention that it can ultimately be donated to Brent Museum and Archives, as part of the borough’s music heritage.
Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the original plaque is encouraged to contact Brent Museum and Archives with any information.
The Brent Reggae Album Covers Exhibition continues at Harlesden Library until 31 October 2026. It explores the important role of Brent — and particularly Harlesden — in the history and development of reggae and related music in Britain, using album covers as an entry point into the people, places, businesses and musical networks behind the music.
These two October events extend that conversation, encouraging the community to look beyond reggae and beyond existing histories to help document Brent’s wider black music heritage.
These events, organised by BBM/BMC (BritishBlackMusic.com/Black Music Congress) and BTWSC/African Histories Revisited in association with Brent Museum & Archives, are in memory of Starlight Records co-founder Cleveland “Popsy” Deer, who passed away earlier this year.
BBM/BMC
https://BBM.eventbrite.com