Feature:THE BIG PICTURE - CAMDEN CRAWL 2010 - Events at the British Library

Published: 29 April 2010

MUSIC will be in the air this weekend. Some of the country’s greatest musicians will be playing as part of the Camden Crawl over the Bank Holiday – and tomorrow (Friday) you can catch a special acoustic mix of rock, roots reggae, social consciousness and Latino-inflected carnival sounds at the opening of the British Library’s Magnificent Maps exhibition, which illustrates the role maps and atlases have played in political propaganda throughout history. 

The exhibition, which runs until September 19, contains vast and sumptuous depictions of the world, including the biggest book ever made and the remarkable detailed contemporary visions of Grayson Perry and Stephen Walter. 

Friday’s gig, part of the Reveal King’s Cross Festival, will be given by Peyoti for President, whose members hail from Italy, Spain, Portugal, Brazil, Poland, Syria, Jamaica and Australia (they owe their line-up to a chance meeting at King’s Cross station). Pictured here is Pietro DiMascio, a guitarist in the band.

There will also be music from The King’s Cross Hot Club and Djs. 

The oldest map in the exhibition dates from 200AD and is a section of a giant marble map of Rome. 

It is about three storeys high and laid out in intricate detail the map of the city. There are also more modern maps on display, including one that shows Hitler’s plans for the Third Reich.

• Late at the Library, Musical Routes is on Friday April 30, 7-11pm at the British Library, 96 Euston Road, NW1.
The event is free, no booking required. Entry subject to venue capacity.

• Magnificent Maps: Power, Propaganda and Art runs until September 19. The exhibition is supported by British Library Patrons, APAX Partners and the Friends of the British Library. More information at www.bl.uk/magnificentmaps