Photo: Francis Mancini, winner of Live Music Award 2024
B:Music is a Birmingham-based music charity with a mission to inspire a love of live music through performance, participation and learning. They believe that music is essential to everyone and has the power to transform and change lives, to entertain and uplift, to create shared experiences and to educate. We couldn’t agree more and that’s why it is a natural partnership and collaboration from two like-minded brands.
The month-long Residency takes place from 10 June to 7 July and is centred around two exhibitions across Symphony Hall, both with a shared vision of celebrating music photography, culture & community.
Exhibition one features the winners and nominees from the Abbey Road Music Photography Awards 2024, offering an opportunity to view the photographs in a distinctive setting. The second exhibition shines a light on music photography & culture in Birmingham – the photographers, the artists, the spaces, and the community. The Photography of Birmingham exhibition is curated by Jason Sheldon (Abbey Road MPA finalist) and B: Music. Storytelling sits at the heart of both exhibitions through visual imagery creating a vibrant and reflective space to celebrate music photography and the photographers behind the lens.
Throughout the month-long residency, B:Music will be presenting free lunchtime performances from local and emerging talent from across the West Midlands immersed in the MPA exhibition in the B:Eats café at Symphony Hall, with artists covering one iconic song recorded at Abbey Road Studios, reinterpreted in their own unique way. The B:Music Talent Development Showcase takes over the regular Free Jazz Fridays slot at Symphony Hall, and will see up and coming photographers hone their skills and capture the performances – a chance to show the next generation of musical and creative talent both on and off stage. Alongside this a masterclass for the photographers will take place led by local, established music photographer & Abbey Road MPA alumni Jason Sheldon.
From panel talks, exhibitions, music, knowledge & learning the partnership is a collaboration which champions talent both in front and behind the lens. The next generation of music photographers and musicians will have the chance to swap and exchange experiences at Symphony Hall. It's a testament to our joint desire to celebrate creativity and culture throughout the UK and witness the fusion of music and visual art in this dynamic city. To find out more about the programme of activities and how to get involved visit: bmusic.co.uk/abbey-road-studios