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Manchester Music Map

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Beyond the Music is a new global music conference and festival taking place in Manchester city centre from 11-14th October 2023.

Is is the first ever change-making global music conference and festival, supporting next generation talent.

More information about the event go to beyondthemusic.co.uk

The Manchester Music Map

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Written by Hayley Flynn. Hayley runs critical thinking tours of Manchester as Skyliner, as well as working as a cultural placemaker and researcher.

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Manchester Music Tours - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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From Factory Records to Oasis: a musical tour of Manchester

A new exhibition on the seminal Manchester label is the start of a musical homage taking in the roots of Joy Division, the Smiths et al

I wonder if the founders of Factory Records always knew their work would be exhibited in a museum one day, so decided to curate it all from the off?

From its inception, Factory used a cataloguing system that gave a FAC number not only to every record released, but to its artwork, films, related miscellany and even the odd living being, including the office cat, Feline Groovy (FAC 191).

Neatly enough, items FAC 1 to FAC 50 form the basis of a new exhibition, opening on Saturday at Manchester’s Science and Industry Museum, called Use Hearing Protection: the Early Years of Factory Records. It explores the history of the label’s formative period, from 1978 to ’82 – the years before New Order’s gamechanging Blue Monday (FAC 73) and the brouhaha of the Haçienda (FAC 51) and Madchester.

Factory was a work of a conceptual art as much as a record label for Joy Division and New Order (and later the Happy Mondays), so an exhibition is the perfect way to tell the story of how it rose from gloomy, post-industrial Manchester to showcase the most important band of the post-punk era. The music was sumptuously packaged by graphic designer Peter Saville: his beautifully clean and timeless record sleeves and posters are the highlight of the exhibition for me. They could have been produced in prewar Bauhaus Berlin – or just last week.

Immaculately preserved artefacts have been called in from the families of co-founders Tony Wilson and Rob Gretton. Another section focuses on the label’s female voices, including the blueprint for Linder Sterling’s Factory Egg-Timer (FAC 8), a menstrual abacus.

There’s Stephen Morris’s DIY synthesiser; the same model his Joy Division bandmate Bernard Sumner built from a kit under the desk where he worked as an animator when no one was looking. And the huge red Perspex G from the nameplate of Granada Studios, where Wilson worked. The star exhibit is Ian Curtis’s Vox Phantom VI teardrop guitar, which he played in the video for Joy Division’s Love Will Tear us Apart , and which recently sold at auction for £162,000 (it’s back here on loan).

The interactive display the museum had planned had to be shelved because of Covid restrictions, but the exhibition ends with two fun installations: the Gig Room, where large screens show footage of early Factory bands playing on TV shows; and a mini Haçienda designed by Ben Kelly, designer of the exhibition space as well as the original club – a nod towards the next step in The Factory story. Visitors are welcome to dance in both spaces.

Sadly, seeing gigs and dancing in the city’s clubs is still off the agenda, but being a music anorak I jumped at the chance of exploring the locations related to the exhibition with Manchester Music Tours .

The tours were started by Inspiral Carpets drummer Craig Gill in 2005 in response to being constantly asked about the history of the local music scene by customers at his record stall. His widow Rose has run the company since Craig’s death in 2016 – leading bus tours for fans of the Smiths, Oasis, the Stone Roses and Joy Division/New Order – but they’ve been on hold since the first lockdown. However, with tours due to restart next month, I was lucky enough to get a taster. ( Three/four-hour tours £30pp, private tours can also be arranged).

We continued the Factory theme by visiting the label’s first offices in West Didsbury; the Epping Walk Bridge in Hulme, where Kevin Cummins took the iconic shot of Joy Division standing moodily in the snow; the Haçienda apartment block that stands on the site of the nightclub; and in the vast Southern Cemetery in Chorlton-Cum-Hardy, Tony Wilson’s grave. Although his headstone doesn’t have a catalogue number (that practice ended with his coffin, FAC 501), the Factory aesthetic is instantly recognisable in the beautiful minimalist design by his friends Saville and Kelly. The black marble is so polished it reflects the cemetery like a mirror and is engraved with the words “cultural catalyst” – an epigram the grandiose Wilson would have loved.

Rose then drove me round the Didsbury streets where she hung out with Inspiral Carpets and the then-unknown Oasis in the early 1990s, pointing out the pub they’d all gather at on a Sunday after larging it all weekend.

