july: crime, flowers, friends, music

Dear friends, flaneurs, mischief, merry and magick makers

I am delighted that Alan is in curating the LRM’s next expeditions.
Join us on Sunday for a trip into the criminal underworld of Victorian Manchester. Explore the haunts of crooks, villains, scuttlers, cracksmen, fences, pimps, prostitutes, conmen, garroters and bareknuckle prizefighters. From the first modern youth cult to a real-life Sherlock Holmes, taking in super-criminals and murderous ruffians along the way. Following a route from Deansgate to Ancoats via Salford, Strangeways, Angel Meadow and New Cross we will be mapping the exciting and frightening world of Victorian Manchester's slums and its inhabitants.

"The greatest stream of human industry flows out to fertilise the whole world. From this filthy sewer pure gold flows. Here humanity attains its most complete development and its most brutish; here civilisation works its miracles, and civilised man is turned back into savage." Alexis de Tocqueville on Manchester

Meet us in the Barton Arcade on Deansgate at 1pm on Sunday. Please keep your truncheons at home.

There are plenty of other treats lined up this month too….

The Scratch and Sniff Cinema hosted by occasional loiterer Bren is back as part of the Hazard festival and will be showing my beautiful launderette for free in a cardboard launderette on 16th / 17th July http://scratchnsnifflaundrette.eventbrite.com/

As well as providing news with a kick The Mule are looking to produce a treasury of Manchester’s highlights; I’m sure loiterers will have something to add (and can get inspiration from other people’s thoughts) www.manchestermule.com (not sure if the relevant article is live yet but it will be soon)

I’ve got a couple of questions which I would really appreciate your thoughts on for future projects…. How do you deal with abuse / hassle on the street if you have experienced it? And, more cheerfully Which are you favourite wild flowers in unexpected places? The LRM have long been champions of the buddlia, patron plant of Manchester, but this year I have found myself transfixed by so many blooms…. Poppies on castlefield rubble, lillies by an abandoned car on the A6, a mystery purple delight brightening a dark alley…. I am still sad at the destruction (in the name of decency and progress) of our beloved hanging gardens of Pomona but somehow nature will still find a way to show us who is boss.

Finally The LRM are hosting one of our occasional musical extravaganzas / social events, those of you who have come in the past will know we only put on gigs for bands we love and always lay on cakes and random surprises too, so please do come along on Friday 9th July 7.30pm onwards at the Britons Protection.

There will be a rare whole band show for the amazing Case Hardin, with high quality support from The Tao of Steve and Phil Davies. Case Hardin play ace americana with a twist; many of their songs were written whilst Pete was in Iraq. There will be songs to make you cry, laugh and want to dance and it would be lovely to see you there. Tickets are £4 which all goes to the bands.

I hope to see you on Sunday 4th, Friday 9th or someone on the streets very soon. As ever if you need more information please email loiter@hepzombie.co.uk or call 07974929589.

There’s also a bit of a summary of some of our adventures so far in the rather good Things Happen zine: http://issuu.com/mmdc/docs/things_happen_issuu_one

With love and foxgloves
Morag x