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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.”
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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.
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Boom Battle Bar: Ultimate games destination for perfect birthday, stag do or work party
Boom Battle Bar has got it all!
If you’re stuck for somewhere to go this Christmas party season, or for any birthday, stag or hen do, or even a regular weekend with your mates, we’ve got the perfect spot.
Boom Battle Bar is a massive games bar in the Printworks, with axe throwing (£45 – £80), shuffleboard (£15 – £25), augmented reality darts (£40 per lane), beer/prosecco pong (£30 per table), and even karaoke booths (£6 – £9 per person).
Manchester’s Finest Group
They also do a bottomless brunch at weekends, alongside a street food offering, including halloumi fries, parmesan and truffle mac and cheese bites, chicken tenders, wings, loaded bacon parmesan fries and dirty BBQ loaded fries.
There’s an impressive array of drinks as well, with cocktails like the Basic B*tch, Honey It’s Time To Party, and GOAT Punch, as well as plenty of beer, wine and even big sharers.
Get yourself booked in HERE.
What's On
The Cube Live adds three exciting new games for the perfect team day out
Everything you need for an incredible day out
Urban Playground has taken things to the next level, revealing three brand new games for thrill-seekers to sink their teeth into.
The Manchester Arndale entertainment venue, which is already home to an impressive array of games, has added even more fun to the line up.
From mini golf to arcade games and loads of food and drink, Urban Playground has everything you need for an incredible day out.
Manchester’s Finest Group
They’ve now added three new games to The Cube Live experience, ahead of the upcoming Christmas party season.
‘Pass’, ‘Exit’ and ‘Locate’ are the three new nail-bitingly tense games, and you’ll recognise them all from TV.
In Pass, two players rapidly weave a foam brick back and forth between free-standing poles, avoiding knocking the poles over as they go – requiring agility and great communication.
Exit sees two players work together manoeuvring a ball out of a maze testing their patience to the max.
Manchester’s Finest Group
Lastly, Locate is a single player game where players must memorise an illuminated white square’s location, before placing a block on it while blindfolded.
They’re all deceptively straightforward, while also fiendishly addictive, and perfect for a team day out.
Get booked in HERE to try the new games for yourself.
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Boom Battle Bar: Ultimate games destination for perfect birthday, stag do or work party