Rose is as passionate about the people behind the stories she tells as she is the music. Our tour was running late but she suddenly did a U-turn as she couldn’t miss checking in on Mr Sifter, owner of the fabulous old secondhand record shop mentioned in Shakermaker by Oasis (“Mr Sifter sold me songs when I was just 16”). “I just need to check he’s been OK in lockdown … God, I hope the shop is still open!” It is, but it’s been a struggle.

The highlight of the tour was Salford Lads Club , featured in the famous photo on the 1986 Smiths album The Queen Is Dead . I didn’t know that the redbrick club was on the corner of the actual Coronation Street – or that that street even existed – but it’s probably why Morrissey, a Corrie connoisseur, chose it for the photoshoot.

The biggest surprise, though, is the fascinating history behind its green doors. The club opened in 1903 and its Edwardian interior has hardly changed – the walls are covered in old photos and sporting prizes, and the original wooden floors that have endured over a century of local boys (and girls since 1994) boxing, weightlifting and playing football and are still in place. As project manager Leslie Holmes showed us around the Tardis of a building, I could smell the history in its concert halls, billiards rooms and gyms – all sadly empty since the pandemic. The kids will be back in next week hopefully, and a visitors’ open day is scheduled for 25 July.

Given the global interest generated by the Smiths photograph, in 2004 Leslie had the brilliant idea of opening a Smiths Room, which has become a shrine, plastered with thousands of photos of fans from across the world posing like the band in front of the club. “Curating this project has taken over my life in a way,” said Leslie. “I can’t think of many countries other than North Korea that I haven’t received a photo from.”

Where to stay

The shell of the Italian palazzo-style Free Trade Hall, once Manchester’s leading gig venue and the scene of (at least) two concerts that have become part of rock’n’roll folklore, is now part of the Edwardian Manchester hotel .

In June 1976 the Sex Pistols played the Lesser Free Trade Hall. There were only about 40 people in the audience, but legend has it that nearly all went on to form a hugely influential band or be involved in the music industry, including Morrissey, the Buzzcocks, Joy Division, Mark E Smith of the Fall, music writer Paul Morley and, of course, Tony Wilson.

A decade earlier, shortly after “deserting” his folk roots, Bob Dylan took to the Free Trade Hall stage with an electric guitar. It was all too much for one folkie in the audience, who famously screamed out “Judas!” at his idol. In response, Dylan told his band to play the next song “fucking loud!”

The concert halls have long gone but this remains the hotel of choice for many visiting musicians. The rooms (doubles from £129 room-only) are gorgeous, and mine had views over Manchester’s hotchpotch city centre.

The building has another, more significant historical connection. It was built on St Peter’s Field, the site of the 1819 Peterloo Massacre, when 18 people were killed in a cavalry charge as they gathered to demand electoral reform. The event led directly to the formation of this newspaper almost exactly 200 years ago, but that’s another brilliant story .

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Manchester Music Tour: A Guide to the Most Iconic Music Locations in Manchester

2nd October 2019 in City Guides by Charles McIntyre

Rivalling its competitive cousin, Liverpool, for musical supremacy, Manchester is the birthplace of countless influential artists and groups. With a rich history of ground-breaking talent emerging from its ‘streets upon streets’, Manchester is a key location on the musical map of the UK - if not the world. Join us on our Ultimate Manchester Music Tour as we guide you through the city’s musical heritage.

John Cooper Clarke - Broughton

On the outskirts of Manchester in 1949, the sleepy suburb of Higher Broughton produced a wayward son who would go on to rock the music scene to its core. John Cooper Clarke’s radical performance poetry lent itself perfectly to the punk movement of the late 1970s – his notoriety later securing him gigs throughout Manchester and beyond, alongside the likes of Joy Division, Elvis Costello and New Order. Still very much a punk personality at 70 years young, ‘the bard of Salford’s’ influence on contemporary music, and the North of England, is tangible. Cooper Clarke again rose to popular prominence in 2013 when Arctic Monkeys adapted his poem ‘ I Wanna Be Yours ’ and featured it on their hugely successful album, AM.

The Bee Gees – Chorlton

Although born on the Isle of Man, the brothers who would form the Bee Gees actually spent their formative years in Chorlton – a suburb of Manchester – before they and their family emigrated to Australia in the late 1950s. The three Gibb brothers were heavily influenced by the skiffle scene – a genre which fused American folk, jazz and blues influences – which was blossoming in British pubs and clubs in the mid-fifties. Thus their first band, The Rattlesnakes, was a skiffle three-piece, with additional members joining later on. After moderate success as a minor British band performing in the clubs and cinemas of Manchester (and briefly renaming their group Wee Johnny Hayes and the Blue Cats), the Gibb brothers reformed again as the Bee Gees in the sixties, and the rest is disco-infused history!

