Liverpool tribute song inspires city centre mural

L – R: Songwriter Jimmy Rae with Radio Merseyside’s Billy Butler, Artist Jim Fleming and Café Owner Ken Izli at the unveiling of the Mersey Moon Mural. Photograph by John H Hutchinson.

A local singer songwriter’s charity single about Liverpool has proved the inspiration for an imposing new mural in a city centre café.

Jimmy Rae wrote and released his song ‘Under the Mersey Moon’ last year in aid of Liverpool Unites and Wirral Autistic Society. The song has sold well locally and been featured on local radio many times. It has been performed in Liverpool’s Anglican Cathedral and even spawned a specially made You Tube video tribute from a fan.

Now the cover illustration for the single has been enlarged to around 100 times its original size in the form of a specially commissioned mural down one entire wall of the City Café on Stanley Street. Liverpool L1.

The colourful dreamscape, featuring many local landmarks and references to the song, was painted by local artist Jim Fleming, after café owner Ken Izli spotted his work in a café in West Kirby.

“I wanted to do something special for Liverpool, my adopted city” said Ken, who settled on Merseyside from Fulham with his family in 1999. “As soon as I saw Jim’s work I knew he was the man for the job and then when he played me Jimmy’s song, it provided the perfect theme.”

A celebration event for family, friends, musicians and café regulars was held on Wednesday 27th April to mark the completion of the mural. Jimmy Rae performed an intimate acoustic set for the occasion, including Under the Mersey Moon, which he says was written as a tribute to the enduring spirit of Liverpool, through good times and bad.

BBC Radio Merseyside’s Billy Butler, who has played the song many times on his show, said: “Under the Mersey Moon is one of my all-time favourite songs about Liverpool. I love the whole atmosphere of the song and the wistfulness of the lyrics and Jim Fleming’s artwork has captured it perfectly.”