Croydon residents are being urged to share their memories and vote for their favourite local venues, artists and events to be showcased in a new trail celebrating Croydon’s rich musical history.
The Music Heritage Trail will highlight Croydon’s story as the birthplace of many music genres, with the cutting-edge sounds of punk, dubstep, grime and drill all rooted in the borough. Created by the Museum of Croydon thanks to money from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, Croydon’s Music Heritage Trail project is part of Croydon’s London Borough of Culture 2023 programme – a year-long celebration of the borough’s culture and communities starting on 1 April 2023.
To find out more and cast your vote, visit the Music Heritage Trail webpage. Residents’ votes will play a part in which local artists and venues are featured.
Dubbed ‘home of the headliners’ over the decades, and even centuries, Croydon has been home to a huge range of internationally renowned musicians, singers and composers, from Samuel Coleridge Taylor to Stormzy.
The trail will also showcase sites of musical significance throughout the borough, celebrating venues, artists and events across five music genres: bass music (reggae/grime/dubstep/bashment), punk/rock/indie, blues/jazz, Indian music (classical to Bollywood), and classical music.
The trail will be launched in June 2023 following the reveal of a new mural celebrating Croydon’s musical past and present.
The Museum of Croydon is also currently looking for volunteers to participate in this project to collect oral histories and learn to be trail tour guides as part of the launch this summer. To learn more, please contact Abby.Pendlebury@croydon.gov.uk
Stuart McLeod, Director England – London & South at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “We are thrilled to support this year’s London Borough of Culture, Croydon. Music is integral to the identity and sense of place of the borough and through this project local people will be able to have their say and also get to explore the heritage and history on their doorstep. Heritage is a great way of bringing people together and creating a sense of pride, that in turn can deliver wider economic benefits for Croydon.”
“The Croydon Music Heritage trail is a fantastic opportunity for our communities to get involved in our year as London Borough of Culture.
“Croydon has been at the heart of many music scenes over the years and residents will have their own special memories of events and venues, from clubs, pubs and concert halls, to record shops and studios. We also all have our favourite Croydon artists past and present which we think deserve recognition in the music hall of fame.
“I’d like to encourage everyone to share their memories or even if you weren’t there in person, share your views on which events, people and places should be showcased in the trail. Together we can make this a truly community-led celebration and share our pride in Croydon’s rich music heritage.”
Jason Perry, Executive Mayor of Croydon