Joy Division - Salford

Inspired by a Sex Pistols show they attended in Manchester, 1976, Bernard Sumner and Peter Hook decided to form their own band with Terry Mason. In need of a vocalist, the band posted an ad in the Manchester Virgin Records shop, to which Ian Curtis responded and was immediately hired. Initially named Warsaw, the band renamed themselves Joy Division to avoid being confused with the London based Warsaw Pakt; the first gig performed by the group under the Joy Division name took place on 25 th January 1978 at Manchester’s Pip’s Disco – setting the stage for the band’s rise to fame. As their sound and identity developed, it was clear that Joy Division possessed a unique quality which separated them from typical ‘punk’ bands of the time – instead pioneering a new genre of post-punk/gothic rock. Following the tragic death of Ian Curtis prior to their American tour, the band released their final album, Closer, and the single ‘Love Will Tear Us apart’ – iconically used in the Donnie Darko soundtrack. The remaining band members reformed as New Order in 1980 to continue Joy Division’s Mancunian musical legacy.

The Smiths - Stretford

One fateful day in 1982, Johnny Marr knocked on the door of an unremarkable family home in Stretford, Manchester. A young Stephen Patrick Morrissey answered, and was promptly asked if he would like to form a band; after a day of deliberation, he agreed. Stephen (soon to answer only to ‘ Morrissey ’ ) chose the name ‘The Smiths’ for the band, attributing the decision to a desire to be a voice for ‘ordinary folk’. The Smiths were soon picked up for their distinctive sound and mesmerising performances – with Morrissey providing whimsical, and often despair laden, lyrics, which became emblematic of Manchester and its underground music scene. Although the band split in 1987, The Smiths’ music continues to be played throughout Manchester’s venues and is heralded as being a major catalyst for the worldwide indie movement which was to follow.

Madchester - City Centre

Prevalent Manchester bands, New Order, The Smiths and The Fall , left a void in the local music scene when their dominance began its inevitable decline in the late eighties. Stepping into the vacuum, the Madchester era elevated a number of genres to the forefront of Manchester music culture, including acid house, dance and alternative rock. A few groups, in particular, were integral to the Madchester scene – notably: The Stone Roses (with origins in Altrincham), the Happy Mondays (formed in Salford), the Inspiral Carpets (with Oldham roots) and James (with the band’s namesake, James Glennie, hailing from Moss Side). A coalescence of singles released by these bands in the late eighties propelled them into mass stardom, with influential magazines such as NME noting the buzz around Manchester bands, and the growth of the ‘baggy’ sound and surrounding culture established within the Madchester scene. The Madchester phenomenon was more or less in full decline by the end of 1990, with its key bands either 'AWOL' or experiencing musical and financial downturns. At around this time, the British music press began to turn their interest towards a new music scene, which would come to be known as Britpop.

Oasis - Burnage

Although the original line up of the band that would become Oasis consisted of Liam Gallagher and three others (Liam, in fact, replacing an earlier vocalist), there is no doubt that Oasis was very much the Gallagher’s creation. The Gallagher brothers were raised in Burnage, Manchester, and unsurprisingly much of their music was inspired by earlier Manchester groups, including The Stone Roses and The Smiths. Liam renamed the band ‘Oasis’ (previously ‘Rain’) after seeing an Inspiral Carpets poster, which listed Oasis Leisure Centre in Swindon as a venue on their tour. Noel (Liam’s brother) quickly took ownership of the band’s musical direction, creating a trademark sound which utilised distortion and root bass notes. Noel was also the group’s primary songwriter and is credited as being the driving force behind the band’s success. Songs like ‘ Wonderwall ’ and ‘ Don’t Look Back in Anger ’ have been adopted by Manchester as unofficial ‘anthems’, and although Oasis split up in 2009, the band’s oeuvre is still very much alive – with both brothers continuing to perform in their own respective bands.

If you would like to explore Manchester in person and conduct your own Manchester music tour, browse our Citybase Manchester serviced apartments today and plan your trip to enjoy the many music venues the city has to offer. For more information on what you can see in Manchester, consider reading our city guide , or read about the best rum bars you can visit during your stay.  

Charles McIntyre

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Manchester Music Tours: Exploring the Madchester Music Scene

Manchester music tours.

The Manchester music scene was huge in the late 70’s and 1980’s. Bands like the The Smiths, Joy Division, Oasis, The Stone Roses and New Order all hailed from Manchester and helped put in on the musical map worldwide.  

