Urban Strawberry Lunch (USL) were an English,

Liverpool Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough in Merseyside, England. With a population of in 2019, it is the 10th largest English district by population and its metropolitan area is the fifth largest in the United Kingdom, with a popul ...

based group and Community Arts organisation, who made music on everyday objects. Formed by Benjamin F Tin and

Ambrose Reynolds Ambrose Reynolds (born 12 June 1960; credited also as Ambrose) is an English musician and artist who formed part of the 1970s and 1980s musical scene in Liverpool, playing bass in various bands. Biography Reynolds began making music as a chor ...

in 1987, USL began making their own musical instruments after a fire destroyed all of their (uninsured) musical instruments. Among other activities, they are known for their performances and music festivals hosted within Liverpool's landmark "bombed-out church", the

Church of St Luke, Liverpool St Luke's Church, more commonly known by locals as the bombed-out church, is a former Anglican parish church in Liverpool, England. It stands on the corner of Berry Street and Leece Street, at the top of Bold Street. The church was built betw ...

. Benjamin F Tin (1959-2020) and Ambrose Reynolds first worked together in the Liverpool postpunk bands

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and

Pink Industry Pink Industry were a post-punk band from Liverpool formed by Jayne Casey after her previous band Pink Military split up in 1981. History When Pink Military split up in 1981, singer Jayne Casey formed the more electronically oriented band Pink In ...

. Tin moved to Brighton where, in 1986, he formed Urban Warriors, a 'junkpercussion duo' with Luke Cresswell. Cresswell later said, "Two of us would do street work, beating the hell out of each other with sticks and armour made out of bits of metal." After the duo split, Cresswell went on to found

Stomp Stomp may refer to: *Stomp (strike), a downwards kick using the heel Music and dance * ''Stomp'' (album), by Big D and the Kids Table, 2013 *Stomp (jazz), a type of rhythmic jazz tune popular in the 1920s *Stomp (theatrical show), a percussive ph ...

. Tin then reunited with Reynolds, forming Urban Strawberry Lunch. Urban Strawberry Lunch disbanded in 2014, announcing, 'After 27 years of musical education for groups with little or no access to traditional instruments, concerts, events and arts installations we are very sad to bring an end to activities.''Liverpool arts organisation Urban Strawberry Lunch is to go into liquidation', Liverpool Echo, April 2014
/ref> Founder member Ambrose Reynolds continues his work at St Luke's Church, Liverpool and occasional music workshops using the remnants of USL musical instruments. USL operated in three interrelated areas: *Composing, performing and recording *Making instruments and sound sculptures *Learning and community projects

References

English rock music groups Musical groups from Liverpool {{England-band-stub