Heavenly 25 Exhibition Set For Rough Trade East

That scuzzy blue bird, icon of Heavenly Records, turns 25 this year. 

Acclaimed photographer Brian David Stevens has produced a special exhibition consisting of 54 photographic portraits of artists old and new, celebrating the life of Heavenly and all the musical pioneers and mavericks who have worked with the label since its inception in 1990.

Given we are talking about an upcoming photographic exhibition, imagery is a relevant starting point for this article. 

Heavenly, in their own words, say the blue bird was the work of 'Paul', the acid and heroin (boldly taken simultaneously) loving friend of the band Flowered Up. As soon as Paul appeared with the bird, the fledging Heavenly records adopted it as their logo. When we heard it was Heavenly's birthday one of the first things we thought of was the little blue bird… didn't you? The fact that we thought of the artwork before the artists is not a reflection of the music, I should underline that before I'm panned as some sort of philistine. 

Fast forward 25 years and Heavenly 25 is a visual and sonic celebration of the label's past, present and future. The exhibition will run from 1st – 30th September at Rough Trade East, while the 2 CD compilation will be available from 28th August at all Rough Trade shops. 

Brian David Stevens already has portrait photography pedigree having produced an exhibition entitled They That Are Left, an engaging portrait series of British war veterans. Here he applies that talent to the faces old and new of Heavenly Recordings. 

Heavenly 25 opens on the 1st September at Rough Trade East, for more info see here.