1. Origins

Across four episodes, Gemma Bradley explores the arrival of Black music in Northern Ireland, the communities and venues that helped it flourish, the artists whose identities and careers have been shaped by it, and the next generation carrying these sounds into the future. Through archive discoveries, first-hand memories and conversations with musicians, DJs, promoters and cultural figures, The Music Is Black tells a story of creativity, belonging and influence that has long been woven into Northern Ireland's musical landscape.
The series forms part of the BBC's wider The Music Is Black season, celebrating Black British music and the people who made it.