We are exited to be welcoming Steven Vass author of ‘Let the Music Play: How R&B Fell in Love with 80s Synths’ (Velocity Press) down to Outlaws for a talk / Q&A.

Let The Music Play is a look at how artists and producers used synths and other new music tech to reinvent R&B. Covering a wide range of artists, genres and scenes, including disco, LA/Solar Records, Minneapolis/Prince, boogie, New York electro/post-disco, Britfunk, Jam & Lewis, movie/promo influence and mid-80s pop. As well as covering big stars like Prince and Janet Jackson, it looks at many great artists who are often forgotten, such as Skyy, Loose Ends, Imagination, Colonel Abrams, Princess, Gwen Guthrie, Lillo Thomas, Zapp, Jonzun Crew and Yarbrough & Peoples.

Steve will be telling the story of how everyone from Prince to Grace Jones to Sade seized on synths and drum machines to create a blueprint for modern music. Where most people associate early synth development with artists like Kraftwerk or Gary Numan, this book aims to set the record straight.

Attendees will be immersed in the fascinating stories behind the artists and producers who shaped the era.

Purchase the book from Velocity Press here.

Our host for the event will be Mike Greenwell - more here.

The venue will open at 1pm, the talk will start at 2pm sharp and last approx 1-2hrs, with a DJ on before and after.

Tickets are FREE but very LIMITED, so grab yours now via Tickets below, as we expect this to be a sell out event and a Sunday afternoon to remember!