CityLife

Band on the Wall's £4m makeover

POLISHING AN OLD GEM: Band on the Wall

ONE of Manchester’s legendary venues will soon be rocking again after a £4m makeover.

Band on the Wall, in the Northern Quarter, had a glittering 70-year history before it closed in 2005.

But thanks to £3.2m from the Arts Council and Lottery funding, £600,000 from Manchester council and a donation from a mystery benefactor it is expected to reopen in September.

The Swan Street venue earned its unique name in 1937 when the landlord installed a stage high up on the wall for jazz bands to play on.

In the years that followed a string of popular music’s finest artists, from reggae super-producer Lee Perry to jazz bandleader Art Blakey, graced its stage in Swan Street.

The quirky venue cemented its legendary status by giving local talent an intimate place to play, helping to build the city’s reputation as a pop powerhouse.

Frantic Elevators

Joy Division had played several of their earliest gigs there, while Mick Hucknall would play the venue with early outfit the Frantic Elevators before hitting the big time with Simply Red.

Despite becoming a leading light in the city’s club scene the building steadily declined and became dilapidated. But after hitting the Lottery jackpot an opening date gets ever nearer.

The restoration work has been given the thumbs up by council leader Sir Richard Leese. Sir Richard, ‘honorary patron’ of the venue, visited the site to check on progress – and did a spot of plastering.

The funding has paid not only for the physical restoration of the building but also a new sound system, disabled access and recording equipment which will be used to film concerts.

The new venue will include a recording studio where up-and-coming acts can record demos.

Meanwhile, As part of the same project The old cinema next door has been transformed into the Picturehouse, a new arts space that will house a café and a Band on the Wall archive.

Gavin Sharp, chief executive of Band on The Wall said: “It was great that Sir Richard was able to get stuck in during his site visit today.

"The support from Manchester city council has been fantastic and we look forward once again to providing Manchester and the country with an international stage for the best music from around the world and a platform for the finest local talent.”