Sam Ryder Spaceman Eurovision outfit to go display at the BME in Liverpool

The outfit worn by Sam Ryder during Eurovision 2022 when he came second in the contest, is going on display in Liverpool

The outfit worn on stage by Sam Ryder 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 song contest.

Sam Ryder is a British singer-songwriter whose meteoric rise to success started through TikTok videos featuring covers of chart toppers during Covid-19 lockdowns. These led to Sam representing 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.

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Harking back to some of the stage outfits of the likes of Ziggy Stardust, Queen and Elton John, the black denim jump suit worn by Sam Ryder 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. Without being gimmicky there is also a trace of the Union Jack in the design. Day enlisted the help of illustrator Joseph Larkowsky to get his and Ryder’s vision onto paper, while embroiderer Jenny King worked tirelessly to embellish the suit. 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.

Describing the outfit Sam Ryder commented:

“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.”

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 will be hosting a special event with Sam Ryder ahead of him taking the stage at The O2 Academy, Liverpool on Saturday 25 March 2023. More information will be announced on the British Music Experience website and social media feeds.

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.