British Black Music Month (BBMM) 2010 kicks of with a free Launch & Networking evening on Friday May 28, 7-9pm at The Space, Willesden Green Library Centre, and ends with a Concert on Friday July 16, 7-10pm and the family-friendly Black Music Records & African Crafts Fair on Saturday July 17, 3-6pm.

In between there's dates, expect debate, film show, courses, album anatomy, concert, club night, open mic, quiz, exhibition, seminars, competitions, radio specials, etc.

This is the site to check out for updates. For more information: editor@britishblackmusic.com.

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Remember - if you must: recorded the footie on telly, and attend our events!

Here are details of some of the BBMM events: Launch of BBMM 2010, Networking, The Great British Black Music QUIZ, performances by Brie Boateng and Tayshan!

What: Launch of BBMM 2010, Networking, The Great British Black Music QUIZ, performances by Brie Boateng and Tayshan!

When: 28^th May 28, 7-9pm

Where: The Space, Willesden Green Library Centre, 95 High Road, Willesden Green NW10 2SF

Cost: Free, but food will be on sale

To book and for more information: editor@britishblackmusic.com

What: Is Popular Black Music Empowering Us? Debate

When: 1st June, 8-10pm

Where: Bridge Park Cost: Complex, Stonebridge NW10

Cost: Free, but pre-booking necessary

To book and for more information: editor@britishblackmusic.com

What: Managing No. 1 Artists & Songwriters

When: Monday, 7th June, 6-8pm

Where: PRS Basement, 29-33 Berners Street. London W1T 3AB

Cost: Free, but pre-booking necessary

To book and for more information: editor@britishblackmusic.com

What: Keeping It Legal: Live And On-Air

When: 28th June, 6.30-8.30pm

Where: PRS Boardroom 29-33 Berners Street. London W1T 3AB

Cost: Free, but pre-booking necessary

To book and for more information: editor@britishblackmusic.com

What: The Lovers Rock Story (rough cut version), Q&A & Fundraiser to complete the film; BMC shorts

Menelik Shabazz (director of 'Burning An Illusion'), charts the rise of Lovers Rock, often dubbed “romantic reggae”, through a rich collage of live performances, archive footage and still photographs. The historical context and political significance of the music are given as much importance as the dance and the fashion trends the genre saw rise to. Humorous and insightful comments by dub poet Linton Kwesi Johnson and comedians such as Angie Le Mar and Glenda Jackson provide the perfect backdrop to a film that’s bound to rejuvenate interest into a music genre unjustly ignored by the mainstream media.

When: Friday, 2nd July, 6.30pm-9.30pm

Where: Flash Musicals, Metheun Road, Edgware, Middlesex HA8 6EZ (8 minutes from Edgware station)

Cost: £5/ £3

To book and for more information: editor@britishblackmusic.com

What: Trailblazing British Black Music Album Anatomy: ‘Osibisa’ (MCA 1971)

Panellists: Teddy Osei (band leader), Gerry Bron (management via video), Robin Denselow (journalist), Kwaku (chair, BBM/BMC), Julian Wall (facilitator, BPI)

This talks programme offers a rare opportunity to find out from some of the people who played a role in the success of the ‘Osibisa’, which reached no. 11 in the album charts in 1971 at a time when prog rock ruled, and the ‘world music’ term had not been coined. Osibisa’s criss-cross rhythms that explode with happiness, which mixed continental and diasporic African musical styles, found a eager audience within the early 1970s college/university circuit who bought their albums and attended their gigs. ‘Osibisa’ also has the distinction of using a Roger Dean designed album sleeve long before rock acts such as Uriah Heep.

This anatomy does not only offer an engaging history of one of the few African-based bands to have had mainstream success, and some great anecdotes from a well-travelled band celebrating their 40^th year, but hopefully there may be some gems of wisdom relevant for doing business today.

When: Monday July 5 2010, 6.30-8.30pm

Where: BPI, Riverside Building, County Hall, Westminster Bridge Road, London  SE1 7JA.

Cost: Free, but must pre-book via: editor@britishblackmusic.com

To book and for more information: editor@britishblackmusic.com