Photo by Jeff Veitch via The Barbican Facebook Page
Long before playlists were curated by algorithms or scenes documented by Instagram, pirate radio was the heartbeat of UK underground culture. This June, the Barbican Centre pays tribute to that legacy with Rebel Radio, a month-long programme exploring the impact of unlicensed radio on British music, identity, and youth culture.
Running from 1–30 June, Rebel Radio promises a full slate of events: there will be a pop-up Reprezent Radio studio broadcasting live from the Barbican with exclusive sets and stories from icons like Norman Jay, DJ Spoony, Ragga Twins, and Logan Sama.
Additionally, A series of talks covering everything from the politics of archiving to the evolution of modern-day parties will run throughout the month, with special conversations featuring Rinse FM founder Geeneus and DJ Elijah, reflecting on 30 years of Rinse and what pirate radio means today. To close it out, Rinse FM will host a party bringing veteran selectors and rising DJs together in a cross-generational b2b set.
The programme also includes a six-part podcast series and a curated run of film screenings. It’s part of the Barbican’s Frequencies series, designed to examine “the sounds that shape us.”
Visit the Barbican’s website for more information.
