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Band on the Wall is expanding and reopening early next year and it will be ‘bigger and better’
The scaffolding will be coming down after nearly four decades…
One of Manchester’s most legendary music venues is expanding and will open early next year ‘bigger and better’ than ever before.
Band on the Wall, located down Swan Street, has played a huge part in the growth and establishment of Manchester’s music scene having being famously at the epicentre of the city’s punk scene in the late 1970s.
Though the venue goes back a lot further than that; Band on the Wall started life as The George and Dragon pub in 1803 and fast became a live music favourite, mostly with thanks to its favourable location next to the Shudehill Market, Angel Meadow and Ancoats, where song sheets were printed in the masses.
Band on the Wall Archives
The venue was eventually christened Band on the Wall in 1937 after its landlord literally fixed a stage to the wall and over the years, numerous bands and musicians have graced the stage, including icons such as The Buzzcocks, Joy Division, The Fall and The Arctic Monkeys.
Elbow frontman Guy Garvey once said on the venue: “Band on the Wall has hosted the greats and encouraged the nations dreamers for eighty years or more and remains one of the cornerstones of our great city’s musical heritage.”
However, as the Covid-19 pandemic gripped the country and national lockdowns ground live music to a standstill, Band on the Wall was faced with ‘the biggest crisis’ in its history and was forced to close, making twenty-six members of staff redundant in September 2020.
Speaking to BBC Breakfast in July 2020, chief executive Gavin Sharp said: “We’ve decided we are going to close at the beginning of August. So just as this is announced we’re going to close down.
“For exactly the reasons, no one’s touring, all the tours for September are cancelled. Running a music venue is not like running any other business, we are absolutely dependant on that supply of artists who are touring.
“And we’re a tour producer, we produce a lot of our own tours, and at the moment we’re not planning anything because the restrictions on travel really stop everything, and the confidence in terms of buying tickets.”
The venue made a brief comeback earlier this year but was forced to close again for renovation works and their expansion to the Cocozza Wood Building. But this week, the news every music fan has been waiting on finally arrived; Band on the Wall will officially be reopening!
And, better yet, the scaffolding that has obstructed the rear of the building for the best part of forty years will finally be coming down tomorrow, November 27th.
Further details surrounding the reopening have been kept tightly under wraps, though a statement from bosses detailed how the venue is to be expanded and the derelict ‘Cocozza’ building fully restored.
Over on the Band on the Wall website, a statement simply reads: “Band on the Wall is temporarily closed while we undertake our long-planned venue expansion and renovation project. We’ll see you again very soon.”
What's On
The new FREE Christmas night market with over 40 traders from across our region
Get in the festive spirit!
Get in the festive spirit with a brand new FREE Christmas makers night market, with over 40 traders and small businesses from across the region.
Brought to you by Renaker, the Manchester Made Christmas night market is coming to New Jackson, Deansgate Square from Friday December 6th to Sunday December 8th.
Following on from a successful summer market in May, the Manchester Made Market is returning bigger and better than before but with a Christmassy twist.
Manchester Made Market
Expect a ‘cosy and magical’ Christmas night market experience, with food, drink, live music and even a grotto for visits to Father Christmas.
There’ll be Christmas trees galore, glittering with lighting, with one huge show-stopping tree taking centre stage.
Bringing together over 40 artisanal traders and small businesses from across the region, the three-day event will showcase a plethora of food produce, homewares, crafts and creations.
Manchester Made Market
Visitors will be sure to find unique Christmas gifts that support local businesses, including from The Cole Men and their award winning sauces, Moon & Sixpence’s handmade jewellery, and fine art photography by Craig Barker.
There’ll be live music from a 20-piece choir, playing Christmas classics, cocktails from Manchester Gin and Gooey’s sweet treats.
The experts from Millington Hall Farm in Altrincham will be bringing a taste of their Wild Grill experience, including live sausage making demonstrations and an array of German sausages served from a festive BBQ trailer.
Manchester Made Market
Families with children can visit the Christmas grotto, where Father Christmas himself will be waiting in a cosy tipi – kids will get a gift from Santa, and bookings can be made online for £8.50 per child.
Manchester Made Market will be open from 4pm to 9pm on Friday December 6th, and 1pm to 9pm on Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th – pre-register for a free guest list ticket and 50% off a hot chocolate HERE, or book the Christmas grotto HERE.
What's On
Free one-day Christmas festival returning to Stockport to kick off festive season
Get in the festive spirit in Stockport!
Stockport’s free, one-day Christmas festival is returning this festive season, with 200 performers and more than 50 shows.
Spectacular Sunday will return to the town on November 17th at various sites and venues.
Following the success of last year’s event, hundreds of performers will take over Stockport, with everything from giant roller-skating presents to a living snow globe and roaming Christmas dolls.
There will also be street theatre, including grumpy Christmas grandads, a gigantic balloon man and water show.
Matthew Nichol Photography
Produced by carnival arts organisation Global Grooves and organised by Stockport Council, Totally Stockport, Merseyway and Stockport Market, the town centre will be buzzing with Christmas excitement.
Events will be happening in iconic Stockport locations like Market Place, Underbanks, Merseyway, Redrock and Suffragette Square.
A grand finale in Merseyway will bring together the brass bands of Stockport, ending the day with a huge flash mob and rendition of All You Need Is Love.
Cirq Delight
Cllr Singleton, Cabinet Member for Communities, Culture and Sport, said: “We’re so excited to bring this event back after last year’s amazing success.
“It’s such a fun way to get everyone in the festive spirit and really shows off what makes Stockport special – our sense of community and joy.
“With loads of free performances and activities, plus a chance to enjoy the newly improved areas of Merseyway, it’s a perfect day out for families.
“Stockport’s Spectacular Sunday is all about having fun, making memories, and starting the holiday season in style.”
Spectacular Sunday is happening from 11am to 5pm on Sunday November 17th – find out more HERE.
The prestigious Manchester Art Fair is back in town for its 16th year next month, bringing with it a vibrant gallery space showcasing thousands of works from over 500 artists.
One of the biggest and most significant events in the UK art world calendar, it’ll take over Manchester Central for three days, from Friday November 15th to 17th.
The city will be flooded with art from all corners of the world, championing everything from local heroes to new emerging talent, as well as international artists with worldwide acclaim.
Manchester Art Fair
A wide range of artistic disciplines will be represented at the event, from painters, illustrators, and sculptors to graffiti artists and everything in between.
Expect exhibitions, workshops, Q&A sessions, demos, book signings and parties happening across the event.
Tickets include free access to art workshops and talks from leading artists and cultural experts, and are on sale now.
You can grab them HERE.
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The new FREE Christmas night market with over 40 traders from across our region
Free one-day Christmas festival returning to Stockport to kick off festive season
Simmons Bar opens first Northern site in Manchester with free drinks at launch party
The prestigious Manchester Art Fair is back in town for its 16th year
