Brixton Brewery and Darco Recordings are celebrating their joint links with Brixton’s heritage, culture, and community in a free pop-up exhibition – Darchives – open at the brewery’s taproom on Brixton Station Road until Sunday.
The exhibition features previously unseen photographs of Darcus Howe, plus daytime vinyl-only sets and an evening session and live show from Darco performers.
The archive photography tells stories of both the music and civil rights legacies of Brixton and specifically honours Darcus Howe and the history of Railton Road where he lived and edited Race Today magazine.
A limited edition Brixton Brewery x Darco Recordings beer – Railton Lager – has been brewed for the occasion.
Three can designs feature legendary protest images of Darcus Howe.
Other key features include nine stripes commemorating the iconic Mangrove 9 court case and a QR code giving access to an exclusive Darco playlist made for the event.
The founder of Darco Recordings, Darcus Howe’s son Darcus Beese, is responsible for the careers of some of the UK’s biggest artists, including Amy Winehouse, Sugababes, Mumford & Sons, Disclosure and Florence & The Machine.
He was born into a life of protest through his father, a leading figure in the Mangrove 9 case, editor of Race Today, and leader of protests like the Black People’s Day of Action.
The Brixton Brewery Taproom exhibition will invite people to see images from across Darcus’ life and his musical heritage, through access to his own personal “Darchive”.
