When you think of Joy Division you might think of Ian Curtis, The Hacienda, or Factory Records – but one thing that will certainly spring to mind is that insanely iconic ‘Unknown Pleasures’ album artwork.
Well earlier this year, the Music Declares Emergency campaign group teamed up with Peter Saville and Joy Division to reimagine the classic artwork as part of their campaign “NO MUSIC ON A DEAD PLANET”.
Now, it’s has been recreated again – only this time, it’s the size of a house.
The original artwork, designed by Peter Saville in 1979, depicts a series of lines which represent the radio waves emitted from a rotating pulsar (or a star to you and I) as it turns.
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Over the years, the artwork has become one of the most recognisable of all time – but now, it has been given a much more impactful meaning by the Music Declares Emergency organisation.
The iconic artwork has been redesigned with flat lines / Credit: Withington Walls
As part of their “NO MUSIC ON A DEAD PLANET” campaign – which is bringing music into the fight against climate change – they have reimagined the original piece. The previous lines that represented the radio waves have been reworked as flat lines to symbolise the death of a planet and the silence that follows.
This week, the poignant new artwork was unveiled as a giant mural on the side of a house on Moorfield Street in Withington.
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It’s been painted by hand by artist Tom Jackson – a founding member of London muralist collective Wood Street Walls – and given that the mural has popped up in Withington, you might have guessed that it’s collaboration with Withington Walls – a local organisation who have been setting up mural projects across the town to celebrate some of the famous people from the area.
These are the people behind the Marcus Rashford and Tony Wilson murals that you might recognise.
This Joy Division one is the latest one to add to their collection.
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Fitting, as the band’s record label, Factory Records, was founded in a flat just down the road from where the mural sits.
The original artwork remains one of the most recognisable album artworks of all time.
Music Declares Emergency is encouraging the entire music industry to join forces in the fight against climate change.
A whole host of musicians, DJ, producers and more have already got involved worldwide. Famous names like Annie Mac, Enter Shikari, Editors, Sam Fender, The Cribs, and more are all on board. They’re calling on governments and media institutions for immediate action and to paint a more truthful picture of environmental issues.
So, to find out more about Music Declares Emergency and the campaign, check out the organisation’s website.
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Featured Image – Withington Walls
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Masked Manchester rapper Meekz announces UK tour with intimate hometown show
Georgina Pellant
Masked-up Manchester rapper Meekz has announced the details of his ‘Can’t Stop The Come Up’ tour, which will see the artist play an intimate hometown show at Manchester Academy 3.
Taking over the 470 capacity venue for one night in 2023 as part of the mini-tour, which also sees him play shows in London and Birmingham, fans will have a rare chance to see Meekz up close in a personal setting.
Earlier this year, the local heavyweight performed at the BRIT awards alongside UK rap champions Dave, Fredo, Ghetts and Giggs – giving a live rendition of his unforgettable verse on Dave’s ‘In the Fire’ to a mainstream audience of millions.
Meekz also impressed at Parklife festival last year, playing on the main stage to a crowd of thousands.
Meekz on the Parklife stage, 2021. / Image: Andrew Whitton
Now, he’s announced he’ll be pulling out all of the stops on tour – ending with a special homecoming show in the new year.
The tour announcement follows the first play of Meekz’s new track ‘Fresh Out The Bank’ featuring Dave which premiered as Clara Amfo’s BBC Radio 1 Hottest Record In The World last night.
Taken from his highly anticipated debut mixtape Respect The Come Up, which has just been released, Meekz has announced himself as the scene’s next superstar.
The 10-track project includes pre-release singles ‘Respect The Come Up’ & ‘More Money’ and seven brand new songs, plus a remastered version of ‘Take Losses’ – the 2018 cut which helped launch his career after the buzz it created on SoundCloud became too loud to ignore.
Meekz has established himself as one of UK rap’s brightest, most intriguing talents, who slices through the frost of street boasts and menace with moments of profound introspection.
His music evidently resonates with people on a grand scale: Meekz’s work has racked up 250 million streams to date and he’s approaching 100 million streams on Youtube, with 200,000 subscribers locked into his channel.
Tickets for the new live dates go on sale at 10am on Thursday 24th November and will be available here.
MEEKZ UK TOUR DATES 2023
Wed 22 February Birmingham O2 Institute 2 Fri 24 February London O2 Islington Academy Mon 27 February Manchester Academy 3
Feature image – Meekz
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An exhibition and all-day rave showcasing underground club culture and more is coming to Manchester
Georgina Pellant
An art exhibition and all-day rave showcasing underground, queer clubbing culture and more is going on show at Manchester’s newest music venue, The Loft.
Set inside a warehouse-style nightclub on an industrial estate in Miles Platting, PALOMA will be part exhibition, part rave: shining a light on the young local talent busy capturing the world of underground clubbing – as well as day-to-day life in and around Manchester.
Sound-tracked by a special line-up of DJs including Unity Radio’s Adele Tondu, multi-disciplinary artist Jordan K Joseph (whose artwork will also be on show), Zuri, and Manami B2B UK techno bass fusionist selector INGI, here music fans can explore images captured on blurry nights and dark rooms whilst vibing to meandering beats.
As for the artwork on show, those heading down can expect to see works from DJ curator Jordan K Joseph, Stockport-based photographer, Annie Woodall, Documcr AKA Harry Flaherty, Abbie Fowler, Rhianna Austin, and Egle Bidvaite.
Rhianna Austin will be bringing her varied style of photography, focusing on people in places whether that be incorporated within landscapes or nightclubs. Image: Supplied
Manami will go B2B with UK techno bass fusionist selector INGI
From work by Lithuanian native Egle Bidvaite, known for capturing the extraordinary fashion of underground queer raves and hidden moments of blurry nights, to photographs from Jordan K Joseph, whose style and artistic direction are informed by his love for music and the underground clubbing world, music and art lovers will find plenty to explore across the day.
Elsewhere, there will be work on display by Annie Woodall, who captures scenes from her day-to-day life in South Manchester, and signature postcards from Abbie Fowler exploring the realms of photojournalism and landscape photography, all captured exclusively in film.
Documcr, AKA Harry Flaherty (the first collaborator of PALOMA.) creates art that brings to life familiarities of places and faces we know, and experiences we share, whilst Rhianna Austin will be bringing her varied style of photography, focusing on people in places whether that be incorporated within landscapes or nightclubs. Her main goal, to highlight a sense of beauty in any setting.
Taking place on 26 November, The Loft will be transformed for the day with one hundred free Paloma cocktails on offer to those first through the door, courtesy of tequila brand El Jimador.
Tickets are available to purchase for £7 on Resident Advisor or Skiddle, which admits entry to the exhibition and day party. Tickets can be purchased on Resident Advisor or Skiddle. The Loft is located in Unit 1, New Street, M40 8AW.
Hannah Starkie -
15th October 2021 
