VG&M Late: A Music Celebration

Step into Liverpool 8 after hours for a special late opening that brings the sounds, stories and spirit of Toxteth’s Black music scene to life.

We invite you to explore the exhibition “Toxteth: The Harlem of Europe” in a new way — with live music, DJ sets, conversation, and hands-on experiences across the gallery.

In the 1950s and 60s, while Merseybeat defined Liverpool’s global image, another powerful musical movement was thriving in Toxteth. Rooted in soul, jazz and rhythm & blues, Black musicians in Liverpool 8 helped shape the city’s sound — mentoring early Beatles members and introducing American influences that would transform British music forever. Despite facing racial inequalities and barriers to recognition, their legacy is profound, influential, and long overdue for celebration.

What’s on:

• Live DJ sets in the café from Kerri Ankrah-Lucas (Decks in the City), plus a record fair to dig for vinyl treasures
• Ramon “Sugar” Deen, L8 music legend and member of The Harlems, sharing first-hand stories from the era
• A rare chance to work with the Institute of Popular Music (IPM) — explore archive vinyl and help catalogue records
• A talk from Dr Mike Brocken on jazz pioneer Gordon Stretton for International Jazz Day
• Music performed from across eras and genres with University music students

Whether you're into music history, vinyl culture, live performance, or just looking for something different to do in the evening, VG&M L8 is your chance to experience the gallery in a whole new way.

Free, drop in, and open to all — especially students and young people.
Come for the music, stay for the stories.

The Evening’s Schedule

5-8pm: Waterhouse Café open

5-8pm: Record Fair

5-6pm: DJ Set - Decks in the City with Kerri Ankrah-Lucas

5-6pm: Pop Up Cataloguing

Explore archive vinyl and help catalogue records. Booking required.

5-5.45pm: Gordon Stretton, Black British Transoceanic Jazz Pioneer: A New Jazz Chronicle. With Dr Mike Brocken

6-7pm: Music Performance

Join students from the Department of Music as they perform music through the ages with contributions from a wind trio, vocal repertoire from Purcell to Vaughan Williams, and piano music by Rachmaninov and Chopin. Come and support this student-run concert and see the next generation share their love of music.

6.30 – 7.30pm: Pop Up Cataloguing

Explore archive vinyl and help catalogue records. Booking required.

7-8pm: Gallery Hang Out

An exclusive gallery hangout with Liverpool 8 legendary singer Ramon Sugar Deen.

7-8pm: DJ Set - Decks in the City with Kerri Ankrah-Lucas

All events are free, booking is recommended for some activities.

Tickets are available for the talk, concert and object handling sessions.

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Host or Publisher Victoria Gallery and Museum