From marking music eras, to restoring famous venues, and from protecting historic instruments, to recording cultural sounds and stories, National Lottery funding is helping keep British sounds alive and pumping.  

Punk in London 

With its fast paced beats, bold fashion statements and DIY ethics, Punk was more than a musical genre, it became a way of life. The HLF-supported Punk London project marked the occasion with live gigs, talks, films, exhibitions and museum displays which were all part of a year-long celebration of subversive culture.  

Musical instruments 

The Horniman Museum has one of the most comprehensive musical instrument collections in the UK. Thanks to support from National Lottery players, it has recently acquired three historic keyboards from the celebrated Finchcocks Musical Museum. Pop by the last Tuesday of every month to hear live performances!

Supporting venues 

Music legends The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and Buddy Holly played at Stockton Globe, and now thanks to a £4.5million grant the derelict Art Deco theatre is to reopen as a new live music venue creating more than 250 local jobs. Wilton’s Music Hall, the oldest grand music hall in the world, is also now open and restored.  

Party in the park 

Over the summer months many HLF-supported parks hold day festivals and live music events. Including jazz bands on the bandstand at Greenwich Park, Sunfall Festival at Brockwell Park, London and Park Life at Heaton Park, Manchester. 

Carnival culture 

HLF has supported many carnival projects including Leeds Carnival 50 Heritage Exhibition and Activity Programme with Leeds West Indian Carnival and The Story of Notting Hill Carnival project. Is there a carnival taking place near you?  

Archiving sounds 

The British Library is currently working on a £9.5m HLF-supported project to secure the nation's sounds. This includes recording and preserving local dialects and accents, oral histories, previously unheard musical performances and plays, and vanishing wildlife sounds.