King Mojo's musical legacy painted into Sheffield mural

Former club-goers of one of Sheffield's most legendary music venues rolled up their sleeves to work on a spectacular new community mural.

It celebrates the King Mojo club that helped put the city on the musical map, writes Neil Anderson.

And a key figure returned to help create the major new artwork.

Artist Paul Norton, whose distinctive work adorned the famous King Mojo club in Pitsmoor during its heyday, joined Sheffield artist Angie Hardwick and a packed room of former club-goers for a painting session at Weston Park Museum.

Throughout the afternoon, visitors swapped stories of unforgettable nights at the club, reunited with old friends and watched as memories stretching back more than 60 years became part of a permanent artwork celebrating King Mojo's extraordinary legacy.

The mural, which has been shaped by memories and ideas contributed by former club-goers throughout the project, will receive its public unveiling at Attercliffe’s Library venue in the autumn.

Paul Norton said: "It was wonderful to see so many familiar faces and hear so many incredible memories. King Mojo always had a fantastic sense of community and it really felt as though that spirit came alive again. To see people adding their own brushstrokes to something that celebrates the club's history was incredibly special."

Over recent weeks, Angela, Paul and scores of former club-goers have worked closely together as the mural design has evolved. The artwork has been shaped by memories, ideas and suggestions gathered from former Mojo-goers and members of the public through events, online feedback, emails and media coverage.

Angie Hardwick said: "This was never intended to be my mural or Paul's mural – it's Sheffield's mural. The people who came along brought so much enthusiasm, laughter and so many wonderful memories. Watching former Mojo-goers become part of the artwork itself was exactly what we hoped this project would achieve.”

The mural forms part of Mojo Rising - Celebrating 60 Years of Music and Community, a two-year heritage project supported by a £114,300 grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.

King Mojo opened at 555 Pitsmoor Road in 1964 when Peter and Geoff Stringfellow transformed a former ballroom into a teenage club that would become one of the most important rhythm and blues venues in the North of England.

Over the following four years it hosted a remarkable roll-call of artists including Stevie Wonder, Tina Turner, Jimi Hendrix, The Who, Pink Floyd, Small Faces and many others before achieving legendary status in Sheffield's cultural history.

For more information visit www.kingmojo.org