Alan Dearling: Street Art, Musical Motifs and a few hours walkabout in Manchester…
This is something of a follow-up to my previous camera-trip around the Street Art in Manchester’s Northern Quarter.
School of Sound Recording: The Nico image was created by Trafford Parsons in 2018 on an external wall at Spirit Studios, Downing Street, Manchester. That’s not too far distant from Piccadilly Rail Station.
It is described as: “Marking the sad final years of Nico’s life in Prestwich and Salford”. I met the infamous Nico at my university in Kent not long after she had embarked on her solo musical career, post-Velvet Underground. She wasn’t even on a stage. Instead, she performed in a confined space on the edge of a semi-underground bar…dressed entirely in black. Nico stood statuesque, not-quite-human, playing mostly on a harmonium, producing the most unearthly vocals and ‘sounds’. Darkly, strangely, almost insanely depressive, an ominous presence…She had just produced her second solo album ‘The Marble Index’ which included ‘Lawn of Dawns’.
“Can you follow me?
Can you follow my distresses?
My caresses, fiery guesses?
Swim and sink into early morning messes”
Literally around the corner from the Nico wall painting is the entrance to Spirit Studios, dubbed “A Big Noise in Music Education”.
And immediately inside the Spirit Studios entrance is a fascinating ‘Music Map of Manchester’. The nice guys in the foyer told me that it was created by Dave Draws. It stretches down the corridor into the main studios. Sprit Studios have provided rehearsal and recording space for many Mancunian bands including The Smiths, Stone Roses, Happy Mondays, 808 State and Simply Red.
Spirit Studios: https://www.spiritstudios.ac.uk/
A real walk along the Wild Side of Manchester’s myriad musical history and heritage.
I moved on next to a newly painted mural of yet another music icon, this one of Joy Division’s frontman, Ian Curtis. It has been re-created at a new permanent site after it was over-painted with an Amazon Music advert a year ago for rapper Aitch’s new album. But Manchester councillors granted listed building consent for the new work on the side of a pub near Piccadilly Railway Station.
Artist Akse P19 put the finishing touches to it in time for World Suicide Prevention Day.
Ian Curtis was the troubled singer with the local Salford band, and he took his own life in 1980, shortly before Joy Division were due to go on tour in the US. I discovered online that the artwork has been commissioned by Headstock – the Manchester music and mental wellbeing festival – and Aitch’s management company. Headstock Founder, Atheer Al-Salim said: “It was important that we took the time to find the right location to ensure a long-term home for the artwork.” He said it was “poetic” that the mural has been re-created on “one of Manchester’s best-loved indie music venues.” This is the Grade II listed Star & Garter, next door to the Mayfield art and environmental development (pictured below) on Fairfield St.
Many pubs in central Manchester are music venues, virtual art galleries and museums of the city’s history: its psychogeography – places, people and events. The Peveril of The Peak boozer is a great example with walls crammed with photos of previous visitors including the Gallagher brothers, and Robbie Coltrane when he was filming locally for three episodes of ‘Cracker’. And here are two images from the rooftop mural at the Old Nag’s Head pub, near Deansgate, created by artist, Stephen Lynn.
Outside of the ‘Home’ creative hub, possibly incongruously, Friedrich Engels stares (or is it glowers?) down on Capitalist entertainments as Mancunians and visitors bustle around in search of yet ever more creative diversions. One wonders what he might have thought of all the street art and music that has been created in the city over the last 50 or 60 years?
Home Arts Centre: https://homemcr.org/
Some of the most striking and beautifully executed street art celebrating Manchester music and its history are the mosaic creations of Mark Kennedy. There are also images designed to confront viewers regarding the challenges of the realities of street life and mental health in Manchester, such as the street art of German, Case Maclaim, who produced his artwork in Cable Street as part of the ‘Cities of Hope’ charity initiative.
The city and its residents have witnessed many historic moments…and it looks well placed to long continue to enlarge and enhance that legacy. It continues to be in a state of flux. Here is a link to one informative street art site, created by Giulia: https://www.blocal-travel.com/street-art/manchester-street-art-guide/
