Dear friends, comrades, flaneurs and flibbertygibbets
I trust you are enjoying summer, I’ve spent much of the last month sitting in fields, listening to music, drinking mojitos and grinning – sometimes all at the same time. Bliss! However I’ve also been getting increasingly angry at the nonsense so called newspapers see fit to print; it reminds me how important it is to actually talk to folk, look around, question authority, create alternatives and try to engage with the real world, not a mediated spectacle.
I truly believe walking is one of the most beautiful ways to do this; personally it’s how I learn best and also of course its free and uncommodified. Never really having much money I feel rather distanced from talk of the age of austerity; make do and mend is nothing new here. I’m also getting bloody frustrated at this big society nonsense; I already live in a world where people take responsibility, action and care for each other despite getting screwed by those allegedly in charge. And I’m rather fond of The NHS and the notion people are all equal and equally valued. Grrr
Anyhow, back to the streets. I am delighted that this month’s First Sunday will see the second installment of Alan’s glorious crime spree. He really does make a splendid host so please do join us if you can.
Following on from last months look at the Scuttlers, we will concentrate on the decidedly nastier gangsters of the Gunchester era. For over 20 years Manchester has been famed for its bars and nightclubs, most famously the Hacienda, but the good times had a sinister side that almost brought the city to its knees. Meet us at Knott Bar (under the railway arch at the Castlefield end of Deansgate) at 2pm on Sunday 1st August for a walk along the sometimes bloodstained streets of the Mancunian criminal underworld.
The following Saturday The LRM will be collaborating with Manchester Womens Design Group on a Places Women Love’ Walk which starts at the pebble in front of the Bridgewater Hall on Saturday 7 August at 11.00am and will explore issues around gender and urban space.
As part of their research into how women respond to the design of the built environment, Manchester Women’s Design Group has been asking women, through workshops and an Emotions’ Map of the city centre, which parts of central Manchester make them feel worried and anxious, and which places they love because they make them feel happy and relaxed. This guided walk will present some of their findings so far – and will encourage debate to further their walk
Numbers for this walk (unlike First Sunday) be limited so if you would like to join please email mwdg@live.com to reserve your place. More details can be found at http://womensdesign.blogspot.com/
Finally a few messages from our friends:
O Please take a few moments to support Rabar Hamad www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=138558076173602
O Watch out for a Free shop springing up somewhere in town tomorrow afternoon thanks to lovely folk working towards a new social centre in Manchester http://www.manchestersocialcentre.org/
O Hulme Community Garden Centre has loads of good stuff coming up, including a party tomorrow http://www.hulmegardencentre.org.uk/
O as ever there are lots of items of interest in The Mule and at http://manchestermule.com/ (not all journalism is bad!)
I hope to see you Sunday or some day soon, as ever please do get in touch should you have psychogeographic thoughts to share email loiter@hepzombie.co.uk or call the hotline on 079 749 29589
Much love and magick rum
Morag x
Friday, 30 July 2010
Thursday, 1 July 2010
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
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
Tuesday, 22 June 2010
a musical extravaganza
Hello everyone
Merry day after solstice!
I’ve had lots of requests for an LRM social (not that the derives are entirely ant-soc ial really) and whilst this isn’t psychogeographic it does combine two of my favourite things in the world – great music and a decent, proper pub – and thus has got to be worth sharing with you lovely loiterers too
So: please come along to a night of top tunes at the Britons Protection on Friday July 9th from 7.30pm
I am delighted Case Hardin will be playing a rare Manchester gig as a full band, bringing top notch Americana with a twist; subject matter covers not just love and whiskey but Iraq too; Pete has spent time there as a journalist and I challenge anyone to hear him sing ‘The Letter’ and not feel moved. They really are a splendid band.
Thanks to Jonathan at Single Cell collective the support acts are ace too. Steve Roberts and Phil Davies are both splendid. There will be cakes and a few surprises thrown in as well.
Tickets cost £4 on the door (all money goes towards the bands expenses) a bargain for a Friday night of top quality entertainment.
I hope to see lots of loiterers there; I think it will be really special. For advance tickets or more details please email loiter@hepzombie.co.uk or call me on 07974929589
Glittery love and wildflowers
Morag xx
PS More details soon about July and August First Sunday which will be Alan’s crime tour in two halves (that sounds a wee bit wrong written down but Alan’s walks are always wonderful)
Merry day after solstice!
