A giant armadillo mural has appeared in Manchester’s Northern Quarter today to celebrate the release of a quirky new “Christmas” song called, what else? Giant Armadillo.

The high-energy rap anthem has been created by Emmy-winning entertainer and LGBTQ+ icon, Bob the Drag Queen in partnership with charity, On the Edge to support conservation efforts and prevent the species from becoming endangered.

Local drag queens, including Lill, Actavia, Liquorice Black and Banksie, unveiled the mural to the public, giving Manchester an exclusive first listen to the track. Together, they’re rallying the city to help Bob become the first drag queen ever to reach Christmas No.1 in the UK and celebrate the weird and wonderful underdog species in the animal kingdom.

Giant Armadillo is released as new research shows nearly a third of Gen Z (30%) feel disconnected with the natural world. On the Edge is on a mission to bridge this gap by blending natural history with pop culture, and Manchester’s drag community is in full support.

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Lill, one of Manchester’s most iconic drag queens and a former competitor on Ru Paul’s Drag Race UK (Season 6), said: “It’s time we celebrated the original Mother – Mother Nature. If there’s one thing drag and nature have in common, it’s that they both celebrate fierce individuality. The giant armadillo is the ultimate underdog icon – quirky, bold, and beautifully unique, just like every young person we’re trying to inspire. And what better way to celebrate this beautiful, armoured creature than getting Giant Armadillo to Christmas number one.”

Giant Armadillo kickstarts On the Edge’s second Werk of Nature series – a successful programme the organisation introduced at the start of the year, blending the magic of nature with the global pop culture phenomenon of Drag. Having previously collaborated with Drag Race royalty such as Mo Heart and Heidi N Closet, Werk of Nature is all about connecting people with the natural world – and what better way than via their social media feeds and Spotify playlists!

Beth Blood, the CEO and founder of On the Edge, added: “We’re hoping Giant Armadillo helps engage people by invoking a sense of curiosity, fun and interest in nature. This series is not only about raising attention for the Giant Armadillo, but for all overlooked species in the animal kingdom. Across our content, we want people to see, appreciate and fall in love with the nature that’s all around them.” 

Giant Armadillo is available to stream from today across all major UK streaming platforms, including Spotify and Apple Music, and the mural will be in the Northern Quarter in Manchester from 4th December until Sunday 14th December. To find out more, visit On the Edge.