The first events have been announced for Design Manchester’s fifth annual festival; DM17 which this year will run from 11-22 October. DM17 aims to reflect on the rich musical and visual heritage of the city with an eye on the future.
As Manchester’s forefront festival of design and creativity, DM17 have announced a “four-track EP of events” on the theme of Fizzing at the Terminals. The four events are a celebratory Buzzcocks gig and a series of exhibitions to mark 40 years since the release of ‘Orgasm Addict’ by Manchester punk legends Buzzcocks, and its iconic record sleeve designed by Malcolm Garrett, then still a student at Manchester School of Art:
A1: Design Manchester and So it is presents: Buzzcocks with support from PINS
Buzzcocks will play the O2 Manchester Ritz on 19th October, with support from contemporary all-female Manchester punk band PINS (Bella Union).
PINS recently collaborated with Iggy Pop on their Bad Thing EP, and in 2015 opened for Sleater-Kinney on the UK leg of their tour. Artwork and projections from the ‘Fizzing at the Terminals’ and ‘Orgasm Addict Reframed’ exhibitions will be displayed around the venue during the gig.
A2: Fizzing at the Terminals exhibition at PLANT NOMA
DM17 presents Malcolm Garrett’s classic designs for Buzzcocks from the early period – including Malcolm’s first ever design for Buzzcocks, the ‘Love Battery’ poster for a gig in May 1977 (featuring the ‘Fizzing at the Terminals’ lyric); the famed ‘Orgasm Addict’ record sleeve that featured in the V&A’s Postmodernism exhibition; the Constructivist-inspired sleeve for ‘A Different Kind of Tension’ – right through to the cover for ‘Buzzcocks, The Complete History’, the updated biography by Tony McGartland published in 2017.
B1: Orgasm Addict Reframed
An exhibition curated by Design Manchester, Secret 7” and DR.ME featuring Michael C Place, Craig Oldham, DR.ME, Swifty and Judy Blame all offering their versions of the controversial ‘Orgasm Addict’ sleeve.
The results will be displayed in venues and spaces across the city throughout the festival. Malcolm’s original design featured a montage by the artist Linder Sterling, which Malcolm turned upside down and rendered in single colour to create the graphic impact of the sleeve.
B2: Time’s Up
An exhibition about the first Buzzcocks line-up, with Howard Devoto as lead vocal in 1976 and early 1977. The band were formed in 1976 at Bolton Institute of Technology, now the Universty of Bolton, where the exhibition will be held, displaying artwork and memorabilia including the ‘Spiral Scratch’ EP and the ‘Time’s Up’ box set alongside handbills, posters and photographs.
This year’s design festival will feature over 50 events including talks, exhibitions, workshops, films, a design fair and parties at venues throughout the city.
Design Manchester is supported by Manchester City Council and Manchester School of Art at Manchester Metropolitan University.
For further information, announcements, updates and ticket information please visit: www.designmcr.com
