Sam Ryder’s Epic Eurovision Space Man Jumpsuit to go on Display at the British Music Experience

Liverpool’s British Music Experience to Celebrate Sam Ryder’s Success at Eurovision 2022 while the City Hosts Eurovision 2023

Sparkling with symbolism, Sam Ryder’s outfit worn on stage at the Eurovision Song Contest 2022 will go on public display at the British Music Experience (BME) in Liverpool on 22 March 2023 ahead of the city hosting the 67th edition of the song contest culminating with the final on 13 May 2023.

Sam Ryder is a British singer-songwriter whose meteoric rise to success started through TikTok videos featuring covers of rock, pop and alternative chart toppers during Covid-19 lockdowns. Sam’s showstopping falsetto vocals caused his videos to go viral. Ryder went on to represent the UK at the Eurovision Song Contest 2022 in Turin, Italy with the song Space Man, finishing first in the jury vote and second overall. Sam released his debut studio album, There’s Nothing But Space Man! (2022) which landed Number 1 in the Official UK Albums Chart and saw him nominated for Best New Artist at the 2023 BRIT Awards, becoming the first Eurovision act to be nominated in this category.

Harking back to some of the stage outfits of the likes of Ziggy Stardust, Queen and Elton John, Sam Ryder’s black denim jumpsuit is encrusted with jewelled glass crystals, beads, pearls and embroidered symbolism. Luke Day was the stylist behind the monochrome jumpsuit which is heavy with symbols of the sun, moon,
planets and stars. Inspiration was taken from heritage greats such as Bowie and Elvis as well as Sam’s love of astronomy and astrology.

Sam Ryder commented on the outfit, “This jumpsuit was worn at the Eurovision Song Contest 2022 in Turin during our performance of Space Man. For me, it tells the story of a turning point in the competition for the UK and in my personal journey with music. The suit itself took over 210 hours of work and over 15,000 beads and gems to create (around the same number of hours I spent practising the high notes in the song!) The process of writing Space Man with dear friends, the journey we went on as a team and the positive reception and result we received all culminated in a moment shared in this suit, and I couldn’t be more grateful it’s going on public display for Liverpool and fans around the world to enjoy.”

The outfit is a tribute to the song, the artist, the UK and to Eurovision. And it shows. It shows how much Sam cared about representing the UK at the 66th Eurovision Song Contest. Sam Ryder won the hearts and minds of Eurovision and remains a favourite with fans being hailed as authentic with an incredible voice. Ryder has quickly become a national treasure.

Sam’s stylist, Luke Day commented “Once I’d heard the song I knew I wanted to be involved. I met Sam at the end of March and I’d seen his Eurovision rehearsal performance and knew that if we got the outfit right, this could be a real moment. A lot of the concept inspiration came from Britain’s musical heritage; Ziggy Stardust, Freddie Mercury, Elton John. We wanted it to have a galactic, ‘space man’ feel, without it being too literal but to reflect his love of astronomy and astrology. Another inspiration was the Union Jack flag coat that David Bowie wore in the Nineties, which was designed by Alexander McQueen. The large
cross design on Sam’s body is taken from that piece. I enlisted the help of illustrator Joseph Larkowsky to get his and Ryder’s vision onto paper, while embroiderer Jenny King worked for over 200 hours to hand embellish the suit with more than 15,000 pearls, beads and gems with sun, moon and star motifs.”

Executive Director of the British Music Experience Liz Koravos commented “Sam Ryder’s symbolic jumpsuit is one of the great stage outfits of present day. We are excited by an object that tells a meaningful story and this one tells so many, from Sam’s rocket-charged successes to Eurovision’s ethos of inclusion, world unity in support of Ukraine to the human message of Space Man. We are so grateful to Sam Ryder for lending the outfit to us to put on public display.”

Head of UNESCO City of Music for Liverpool, Kevin McManus, commented “This is great news for Liverpool, and for all the Eurovision fans that will be visiting the city in the build up to Eurovision. It is a real coup for BME to be able to display Sam Ryder’s incredible and instantly recognisable outfit and I’m sure those fans who visit to see the outfit will find much more to enjoy in BME’s remarkable collection of instruments, outfits and rock n roll ephemera.”

Sam’s jumpsuit will go on display at the British Music Experience and it will be in excellent company as the Museum charts the history of rock and pop music from 1945 to present day through instruments and stage outfits worn by some of the UK’s most popular artists. Eurovision successes such as Lulu, Sandie
Shaw and Bucks Fizz are represented already in the archive and the collection as well as all the heritage greats such as David Bowie, Queen and Elton John.

The British Music Experience has a planned season of activity scheduled to celebrate Eurovision inLiverpool and beyond. The content will feature Eurovision related stage outfits, an interactive archive display allowing visitors to delve deep into the history of the song contest and a stage montage of Eurovision hits. There will be a supporting public event programme including a VIP screening of the Eurovision grand finale, screenings of the semi-finals, a big Eurovision Quiz and panel discussions with past contestants. BME is also launching its new education workshop entitled Euro-Pop Culture which examines social and political changes over the past 6 decades concluding with the war in Ukraine.

The British Music Experience will be hosting a special Q&A with Sam Ryder on Saturday 25 March 2023 at 1.30pm, ahead of him taking the stage at The O2 Academy, Liverpool. This event will be free with a general entry Museum ticket and more information will be announced on the British Music Experience website
and social media feeds once available.

All general entry tickets purchased are valid for 12 months and each eligible visitor has the opportunity to support the Museum by Gift Aiding the cost of admission.

To purchase general entry tickets, go to www.britishmusicexperience.com

About the British Music Experience

The British Music Experience is the UK’s Museum of Popular Music – a place where visitors relive the moments that helped put UK music on the map. The BME opened in the heart of Liverpool in the iconic Cunard Building in 2017. The BME has made its mark as the centre for everyone who wants to celebrate
the fantastic history of British music.

Boasting an unrivalled collection of stage outfits, objects and instruments, the museum charts the beginnings, rise and influence of British pop from 1945 to the present day. In addition to an incredible collection of artefacts and memorabilia – which includes some of David Bowie’s Ziggy Stardust costumes, the iconic Beatles’ Saville Row Apple Corp Door and the original handwritten lyrics to ‘Blue Monday’ – the museum also covers the impact that British music had on the culture, fashion, art and politics of the time. It reminds us that British music has at times defined and celebrated what it means to be British, challenged
the status quo and given voice to the dispossessed.

The Museum includes galleries, learning zones, audio visual experiences, an interactive instrument studio, a dance area and a live music venue.

The Learning and Public Programmes, together with our temporary exhibitions further enrich the visitor experience through a range of events; from educational workshops for school children, to master classes and gigs hosted by industry experts.

Finally, there is a gift shop filled with the best of music heritage merch and a café, open to the general public, overlooking the Mersey.

The BME is a registered charity with a mission to advance the appreciation and understanding of the art, history and science of popular music in Britain. (Registered Charity 1125752).