The Tamworth Estate tower blocks lie within the borough of Trafford, even though they share the east side of Chorlton Road (B5218) with Manchester’s Hulme, M15. Their ‘brutalist’ architectural style has more in common with 1970s Hulme, now gone, than… Read more ›
I bought this ticket on a friend’s recommendation in 2012, but have since realised that I don’t like Alt-J. Not only is their sound very contrived, but their lyrics are about the glamour of violence, in particular violence against women.… Read more ›
When Sankey Soap opened in the mid-90s there was general excitement about this brave new venue popping up in Ancoats’ industrial hinterland. I was really impressed with the club back then, but its remoteness was always a worry… there were… Read more ›
I first met Goths in 1982, although I probably thought they were “Punks” at the time… and maybe they did too. Their appearance was dramatic: pale faces, black eye-liner, dark clothes – pre-Raphaelite-witchy-hippy-punks – Laura Ashley’s evil siblings. One Goth… Read more ›
Throughout the 1980s, I admired second-hand fake “leopard-skin” coats but never found one which passed muster. There was always something not quite right…. a bad fit, too frumpy, tatty, smelly, or just too trashy… Then, around 1990, I stumbled across… Read more ›
The BBC began to consider proposals for a TV and radio headquarters in Manchester in 1953. In 1967, Manchester Corporation suggested the All Saints Oxford Road site and obtained a compulsory purchase order but didn’t settle with all former owners… Read more ›
Belated review of Plug In, Tune Out with David Byrne, Mark Mulligan and Dave Haslam: Does music matter less in the current era? Royal Northern College Of Music, 25th October 2012. David Byrne in discussion with Dave Haslam at the… Read more ›
December 2012 was the Month Of The Rat in my house: two of my kids, along with 88 others, have been performing in Rats’ Tales at The Royal Exchange Theatre. Consequently I’ve seen the show a few times; the reviews… Read more ›
Hydes officially vacated Queen’s Brewery in Moss Side, this week, in order to move to a new premises in Salford on Kansas Avenue. The administration staff have moved across in the last few days, but brewing will probably continue on… Read more ›
It didn’t get off to a good start. Dave, Head of Security, wouldn’t allow my camera over the threshold, declaring its detachable lens “professional” under Bouncer Jurisdiction, and therefore “banned”. (I’ve never had this problem before.) I protested that no… Read more ›
To find out more about Alexandra Arts’ work in Alexandra Park see www.alexandra-arts.org.uk.
Next Sunday, September 30th, Alexandra Arts is hosting an ambitious art and film event in Alexandra Park, on the borders of Whalley Range and Moss Side, called One Day wonder[ment]. If you would like to help with the set-up, or… Read more ›