Manchester Music Tours: Music Themed Bus & Walking Tours  explores the legendary Manchester music scene in its heyday as well as celebrating newer musicians such as James, Elbow and The Courteeners.

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Note: Since writing this article, Craig Gill has sadly passed away . The tour company still exists and I’ve kept my original article and photos of Craig below as a tribute the super cool guy I met while visiting Manchester.

What made this tour interesting was the founder and guide, Craig Gill. Craig was the drummer for Inspiral Carpets. They are an alternative rock band with   12 top forty UK hits and 3 top ten albums   that came to prominence, alongside bands The Stone Roses and Happy Mondays, in the ‘ Madchester ‘ scene of the late 1980’s.

Craig offered several tours including ones that solely focus on Oasis, The Smiths and Joy Division among others.

The tour I participated in is the Manchester Music Walk. Put on some comfy shoes and be ready to keep up, because Craig’s tour is a fast-paced walk through the musical history of Manchester.

Read reviews for Manchester Music Tours  on TripAdvisor

Fan alert:   Inspiral Carpets are touring and recording and have a new album.

The tour lasts about two hours and Craig shares history about Manchester and and it’s musical evolution.

Craig has been in the Manchester music scene for over 30 years and knew most if not all of the members of the bands who catapulted to fame in the 1980’s. This offers him a unique point of view and during the tour he shares his personal history in the 80’s Madchester scene and stories such as how the Sex Pistols changed everything in music with one show.

Craig shared the importance of the show which was that all those mentioned except the Buzzcocks were not in bands at the time. It is said that all those who attended who were not in a band went out the next day and bought and instrument and started a band. This was the true beginnings of the Manchester music scene.

During the tour we visited locations of famous gigs and concerts such as Free Trade Hall and The G-Mex Centre. Our tour took us to the Boardwalk Club, which was once the rehearsal spot for the Happy Mondays, Inspiral Carpets, Purescense and Oasis. The Boardwalk Club is also where Oasis played their first gig. It has now been converted to apartments, and no longer a club, but it was still fun to hear the stories.

Manchester has produced more rock and pop stars per capita of population than other city around the world.

It was outside of the Boardwalk Club building that Craig told me that Noel Gallagher of Oasis fame auditioned for Inspiral Carpet in 1988 but didn’t make the cut. He was hired on as their roadie and toured with with band as an employee.

Next we headed to the building that was once the Hacienda club. The club has been turned into flats but the building bears the same name as the legendary club and even a plaque for the performer James.

Head behind the Haçienda building to find the real treasure. If you head down Rochdale Canal you’ll find a timeline detailing all the famous events and bands associated with the Hacienda.

Below are a few pieces of the art created by the artist Stewy focusing on the musicians who played the Hacienda Nightclub.

Other spots visited on the tour include Factory Records headquarters which is now Fac251 nightclub owned by Joy Division and New Orders Peter Hook. Another stop on the tour is The Ritz which is the longest continuously running club and the scene of the Smiths first gig. There is also a walk by India House, the flats where Noel Gallagher use to live and the inspiration for Definitely Maybe and Whats the Story LP.

Also on the tour is a walk by Dry 21, a long-standing bar opened by Factory Records’ Tony Wilson, with self-contained basement music venue. It was used in the filming of 24 hour party people and it’s said that Shaun Ryder and Liam Gallagher are still barred from the venue.

Craig is a wealth of Manchester music knowledge and this tour is a must for music fans. Craig does a great job weaving his own personal music story into the larger Manchester music narrative as well as adding fun facts and history about the city itself.

What is your favorite music town? Where have you taken a music tour? Share your stories in the comments!

Tour Information:

Walking Tours meet at the town hall steps and scheduled tour prices are £10 adults £5 children.

A big thank you to Craig for sharing his personal musical journey with me. I was a guest of Craig’s on this tour,  but as always, all opinions are my own.

This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on some of the links in this post and purchase something, I might receive a commission. This is a good thing! There is no additional cost to you and I make a tiny bit of money to keep this website alive!

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Alexa Meisler is the editorial director of 52 Perfect Days. Born in Paris, France she has since lived in Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Portland, Oregon. She currently resides in San Diego with her husband and son where they enjoy exploring California and Mexico.

Travel has always been a part of her life; traveling to such places as Morocco, Tangiers and Spain as a young child as well as taking many road trips to Mexico with her grandparents as a young girl. Since then, she has traveled abroad to locations such as Russia, Taiwan and throughout Europe.