I’ve had lots of requests for an LRM social (not that the derives are entirely ant-soc ial really) and whilst this isn’t psychogeographic it does combine two of my favourite things in the world – great music and a decent, proper pub – and thus has got to be worth sharing with you lovely loiterers too
So: please come along to a night of top tunes at the Britons Protection on Friday July 9th from 7.30pm
I am delighted Case Hardin will be playing a rare Manchester gig as a full band, bringing top notch Americana with a twist; subject matter covers not just love and whiskey but Iraq too; Pete has spent time there as a journalist and I challenge anyone to hear him sing ‘The Letter’ and not feel moved. They really are a splendid band.
Thanks to Jonathan at Single Cell collective the support acts are ace too. Steve Roberts and Phil Davies are both splendid. There will be cakes and a few surprises thrown in as well.
Tickets cost £4 on the door (all money goes towards the bands expenses) a bargain for a Friday night of top quality entertainment.
I hope to see lots of loiterers there; I think it will be really special. For advance tickets or more details please email loiter@hepzombie.co.uk or call me on 07974929589
Glittery love and wildflowers
Morag xx
PS More details soon about July and August First Sunday which will be Alan’s crime tour in two halves (that sounds a wee bit wrong written down but Alan’s walks are always wonderful)
Friday, 4 June 2010
june 's first sunday
hello all, this sunday june 6th we'll be meeting at the knott bar for a lucky dip derive, more details soon yep i know its late notice, i have been sorting a few things out including a special gig on july 9th x
Monday, 10 May 2010
foxy fun this weekend
The LRM Urban Fox Hunt is a large scale game of hide and seek with added twists. Hunters must use tactics and luck to try to catch a (human) fox – please note: we are not scum, no animals will be harmed.
We first played this game last year and it was great fun (final score was one each to the foxes and the hunters) and we have been invited to run it again at Hide and Seeks Sandpit this Saturday - a large and very splendid collection of pervasive games which is part of Futureeverything.
To make it happen we need a bit of help from folk who like being silly and would be willing to take on a secret mission to make the game more exciting for everyone. Of course you are welcome to just turn up and play but I would be very grateful for your help turning this into something very special.
If you are up for the challenge shhhh don’t tell anyone (that would spoil the surprise) but please email the lrm at loiter@hepzombie.co.uk or call / text 07974929589 as soon as possible so I can arrange to give you the necessary information and buy you a beverage in exchange for your time.
The game itself runs 7.00pm sharp until 8.00pm this Saturday 15th May, starting at The Contact Theatre (best arrive early to be sure of a place)
Hope to see you playing out on the streets….
Love and joy
Morag x
Ps Images from The LRMs secret Manchester photo expedition are now part of an exhibition at Salford Art Gallery (below Stairs Gallery) which runs at least until 25th May, possibly till July
We first played this game last year and it was great fun (final score was one each to the foxes and the hunters) and we have been invited to run it again at Hide and Seeks Sandpit this Saturday - a large and very splendid collection of pervasive games which is part of Futureeverything.
To make it happen we need a bit of help from folk who like being silly and would be willing to take on a secret mission to make the game more exciting for everyone. Of course you are welcome to just turn up and play but I would be very grateful for your help turning this into something very special.
If you are up for the challenge shhhh don’t tell anyone (that would spoil the surprise) but please email the lrm at loiter@hepzombie.co.uk or call / text 07974929589 as soon as possible so I can arrange to give you the necessary information and buy you a beverage in exchange for your time.
The game itself runs 7.00pm sharp until 8.00pm this Saturday 15th May, starting at The Contact Theatre (best arrive early to be sure of a place)
Hope to see you playing out on the streets….
Love and joy
Morag x
Ps Images from The LRMs secret Manchester photo expedition are now part of an exhibition at Salford Art Gallery (below Stairs Gallery) which runs at least until 25th May, possibly till July
Friday, 30 April 2010
May 2010: rebels, revolutionaries and the return of the fox
My dear friends, flanuers and foxcubs
I hope spring is springing up nicely where you are, I saw my first
ducklings of the year on the canal yesterday which is always a cause for celebration and every time I walk down the street something new is blossoming… I love the colours, much as I love this place it can tend to the drab in places and I want frivolity, prettiness and joy…. Let’s celebrate the so called weeds which spring up amongst the broken paving slabs and raise a glass to buddlia, patron plant of the peoples republic of mancunia.
Thank you so much to everyone who got in touch after last months mailing, I really appreciate your comments, not least because hurtling words into cyberspace one can never be sure of their impact. It delights me the diggers resonate so loudly and it was a joy to hear from so many people with a passion for radical history.
