B:Music, the Birmingham-based music charity responsible for Town Hall and Symphony Hall, has announced details of its second collaboration with Abbey Road Studios and its Music Photography Accelerator programme. The month-long programme of activity from 10 June to 7 July is centered around two exhibitions across Symphony Hall, both with a shared vision of celebrating music photography, culture and community.
There will be an exhibition of the winning and shortlisted images from the Abbey Road Music Photography Awards 2024,offering an opportunity to view the photographs in a distinctive setting,alongside a Birmingham-specific exhibition curated by Jason Sheldon (former Abbey Road MPA finalist). 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.
Formed in 2022, the Abbey Road Music Photography Awards champion emerging and undiscovered young photographers and celebrate the unforgettable, unique, and unsung musical moments from the previous year across nine categories including ‘Live Music’ and ‘Underground Scenes’, as well as ‘Making Music’ and ‘Music Moment of the Year.
Throughout the month-long residency, B:Music will be presenting free lunchtime performances from local and emerging talent from across the West Midlands, with performances from artists including Holly Rolfe (24 June), Nashville Sounds in the Round (25 June), The Lost Notes (26 June),and Matt Ratcliffe & Helen Gayle (27 June)immersed in the exhibition in the B:Eats café at Symphony Hall, with all artists covering at least one iconic song recorded at Abbey Road Studios, reinterpreted in their own unique and respective ways.
The pinnacle will be on Friday 20 June when the B:Music Talent Development Showcase takes over the regular Free Jazz Fridays slot at Symphony Hall, and the up-and-coming photographers will be in attendance to capture the performances – a real chance to show the next generation of musical and creative talent both on and off stage. A masterclass for the photographers will also be given on the same afternoon, led by local, established music photographer and Abbey Road MPA alumni Jason Sheldon. The Abbey Road photographers will capture live shots of the B:Music young musicians, editing the photos in ‘real-time’, as if on a press call.
Jacquie Lindsay, Programme Manager at Abbey Road Music Photography Acceleratorsaid: “We couldn’t be more thrilled to be partnering with B:Music once again this year to extend the reach of our Music Photography Accelerator programme and Music Photography Awards beyond the doors of Abbey Road Studios and into the heart of Birmingham. It’s a testament to our desire to celebrate creativity and culture throughout the UK and I’m excited to witness the fusion of music and visual art in this dynamic city. If last year’s collaboration was anything to go by, we’re all in for a real treat.”
Chris Proctor, Head of Programming at B:Music added: “This is the second year of the relationship between B:Music and Abbey Road Studios, and I’m delighted that we are working together again to bring the Music Photography Awards exhibition back to Birmingham. This year we are adding even more to the programme of activity and offering a second exhibition which shines a light on music photography and culture in Birmingham – the photographers, the artists, the spaces, and the community.
Not only is this a wonderful opportunity for two iconic organisations to work together to champion talent both on and off stage, but it’s also particularly exciting that the next generation of music photographers and musicians will have the chance to swap and exchange experiences at Symphony Hall. We’re looking forward to welcoming audiences to free music performances which will all include a little sprinkle of Abbey Road magic, and I already can’t wait to get to work on next year’s collaboration!”
To find out more about the programme of activities and how to get involved visit: bmusic.co.uk/abbey-road-studios
The Abbey Road Music Photography Awards, now in its fourth year, is open for entries. To enter, head to: abbeyroadmusicphotographyawards.com
About B:Music
B:Music is a Birmingham-based music charity with a mission to inspire a love of live music through performance, participation and learning.
B:Music believes 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.
B:Music venues Town Hall and Symphony Hall are the centre of Birmingham’s cultural heart – presenting the world’s most exciting and diverse artists, orchestras and bands including Alison Moyet, David Gray, Brandi Carlile, Cliff Richard, Elkie Brooks, Gregory Porter, Jools Holland, Paloma Faith, Robert Plant, and the world-renowned City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra.
Each year, a programme of over 800 concerts and events brings the best jazz, folk, world, roots, classical, rock and pop performers to audiences of over 500,000. Through our Talent Development and Engagement projects we overcome barriers many young and vulnerable people feel, empowering individuals from across the region to experience the power and joy of live music. We provide school workshops, fund tickets for performances, enable thousands of young people to perform on our stages and create projects to unlock and showcase talent.
Find out more at bmusic.co.uk
About Abbey Road Studios
Abbey Road is the home of music making. We’re the world’s first and most iconic recording studio, and a leader in sonic innovation, with the experience and craft to bring out the best music in any vision or idea. For 93 years we’ve welcomed the artists who have shaped music and popular culture. From the greats – The Beatles, Fela Kuti, Pink Floyd, Kate Bush, Yehudi Menuhin, Massive Attack, Amy Winehouse, Oasis, Nick Cave, Stevie Wonder and Shirley Bassey, to the legends of today – Lady Gaga, Little Simz, The Smile, Florence, Dave, Sheku Kanneh-Mason, Frank Ocean, Ezra Collective, Sam Smith, Morgan Wallen and Stormzy.
Once a nine-bedroom house, we’re now a global community of artists, experts, inventors and engineers, whose technology and expertise can be accessed from anywhere in the world. Alongside our studios and writing spaces, we work to develop ground-breaking technology that continues to change the future of music making. And through our learning and events, we’re creating one-off experiences and empowering a new generation of talent. This home has created soundtracks to nights in, nights out, heartbreaks and first loves. Epic adventures and life-affirming stories. We’ve been home to the greatest film music of the last 45 years. From Raiders of the Lost Ark, the Star Wars and Harry Potter movies, and The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies, to Barbie, Gravity, The Shape of Water, Tar, Wakanda Forever, Frankenstein and all the Marvel titles. Across genres, generations and continents, Abbey Road helps music makers move the world. Come on in.