Prior to working at 52 Perfect Days she was a freelance travel writer; focusing on family and women’s adventure experiences.

Sounds like a fab tour! I love joining these kind of experineces, because you pick up on so many interesting facts and info you wouldn’t have otherwise known just walking past the buildings and sites. Craig sounds like a wealth of knowledge, I would love to take his tour!

Sounds like a great way to explore the city. I love learning the music history of places and for Manchester it is a must. Thanks for sharing.

Sounds fun! Manchester is high up on my list! Great post, thanks for sharing. Happy travels 🙂

I can totally see why this is a must for music fans. I’m not that much of a music buff but recognize some of the names 🙂

What a cool concept – music tours. I’ve never gone on one but love the idea. The closest similar experience is blues music scene in Chicago. There are several clubs steeped in history and with amazing talent. Seeing Buddy Guy play in person was a special treat!

I never thought Manchester as a place to go for music, but you’ve opened my eyes. Haven’t been to a music tour either but it sounds like an interesting concept, would love to attend a jazz tour!

Excellent music tour! Being able to get the inside scoop from someone who has had a long attachment to the industry is such a great treat. It’s awesome to know that some of my favorite artists have investments in these historic buildings, perhaps to keep the memory alive well.

This is such a great idea. I’ve actually heard of this tour guide before – a friend of mine went on one of his tours and couldn’t stop raving about it. Looks like it’s time for me to go. Absolutely love music from Manchester!

I would invest my time into a tour like that in a heartbeat! I’ve always been clinging to those various 80’s groups and I feel that this place holds one of the richest musical histories ever. Joy Division is one of the best classic ones!

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Manchester Music Walking Tour

The Manchester Music Walking Tour takes you on a journey through the city's rich musical history. Led by an expert guide, you'll visit iconic venues such as the Hacienda and the Free Trade Hall, and learn about the city's famous bands including The Smiths, Joy Division, and Oasis. The tour is a must for any music fan visiting Manchester.

Tour Highlights

• Guided tour with a local music expert
• Visits sites from musicians including The Smiths, Oasis, New Order, Joy Division and many more
• See sites in Manchester not normally visited on the tourist trail

Manchester is a city steeped in musical history, with a vibrant scene that has produced some of the most iconic bands in the world. From The Smiths to Oasis, Joy Division to The Stone Roses, Manchester has played a pivotal role in shaping the British music landscape. The Manchester Music Walking Tour is the perfect way to explore this rich cultural heritage.

Led by an expert guide with an encyclopedic knowledge of Manchester’s music scene, the tour takes you on a journey through the city’s musical history, visiting iconic venues and landmarks along the way. The tour typically lasts around 1 ¾ hours and covers a distance of approximately two miles.

The tour visits the Northern Quarter, a bohemian area of the city known for its independent boutiques, street art and music venues. You will also see where there the legendary Hacienda nightclub once stood. The Hacienda was once the epicenter of Manchester’s post-punk and acid-house scenes, along with the Free Trade Hall, where Bob Dylan famously went electric in 1966.

Other notable stops on the tour include the former home of Factory Records, the record label that launched Joy Division, New Order and Happy Mondays, and the Salford Lads Club, immortalized in The Smiths’ famous album cover for The Queen Is Dead. Fans of Oasis will also enjoy a visit to the boardwalk in the heart of the city, where the Gallagher brothers famously posed for a photo shoot early in their career.

Along the way, the guide will share fascinating stories and trivia about the bands, venues and people that shaped Manchester’s musical history. You’ll learn about the city’s punk and post-punk scenes, the rise of the Madchester rave scene in the late 1980s, and the impact that Manchester’s musical heritage has had on popular culture around the world.

The Manchester Music Walking Tour is a must for any music fan visiting the city. With its rich cultural heritage, iconic venues and legendary bands, Manchester is a city that has truly earned its place in the pantheon of great music cities.

What’s Included

• 1 ¾ hour music-themed walking tour of Manchester
• Knowledgeable, approachable & fun guide

What’s Excluded

What to bring.

• Consider layers of clothing
• Comfortable shoes

Good To Know

• English language tour

How long is the route?

• The tour is approximately 1.5  miles long .

Is the tour wheelchair accessible?

• The tour is not suitable for a wheelchair due to the pavements and uneven surfaces on the route. British Sign Language is not provided on the tour.

Do children need to be accompanied?

• All people under 18 (i.e. 17 years old and younger) must be accompanied by an adult (aged 18 years or over) on all tours

Is the tour suitable for children?