Mays first Sunday is going to be rather unusual (I don’t know quite what to expect myself, but then I never do) It will be curated by Tim and he plans to tell tales of Rebels, Revolutionaries, and Independent Thinkers He says “My plan includes the following: John Bradford, John Dee, Fredrick Engels & Karl Marx, the Pankhursts, the English Civil War Siege of Manchester, Elizabeth Gaskell, the Jacobites and Bonnie Prince Charlie, Jerome Caminada, Annie Horniman and the Peterloo Massacre and hopefully others. As this will be an LRM event, I am anticipating our usual interactive style, which makes our explorings so very enjoyable!”
The meeting point is at the front of the Duke of Wellington pub in the Shambles at 2:00pm. Afterwards doubtless some will share a beverage and banter in a convivial pub but several of us will be hotfooting it across the river to enjoy Sounds of the Other City Salford’s musical extravaganza
Mayday is possibly my favourite bank holiday of the year being a heady mix of Beltaine, dancing and workers solidarity. Some of you may recall last year’s inaugural LRM Fox Hunt; a giant game of tactical hide and seek with high vis jackets and much silliness on the streets. I have heard the impatient cries of tally ho and bow to demand for another round – but this year the game will be bigger, trickster-ier and even more ridiculous.
I am delighted The LRM Fox Hunt will manifest itself again as part of The HideandSeek Sandpit at Contact Theatre on Saturday 15th May 7pm-ish as part of the always interesting Futureeverything. http://www.futureeverything.org/assets/files/FE10_Brochure.pdf
More details as soon as we have them but be assured: glorious shenanigans will result. And of course not a single real fox will be troubled; we are not scum and barbarity is never sporting.
If you can keep a secret and want to play a special role in the game please get in touch with me as soon as possible, but don’t tell anyone you are doing so. The LRM: like M15 but with more glitter and a nicer mission
Our friends are also up to all kinds of exciting things this week (hence the lack of another mini-fest: we want collaboration not competition between interesting people: there is more than enough energy and imagination to go round. And we like not having to do all the organising) The following all come heartily recommended:
Manchester No Borders are hosting a community barbeque in Hulme tomorrow http://nobordersmanchester.blogspot.com/ The LRM will never tell you how or if to vote but we will say loud and proud: everyone is welcome here. Fuck off racists, no pasaran!
The Manchester Municipal Design Corporation and Manchester Modernist Society invite everyone to meet at the Odeon Oxford Road on Tuesday to celebrate a cultural landmark by projecting images onto its façade. They promise there will be popcorn and a seminar afterwards. Action starts 9.30pm prompt. The Manchester Modernist Map is being launched on Friday too http://www.manchestermodernistsociety.org/map.html
A call has been issued for events to form part of Hazard, Manchester’s biennial festival of intervention and mischief, the deadline for ideas is May 17th and if anyone has any thoughts on this and whether The LRM should get involved please do holler http://www.hazardmcr.org
And finally, on a more ongoing basis the gardening group at Platt Fields are looking for people who want to join with them to grow vegetables on a shared plot, no experience needed and a very warm welcome is promised http://www.plattfields.org
I hope something here appeals and you never get bored with our city; there is magick everywhere if you look hard enough
Much love
Morag x
PS I have re-entered the modern age: yes, I now have a working phone, tv and internet connection (fingers crossed) and can only apologise for all cross at my elusiveness when they were not working. Truthfully it was quite nice to be silent for a bit but now there are adventures to be had and contacts to be made. If you are new to loitering or just want some information or a chat please do feel free to call the once again hot hotline on 079 749 29589 or email loiter@hepzombie.co.uk I will also be striving to blog more now at www.nowhere-fest.blogspot.com but suspect the streets will continue to tempt me away from the screen
I hope spring is springing up nicely where you are, I saw my first
ducklings of the year on the canal yesterday which is always a cause for celebration and every time I walk down the street something new is blossoming… I love the colours, much as I love this place it can tend to the drab in places and I want frivolity, prettiness and joy…. Let’s celebrate the so called weeds which spring up amongst the broken paving slabs and raise a glass to buddlia, patron plant of the peoples republic of mancunia.
Thank you so much to everyone who got in touch after last months mailing, I really appreciate your comments, not least because hurtling words into cyberspace one can never be sure of their impact. It delights me the diggers resonate so loudly and it was a joy to hear from so many people with a passion for radical history.
