COVENTRY Music Museum curator Pete Chambers BEM writes for the Observer.

Kids go free!

There is a brand-new summer pricing structure at The Coventry Music Museum and the big news is that ‘Kids go free’.

Yes, all children up to the age of 15 will get free admission as long as they are accompanied by an adult and are not part of a school trip.

The new structure looks like this – adults £5, concessions £3 and children go free.

Financial director at the museum Julie Chambers said of the new pricing structure: “It’s important to encourage the next generations to visit the museum and learn about music history – otherwise in years to come it may well be lost.

“Opening up the museum to the younger generation is a no brainer and all part of the museums ongoing education strategy.”

The Music Museum has just opened its mini exhibition ‘A45 to 45RPM’ that looks at the musical connections of Coventry and Birmingham music, running untill August. Thanks to rude boys Geno and Rico Kearns.

The Soweto Gospel Choir

Coventry is set to welcome a world-famous choir this July – bringing international sounds to the city’s Assembly Festival Garden.

The Soweto Gospel Choir, which won the Grammy for Best World Music Album for their album Freedom in 2019, will be performing in the city from July 5 to 31.

The choir hails from Soweto (South West Township) just outside Johannesburg in South Africa and the music is in honour of the father of the rainbow nation, former president Nelson Mandela.

During their time in city, Mandela Day will be marked across the world on July 18, which will be fitting as it was Coventry’s Jerry Dammers who penned the track Nelson Mandela song, performed by The Special AKA and which became an anthem across the world during Mandela’s time in a South African prison.

The Soweto Gospel Choir – which has been spreading musical joy across two decades, performing with the likes of U2, Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Robert Plant, Celine Dion, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Josh Groban – is presented by Andrew Kay.

The Assembly Festival Garden was originally part of Coventry UK City of Culture 2021 and remains in the city until September 2022 as part of the legacy programme.

To keep up to date with all Assembly Festival Garden news and future programme announcements visit assemblyfestivalgarden.com.

Find out more on social media by searching for @AssemblyGardens.

Visit sowetogospelchoir.com for more on the choir.