This Display at the V&A Showcases London’s Lost Nightlife

Lost Music Venues, a free exhibition at the V&A, is exploring the legacy of the capital’s lost venues, how they formed part of our cultural heritage and the roles they played in establishing the careers of the biggest artists in the UK. Over 150 objects, with more than half of them coming from a public call out, relating to around 50 British venues from the 1980s to the 2010s are on show, such as gig posters, membership cards, club photography, band merch, and fashion. Highlights include handwritten Oasis lyrics from the tour bus, a Blur set list, a pager used to monitor noise levels at the infamous Hacienda club, Joan Baez’s note of support for Rainbow Theatre, a poster for an early Banksy exhibition held at The Arches, a club outfit designed by Vivienne Westwood, and flyers from Plastic People.