Liverpool substation becomes a music landmark
SP Energy Networks transforms its Mathew Street substation with a mural featuring 100 local music icons, linking power infrastructure with cultural heritage.
Mathew Street mural / Image credit: SP Energy Networks
UK, England, Liverpool: A substation in the heart of Liverpool’s Cavern Quarter has become an unexpected celebration of the city’s musical legacy. SP Energy Networks has unveiled a new mural across the exterior of its Mathew Street substation, honouring 100 artists who shaped Liverpool’s sound—from The Beatles and OMD to Frankie Goes to Hollywood and Red Rum Club.
The artwork, created by Wirral-based artist Joe Venning, depicts musicians as an audience, turning Mathew Street into a symbolic “stage.” The mural forms part of a wider $1.3 M (£1 M) investment at the site, with SP Energy Networks contributing $33,000 (£25,000) to the installation in partnership with The Beatles Story and Liverpool BID.
The Mathew Street substation has powered Liverpool’s nightlife, venues, homes and businesses since 1996. SP Energy Networks said the mural reflects that shared history: “Liverpool’s music has echoed around the world and this mural brings that energy right back to the heart of the city,” said Scott Mathieson, Director of Network Planning and Regulation. He added that the substation is “on the doorstep of Liverpool’s most iconic live music venues” and it is fitting to celebrate the community it serves.
Today, SP Energy Networks supplies electricity to around 700,000 customers across the Liverpool City Region and is investing $315 M (£240 M) in distribution upgrades across Merseyside and Wirral through to 2028. The utility says the mural highlights the role of local infrastructure in powering culture, sustainability and community growth.
Artist Joe Venning hopes the mural encourages visitors to trace musical lineages: “You do not see many murals where members of Atomic Kitten rub shoulders with members of Carcass.”
Source: SP Energy Networks
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