This week sees the reopening of an iconic music venue in Manchester, with a series of gigs by the likes of Dr John Cooper Clarke and The Charlatans, the first since 2013. Originally built in 1962 for the Co-operative Insurance Company, it saw musical legends such as The Rolling Stones, Jerry Lee Lewis, Tina Turner, The Small Faces, local boys The Bee Gees and guitar legend Jimi Hendrix, all perform to thrilled music lovers. More recently it saw Acid House events organised by A Guy Called Gerald and 808 State.
It’s perhaps fitting then that Cooper Clarke is performing, as not only was he one of the last big acts to perform there, back in 2007 as support to The Fall, but he was refused entry to see Hendrix by the doorman because he wasn’t wearing a tie!!!! Imagine that in 2022.
Local promoter Now Wave, have been given programming control of the newly refurbished 1,000 capacity venue and have some big plans ahead. It is a listed building and has retained the sprung dance floor as a result. Going to be fun in the pit when the more energetic acts are gracing the stage.
The building, which sits on the corner of Corporation Street and Miller Street, between Victoria Station and Shudehill, isn’t just a live music venue though.
It’s part of the development of the so called “Noma district”, and renamed simply as New Century.
A college, which will offer degrees-level qualifications on gaming and music, will be located in the basement, called Access Creative College.
The ground floor features a bar and kitchen with a range of carefully selected street food outlets, and above it is the newly refurbed events space, ready to be officially reopened on 20 September with a performance from the Bard Of Salford.
It should be a great addition to Manchester’s music scene and there’s some big names coming this winter, with Confidence Man already selling out 3 nights in November as well as shows from Stereolab, The Black Angels, Surf Curse, Gabriels, Black Midi, Los Bitchos and Idlewild to come.
