Forget Memphis and Merseybeat, Manchester is a music city, a venue to rank alongside New Orleans or Notting Hill, a factory of superior song-making and stirring soundscapes courtesy of Joy Division, The Fall, New Order, Buzzcocks, Happy Mondays, John Cooper Clarke, The Stone Roses, 808 State and, of course, the Smiths, all spinning around the legend of the Hacienda, the world’s hippest nightclub, chicer than the Copacabana, sexier than Studio 54, cooler than the Cavern or Cream.
At the centre of the city’s beat was Factory Records, a record label to rival Motown and Chess, with a business model that could be compared only to British Leyland or the South Sea Bubble. But it’s not about Mammon or the maaan, it’s about the music, the songs, and what songs! – “Dead Souls”, “William, It was Really Nothing”, “Rowche Rumble”, “Time Goes By So Slow” – the list, like the road, goes on forever. (Jon the Postman’s versions of “Louie Louie” certainly did.)
Here’s the set list
This is a free 2 hour outside walking tour. Your tour host will be Ed Glinert, Manchester professional tour guide and historian, Penguin author with 32 years experience as a journalist (founder City Life, production editor Mojo and 10 years with Private Eye).
Meeting Point
Meet outside HOME MANCHESTER, 2 Tony Wilson Place, Manchester M15 4FN.
FAQ – FREE ?
This tour is FREE and voluntary gratuity / tip based. From our experience, if you enjoyed the tour a typical gratuity would be around £8 per person. Please note if the tour does not meet your expectation then please do not be under any pressure to tip the guide, all tips are voluntary and should reflect the quality of tour provided. The guide accepts cash or contactless payment.
