You Ought To Know – Reclaiming Black British Music His and Herstories

Join us as we share the findings from a recent research project, “You Ought To Know – Reclaiming Black British Music His and Herstories”. You will learn more about the stories of artists underrepresented in the history of the Manchester music and cultural scene, through an in-conversation with the researcher, including clips from a podcast interview series.
The 6-month project was conducted by TV producer, radio presenter, and independent filmmaker, Karen Gabay, who worked with Creative Manchester at The University of Manchester as a Simon Industrial Fellow for 6 months.

During the research project, Karen reflected on different genres, from Gospel and Soul to Reggae and R&B. She explored different cultural spaces and how they relate to places and communities in Manchester, that have played a significant role in the music industry over the decades. Throughout the project, Karen accessed the British Pop Archive at the John Rylands Research Institute and Library, interviewing various artists, musicians, songwriters and vocalists, documenting the personal accounts and lived experiences of Black British Music and the contribution of black music professionals to the industry. A podcast series was created, which will be accessible to the public and launched in autumn 2025.

In this in-conversation event, Karen will be interviewed by Professor Dawn Edge, The University of Manchester’s Academic Lead for ‘Race’, Religion and Belief, and Senior Lecturer in the Division of Psychology & Mental Health.

Creative Manchester, an interdisciplinary research platform based at The University of Manchester.

Open to all

Groups with an interest in music, culture, heritage, history and community-engaged research