From August 6 to September 7, The Drum arts centre in Aston will host Sound System Culture: Birmingham, a brand-new photographic exhibition celebrating the history of Birmingham's reggae sound systems over the last six decades.
The exhibition is the second instalment in a three-city nationwide tour that's already taken in Bristol and will later hit London, and is the work of curators Mandeep Samra and David Schischka Thomas. Samra and her organisation, Let's Go Yorkshire, along with Al 'Fingers' Newman and Paul Huxtable, was behind the book that sowed the seed for this project, 2014's 'Sound System Culture: Huddersfield'.
Charting the development of the Birmingham scene from ska and rocksteady through to dub and dancehall, via photographs, archive footage and audio recordings, the exhibition will also include an interactive vintage-style sound system custom built for the tour, which includes amps, speakers, a record deck and specially cut dubplates featuring original Brummie soundmen
The show will close with a 'Live Sound System Session' at The Drum on Friday September 11, featuring Jamaican reggae greats Mykal Rose and Etana alongside Birmingham's own Wassifa sound system.
You can check some of the images from the exhibition below and get more info over on the event's Facebook page.
People inside the West Indian community centre in Winson Green, 1979, gathered around a speaker box belonging to Black Roots sound system. Image by Vanley Burke.
Flyer for a dance at Digbeth Civic Hall, Birmingham, 15 August 1986, featuring Jungleman (Birmingham), Papa Zion aka Zion (Birmingham) and Enforcer (Derby). Courtesy of Robbo Dread collection.
Studio City sound crew, 1974. Founded in 1970, Studio City was a popular sound system from Small Heath, Birmingham, that became well known for entertaining audiences around the country. They also had the honour of educating and inspiring teenage members of what would later become the band UB40. Courtesy of Lewis Fairfield collection.
Poster for the Showcase Revival Clash at Summerfield Community Centre, Birmingham, 11 September 1993, featuring Quaker City (Birmingham), Sir Coxon AKA Sir Coxsone (London) and King Tubbie AKA King Tubby's (London). Courtesy of Carl Irvin collection.
Heritage HiFi sound system, built for the Sound System Culture project by Paul Axis (Huddersfield). Image by Elliot Baxter.