Take a look at our TripAdvisor page or leave us a review. We love hearing from you!

Related tours.

Glasgow Music Mile Walking Tour

Liverpool Music Icons Tour

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• Where to Go on a Manchester Music Tour

By Maisy Farren

Take a music pilgrimage to the Northern hub of Manchester

Whether you were a fan of Joy Division in the 70s, The Smiths in the 80s or Oasis in the 90s, it's undeniable that Manchester boasts an eclectic music history. Many iconic locations in this city have been demolished or simply closed down, but you can still visit spots to pay homage to punk, rave and Britpop through the years.

Image credit: Andrew Stopford via Flickr

Free Trade Hall (now the Radisson Blu Edwardian)

Coming from out of town? Well a great place to stay would be at the central Radisson Blu Edwardian which was originally the city’s Free Trade Hall. If you’ve watched the film 24 Hour Party People then you might recognise it as the venue for the iconic Sex Pistols gig in 1976. The iconic punk band’s first Manchester gig was attended by about 40 people, despite the fact that a ticket cost only 50p! This crowd turned out to be small but mighty, and went on to form bands called The Smiths , Buzzcocks , Joy Division and The Fall . The band returned to the hall a few weeks later and played to hundreds who’d obviously caught on.

Image credit: Rich via Flickr

Salford Lads Club

Ah, The Smiths . The legendary coming of age band, perfectly discovered in your sombre teenager years and developed over years of heartbreak and malaise. God bless the years where you could enjoy The Smiths without acknowledging the problematic nature of Morrissey’s public opinions. A trip to Salford Lad’s Club is a pilgrimage for indie teenagers of Greater Manchester and beyond, a place to pose for a picture just like the one on the cover of The Queen is Dead . This listed building has been in use for over 110 years and is still a place to go for boxing, snooker and gym - although it’s worth noting that girls are welcome now!

Image credit: EthelRedThePetrolHead via Flickr

The Epping Walk Bridge

Another iconic photo spot is the Epping Walk Bridge in Hulme, where Joy Division were shot for NME in 1979. Almost put off by the bleak Manchester winter, the band and photographer Kevin Cummins set off in the snow to take some press shots. The photographer was sent out with two rolls of film, all he could afford, and the band stopped on the bridge completely unplanned. This accidental shot became an iconic piece of Manchester music history and is recognisable 50 years later. Pay homage to the late Ian Curtis at Epping Walk Bridge, perhaps stopping to read Touching from a Distance whilst there.

Image credit: Olivia Kinsella via Flickr

The Haçienda

Kept alive by memory, The Haçienda was once one of the most exciting nightclubs in the UK. The ‘Madchester’ years saw a rise in house music, acid rave and ecstasy tablets, all of which found a home here at The Haçienda. Owned by Factory Record’s Tony Wilson and New Order ’s Rob Gretton, the place fell into various states of disrepair and closed in the summer of 1997. Serving as a music venue, nightclub and cocktail bar, the club saw regular performances from The Smiths and a one-off show by Madonna . The site was sadly demolished in 2002 and now exists as a luxury block of flats. Find original Haçienda artefacts and memorabilia at the local Science and Industry Museum , along with Haçienda themed glasswear designed by Factory Record's designer Peter Saville, inspired by the iconic striped pattern on Ben Kelly's original dancefloor.

MANCHESTER MUSIC STORY TOURS

Music tours of manchester.

Hear the stories behind the music while you journey through the 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s, to discover Manchester’s world famous music history, on one of our great Manchester music tours.

Manchester is the engine-room of British music. Whilst London may have had most of the business, the provinces and the other cities have often led the country, with Manchester ahead of the rest in defining musical direction.

Manchester Music Walking Tours

Join a scheduled group guided walking tour for a fascinating glimpse of Manchester’s rich music history.

Private Music Walking Tours in Manchester

Meet one of our professional tour guides at your chosen location for a private and personal music tour through the streets of Manchester.

Private tours by car, mini-bus or bus in the Manchester area

The ultimate Manchester music experience! Be guided and chauffeured through Manchester and the suburbs.

Testimonials

Manchester Orchestra Announce North American Tour in 2024

I t’s hard to believe that it’s already been 10 years since Manchester Orchestra’s Cope was released! And fans might be happy to hear that the indie-rock band will be kicking off a North American tour to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the album, accompanied by fellow rockers Militarie Gun. The tour will be brief and mainly span the East Coast, but there’s always the potential for an extension.

