About An Evening with Labi Siffre
Labi Siffre, singer-songwriter, poet and composer, is one of Britain’s most quietly influential and genuinely ground-breaking artists. Since the 1970s, he has carved out a singular path, blending folk, soul, jazz and spoken word with an honesty that set him apart from his contemporaries.
For this special event, Labi talks to DJ and Classic Album Sundays host Colleen ‘Cosmo’ Murphy about his remarkable musical journey, followed by a vinyl listening session of his beloved 1972 album Crying Laughing Loving Lying.
Labi has always written with clarity and purpose. His songs are direct and unguarded, rooted in lived experience rather than fashion or trend. From the intimate beauty of ‘Bless the Telephone’, to the enduring romance of ‘It Must Be Love’ and the classic, transcendent song of resolve and protest ‘(Something Inside) So Strong’.
He has been sampled by countless artists over the years, by Dr. Dre, Jay-Z and Kanye West, and most famously by Eminem, who drew on Labi’s 1975 track ‘I Got The…’ for his own ‘My Name Is’. Labi’s music continues to reach new audiences across generations. In 2025 his recording ‘Crying Laughing Loving Lying’ featured in the film The Holdovers and his 1971 recording ‘Bless the Telephone’ became a hit across TikTok, leading to 140 million streams.
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Colleen ‘Cosmo’ Murphy
Founder of Classic Album Sundays.
More
Classic Album Sundays is a global listening event and content platform that tells the stories behind our favourite albums. It was founded in 2010 by DJ, radio host, curator and audiophile Colleen ‘Cosmo’ Murphy. She was mentored by David Mancuso at his seminal Loft parties in New York City and as one of his most trusted collaborators helped set up The Loft in London. She presents the weekly Mixcloud radio show Balearic Breakfast and has hosted shows for BBC 6Music and BBC Radio 4. As a producer she has remixed The Cure, Fat Freddy’s Drop, Chaka Khan and more.
Venue and bar opening times
This event will take place in the British Library Knowledge Centre and is also available to watch online. Tickets may be booked to attend in person, or to watch online.
If you are attending in person, please note that the Knowledge Centre and the bar will be open in advance of your event.
Please arrive no later than 15 minutes before the start time of this event. If you have specific access requirements please email customer@bl.uk
Attending the event online
If you book an online ticket, you will receive the viewing link on the morning of the event. You can either watch the event live or during the next 14 days on catch up.
Concessions
There are a range of concessions available. These include discounts for British Library Members, Young Persons (16 – 25s), and visitors on Universal/Pension Credit and free entry for carers.
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