I was watching telly and up popped Jez from the Birmingham Music Archive on the regional news talking about a new series of musical themed maps being rolled out across Birmingham in partnership with West Midlands Railway’s Your Community, Your Fund. Jez is a revered contributor to Outsideleft, and the stalwart advocate for the regional music scene, and as the name of Jez’s organization suggests, the keeper of musically important historical documentation.
I always love any kind of alternative to the A-Z city map. In Los Angeles aside from the Grave Line tours (in preference to the regulation non-official star maps) I always liked the idea of a map where all roads from LAX, from OC, from the Valley, from East LA, lead to Jumbo's Clown Room.
Birmingham Music Archive’s city wide musical maps will help visitors to Birmingham discover the locations that have become part of the local musical lore by celebrating the roots of world famous artists like Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath, The Beat, Joan Armatrading, Andy Hamilton, Jamelia, Duran Duran, Ocean Color Scene and Laura Mvula alongside many more.
Jez said: “I’m passionate about Birmingham’s music history, heritage and culture and as a city we need to celebrate and publicise these stories of global interest.”
Each 3D wooden map has been produced by designers from city-based studio Space Play and will feature Spotify codes that connect to a curated playlist for each area.
Maps will be installed at the following stations: Sutton Coldfield, Four Oaks, Wylde Green, Chester Road, Erdington, Gravelly Hill, Perry Barr, Hamstead, Jewellery Quarter, Duddeston, Aston, Witton, Bordesley, Small Heath, Adderley Park, Lea Hall, Five Ways; Spring Road; Hall Green; Yardley Wood; Acocks Green; Stechford; Tyseley; Selly Oak; Bournville; Kings Norton; Northfield and Longbridge. University station will get two maps. University and Perry Barr stations will get their maps when redevelopment work there is completed next year.
Essential info
For more information about the project, visit www.21stories.co.uk, and for details about those behind the project, visit www.birminghammusicarchive.com