The Manchester Orchestra 2024 Tour will begin on September 6 in Charlotte, North Carolina at The Fillmore Charlotte. The final date of the tour will be September 20 in Indianapolis, Indiana at Rock The Ruins at Holliday Park.

There’s currently a presale event going on for this tour over at Manchester Orchestra’s website . There are also a few presale events going on at Ticketmaster , mainly for the venues and Live Nation.

General on-sale for the Manchester Orchestra 2024 North American Tour will begin on April 3 at 12:00 pm local. When general on-sale hits, we recommend checking out what’s available on Stubhub , especially if your tour date of choice has sold out already. You might even find cheaper tickets on the platform, too.

This tour will be short and tickets won’t last very long, so get yours ASAP !

Manchester Orchestra 2024 Tour Dates (with Militarie Gun)

September 6 – Charlotte, NC – The Fillmore Charlotte 

September 7 – Silver Spring, MD – The Fillmore Silver Spring 

September 8 – Sayreville, NJ – Starland Ballroom 

September 10 – Buffalo, NY – Buffalo RiverWorks 

September 11 – Philadelphia, PA – The Fillmore Philadelphia 

September 13 – New York, NY – Brooklyn Paramount Theater 

September 14 – Boston, MA – House of Blues Boston 

September 17 – Cincinnati, OH – The Andrew J Brady Music Center 

September 19 – Detroit, MI – The Fillmore 

September 20 – Indianapolis, IN – Rock The Ruins at Holliday Park 

Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer

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The post Manchester Orchestra Announce North American Tour in 2024 appeared first on American Songwriter .

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When will solar eclipse reach your town? These maps show path's timing, how long it lasts.

Hundreds of cities in 13 u.s. states fall directly on the april 8 eclipse's path of totality as the moon blocks the sun's disc and ushers in darkness. these interactive maps offer a closer look..

Come Monday, millions of Americans from Texas to Maine will stop what they're doing to step outside and spend a few minutes gazing skyward .

Few celestial events have the power to capture our collective attention the way this upcoming total solar eclipse has managed to do. And for those making time to witness it, two questions are bound to be on their mind : Will totality reach my area and if so, how long will the resulting darkness last?

Most people across the country are bound to experience the eclipse in some form, but only 13 states fall directly on the path of totality, where the moon will appear large enough to shield all but the sun's outermost layer, the corona.

As you make your eclipse-viewing plans, these interactive maps should help you chart the time and duration for when totality will occur in cities along the path.

Solar eclipse experiment: Here's why NASA is launching 3 sounding rockets into space during the total solar eclipse

Total solar eclipse path of totality map

The 115-mile-wide path of totality will pass from southwest to northeast over portions of Mexico the United States and Canada.

Mexico's Pacific coast will be the first location in continental North America to experience totality, which will occur at about 11:07 a.m. PDT,  according to NASA .

As the moon's shadow travels northeast, totality in the U.S. will begin at 1:27 p.m. CDT in Eagle Pass, Texas. From there, the path will cut diagonally across the country before ending around 3:35 p.m. EDT in Lee, Maine.

Remember: If you plan to witness the eclipse, proper eyewear is a must until the eclipse reaches totality, then it can be viewed with the naked eye.

Here's a map of some of the larger cities in each of the 13 states on the path to show how the duration of totality will vary:

Cities, states on the path of totality

All told, nearly 500 cities in 13 U.S. states are located on the eclipse's path of totality. Here are some of the major cities in each of the 13 states:

• Dallas and San Antonio, Texas
• Idabel, Oklahoma
• Poplar Bluff, Missouri
• Little Rock, Arkansas
• Paducah, Kentucky
• Indianapolis and Evansville, Indiana
• Carbondale, Illinois
• Cleveland and Toledo, Ohio
• Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse, New York
• Burlington, Vermont
• Lancaster, New Hampshire
• Caribou, Maine
• Erie, Pennsylvania

This interactive map provides a closer look at cities along the path, when totality will arrive there and how long totality will last:

Eclipse watch parties, festivals

Such a rare event is sure to attract skygazing tourists unlucky enough to live outside the path of totality. Fortunately, many cities that will experience the total eclipse are planning plenty of festivities for tourists and locals alike.

This map , courtesy of Kristian Campana at festivalguidesandreviews.com , includes locations of watch parties, music festivals and more all tied to the eclipse's arrival:

2024 total solar eclipse interactive map with zip code search

Perhaps the easiest way to see how the eclipse will impact your city or town, is to put your zip code into USA TODAY's interactive eclipse map .