Mays first Sunday is going to be rather unusual (I don’t know quite what to expect myself, but then I never do) It will be curated by Tim and he plans to tell tales of Rebels, Revolutionaries, and Independent Thinkers He says “My plan includes the following: John Bradford, John Dee, Fredrick Engels & Karl Marx, the Pankhursts, the English Civil War Siege of Manchester, Elizabeth Gaskell, the Jacobites and Bonnie Prince Charlie, Jerome Caminada, Annie Horniman and the Peterloo Massacre and hopefully others. As this will be an LRM event, I am anticipating our usual interactive style, which makes our explorings so very enjoyable!”
The meeting point is at the front of the Duke of Wellington pub in the Shambles at 2:00pm. Afterwards doubtless some will share a beverage and banter in a convivial pub but several of us will be hotfooting it across the river to enjoy Sounds of the Other City Salford’s musical extravaganza
Mayday is possibly my favourite bank holiday of the year being a heady mix of Beltaine, dancing and workers solidarity. Some of you may recall last year’s inaugural LRM Fox Hunt; a giant game of tactical hide and seek with high vis jackets and much silliness on the streets. I have heard the impatient cries of tally ho and bow to demand for another round – but this year the game will be bigger, trickster-ier and even more ridiculous.
I am delighted The LRM Fox Hunt will manifest itself again as part of The HideandSeek Sandpit at Contact Theatre on Saturday 15th May 7pm-ish as part of the always interesting Futureeverything. http://www.futureeverything.org/assets/files/FE10_Brochure.pdf
More details as soon as we have them but be assured: glorious shenanigans will result. And of course not a single real fox will be troubled; we are not scum and barbarity is never sporting.
If you can keep a secret and want to play a special role in the game please get in touch with me as soon as possible, but don’t tell anyone you are doing so. The LRM: like M15 but with more glitter and a nicer mission
Our friends are also up to all kinds of exciting things this week (hence the lack of another mini-fest: we want collaboration not competition between interesting people: there is more than enough energy and imagination to go round. And we like not having to do all the organising) The following all come heartily recommended:
Manchester No Borders are hosting a community barbeque in Hulme tomorrow http://nobordersmanchester.blogspot.com/ The LRM will never tell you how or if to vote but we will say loud and proud: everyone is welcome here. Fuck off racists, no pasaran!
The Manchester Municipal Design Corporation and Manchester Modernist Society invite everyone to meet at the Odeon Oxford Road on Tuesday to celebrate a cultural landmark by projecting images onto its façade. They promise there will be popcorn and a seminar afterwards. Action starts 9.30pm prompt. The Manchester Modernist Map is being launched on Friday too http://www.manchestermodernistsociety.org/map.html
A call has been issued for events to form part of Hazard, Manchester’s biennial festival of intervention and mischief, the deadline for ideas is May 17th and if anyone has any thoughts on this and whether The LRM should get involved please do holler http://www.hazardmcr.org
And finally, on a more ongoing basis the gardening group at Platt Fields are looking for people who want to join with them to grow vegetables on a shared plot, no experience needed and a very warm welcome is promised http://www.plattfields.org
I hope something here appeals and you never get bored with our city; there is magick everywhere if you look hard enough
Much love
Morag x
PS I have re-entered the modern age: yes, I now have a working phone, tv and internet connection (fingers crossed) and can only apologise for all cross at my elusiveness when they were not working. Truthfully it was quite nice to be silent for a bit but now there are adventures to be had and contacts to be made. If you are new to loitering or just want some information or a chat please do feel free to call the once again hot hotline on 079 749 29589 or email loiter@hepzombie.co.uk I will also be striving to blog more now at www.nowhere-fest.blogspot.com but suspect the streets will continue to tempt me away from the screen
Monday, 12 April 2010
the secret manchester photo day results....
sorry for short notice (for once not my fault as I only just got this info) but this is whats happened to the photos we took on the exploration of secret manchester...
the launch event for the exhibition will take place at Salford Art Gallery (Ble Stairs Gallery) on Wednesday 14th April 2.45pm-4.25pm, directions to the venue available at http://www.salford.gov.uk/salfordmuseum-planning.htm. Family and friends are all welcome. The exhibition runs til 25th May
the launch event for the exhibition will take place at Salford Art Gallery (Ble Stairs Gallery) on Wednesday 14th April 2.45pm-4.25pm, directions to the venue available at http://www.salford.gov.uk/salfordmuseum-planning.htm. Family and friends are all welcome. The exhibition runs til 25th May
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