We’re looking to hear from people with memories, images or footage* of UK record stores that specialised in Black music from 1950’s onwards. We want to interview artists, DJs, store owners, customers, music fans and anyone else who has a relevant story or memory from this time.
Your contribution will form part of a documentary, a book and more. If you have memories of browsing, discovering new artists, or socialising in record stores back in the day, we’d love to hear from you!
‘The Record Store & Black Music: A UK History’ - a project by 2Funky Arts - will capture the life and times of UK independent record stores that specialised in Black music, from 1950 onwards.
All interviewees will have reasonable expenses paid. If you have a story to tell, please fill out our short form and we’ll contact you to arrange an interview in person, virtually or over the phone, whichever suits you best.
*Any images or footage shared should, wherever possible, be credited and dated with the source.
Project Background
2Funky Arts has been awarded a grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, made possible thanks to National Lottery players, to explore experiences of UK independent record stores that specialised in Black music (1950’s onwards).
This will be a wide-reaching, national project, working with Brighter Sound and Sound/Image Research Centre (University of Greenwich, London).
For the Windrush generation and Black diaspora, the early independent UK record store was a music-fueled vehicle for resistance against systemic racism. Such sites became fertile ground for new music, and cultural eco-systems that shaped society’s relationship with Black music.
In this context, we define Black Music as a cultural and stylistic term, encompassing genres including soul, disco, reggae, R&B, gospel, Afrobeat and hip hop. The project will illuminate Black, African, and Caribbean experiences of this national heritage, using a documentary, KS3 educational resource, publication, website and podcast series.
The History of 2Funky
Director Vijay Mistry ran 2Funky Records from 1997-2012; an independent record store based in Leicester with an international reputation among DJs, artists and tastemakers. 2Funky Records was one the UK’s leading independent music stores, specialising in Music of Black Origin. This is where the 2Funky story began.
2Funky Records
Established in 2007, 2Funky Arts is a social enterprise, dedicated to advancing and celebrating arts and music of black origin. Their projects work instinctively to stir emotion, provoke debate, nurture collaborations, and push boundaries across sub-genres.
About The National Lottery Heritage Fund
'The Record Store & Black Music - a UK History' is made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Using money raised by the National Lottery, the National Lottery Heritage Fund inspires, leads and resources the UK’s heritage to create positive and lasting change for people and communities, now and for the future. Since the National Lottery began in 1994, National Lottery players have raised over £43 billion for projects and more than 635,000 grants have been awarded across the UK. Each week, thanks to National Lottery players, £30 million is raised for good causes across the UK.
Follow @HeritageFundUK on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and use #NationalLotteryHeritageFund.