Eric Lagatta covers breaking and trending news for USA TODAY. Reach him at [email protected]

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Little Big Town, Sugarland Announce 2024 ‘Take Me Home’ Tour

• By Joseph Hudak

Joseph Hudak

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On the heels of their CMT Music Awards collaboration, Little Big Town and Sugarland have announced the “Take Me Home” Tour. Titled after the song they performed on the CMTs — Phil Collins ’ 1985 hit from No Jacket Required — the trek will kick off Oct. 24 in Greenville, South Carolina, and conclude Dec. 13 with a show at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. Country trio the Castellows will open all dates.

This isn’t the first time the quartet of Karen Fairchild, Kimberly Schlapman, Jimi Westbrook, and Philip Sweet shared the stage with Sugarland, the reunited duo of Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush. In 2008, Little Big Town, Sugarland, and Jake Owen performed Dream Academy’s 1985 single “Life in a Northern Town” at the CMT Awards, and LBT would join Sugarland on their Incredible Machine Tour a few years later.

The Wait Is Over: Billie Eilish Announces New Album 'Hit Me Hard and Soft'

The far right is crawling with eclipse conspiracy theories, dream theater on emotional mike portnoy reunion, first 40th anniversary tour dates, little big town, sugarland announce 2024 'take me home' tour.

Tickets for the tour, produced by LiveNation and Sandbox Live, go on sale April 12. The groups’ collab on “Take Me Home” will be released as a single.

“Take Me Home” Tour Dates: Oct. 24  – Greenville, SC @ Bon Secours Wellness Arena Oct. 25 – Raleigh, NC @ PNC Arena Oct. 26 – Columbus, OH  @ Nationwide Arena Oct. 31 – Boston, MA @ TD Garden Nov. 1 – Pittsburgh, PA @ PPG Paints Arena Nov. 2 – Buffalo, NY @ KeyBank Center Nov. 7 – Minneapolis, MN @ Target Center Nov. 8 – Milwaukee, WI @ Fiserv Forum Nov. 9 – Grand Rapids, MI @ Van Andel Arena Nov. 14 – Kansas City, MO @ T-Mobile Center Nov. 15 – Sioux Falls, SD  @ Denny Sanford PREMIER Center Nov. 16 – Moline, IL @ Vibrant Arena at The MARK Nov. 21 – Austin, TX @ Moody Center Nov. 22 – Fort Worth, TX  @ Dickies Arena Nov. 23 – Tulsa, OK @ BOK Center Dec. 11 – Biloxi, MS @ Mississippi Coast Coliseum Dec. 12 – Duluth, GA @ Gas South Arena Dec. 13 – Nashville, TN @ Bridgestone Arena

J. Cole’s ‘7 Minute Drill’ Wasn’t the ‘Goofiest’ Thing on His New Album

• By Mankaprr Conteh

'I Feel So Much More Myself Than I've Ever Felt:' Helado Negro Finds Freedom on 'Phasor'

• deep listening
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Taylor Swift Teases 'The Tortured Poets Department' During Solar Eclipse

• Total Eclipse
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Manchester Music Tour Special

Approx. 4 hours

You’ve heard the songs, now see the sights and hear the stories behind Manchester’s greatest artists on the Manchester Music Tour. If you are a fan of our amazing Manchester music scene and can’t pick which of our tours to experience, we have a solution!

Founded by Inspiral Carpets drummer Craig Gill, the Manchester Music Tour offers a fascinating first-hand insight into the history and legacy of music in the city.

With world-famous bands and venues including The Hacienda, The Stone Roses, The Smiths, Joy Division and Oasis among others, this tour is unmissable for anyone with an interest in music or the ‘Madchester’ period.

Some of the iconic places that will be visited on the tour include;

Strangeways prison, which became instantly recognisable by Smiths fans around the world after the album entitled ‘Strangeways Here We Come’.

Salford Lads Club – synonymous with the band because of Stephen Wright’s iconic picture on the sleeve of The Queen is Dead LP. Sifters Record Shop – immortalised in the Oasis song Shakermaker and featured in the promo video.

The Boardwalk music venue – the scene of the very first Oasis Gig and Oasis’ rehearsal room.

The Epping Walk Bridge, also known as ‘the Joy Division Bridge’ – Kevin Cummins took Joy Division’s most iconic photograph in 1979.

The home of director Alan Erasmus where Factory Records established their headquarters in 1979.

International 1 – The Stone Roses played their first Manchester gig at this venue in May 1985.

View tour dates and book your tickets.

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