Hear it Live!

Join us to hear performances and talks based on the variety and diversity of our musical instrument collection.

Enjoy an exciting steel pan performance in the beautiful Horniman Sunken Gardens, brought to you by British-Trinidadian group Solid Steel!

8 August

Solid Steel

Solid Steel’s history begins with the Cherrie family, who hail from Trinidad, the birthplace of steel pans and steel band music. The family has been proudly performing steel pan and steel band music professionally in Britain since the early 1950s. Over the years, they have showcased their talent across the UK at live music events, weddings, workshops, and in films.

About Hear it Live!

Hear it Live! often includes performances on our four historical keyboard instruments, three of which, from the former Finchcocks Musical Museum, were restored to playing condition thanks to National Lottery funding.

The instruments are:

  • A rare surviving example of a signed Neapolitan virginals by Onofrio Guarracino, 1668;
  • A beautifully-preserved square piano by Adam Beyer, London, 1777;
  •  A 1772 Kirckman harpsichord; and
  • A handsome English chamber organ, possibly by Joseph Beloudy, London, c.1800.

Find details of previous performances you can still watch below.

Watch one of the previous performances


The Hear It Live! recordings were made possible through the generosity of the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Supported by