Manchester: The Music Capital of the World

Most cities become renowned for at least one thing in particular. Paris is synonymous with romance and fine-dining, New York is famous for skyscrapers and yellow taxis, whilst London is known as the home of the Queen and red double-decker buses. And Manchester, England’s unofficial ‘capital of the north’, is no different.

But whilst its illustrious and world renowned football club Manchester United may well be the first thing that comes to people’s minds when asked to think about one thing they associate with the city, Manchester has produced some of the world’s greatest and most influential bands ever.

Indeed, for music lovers, this north-western city of around half a million people is synonymous with great bands of the past and present. And this reputation is perhaps one of the reasons why so many young people move there to study at two of the top five biggest universities in the UK; the University of Manchester and Manchester Metropolitan University.

As far back as the 1960s and 1970s, Mancunian bands such as the Hollies, the Bee Gees and Freddie and the Dreamers were selling records by the bucket-loads. And in 1965 alone, Herman’s Hermits outsold the Beatles, selling over ten million records in a seven month period.

In the past four decades, Manchester has spawned countless internationally-renowned bands covering a myriad of genres. The Buzzcocks released the first ever independent-label punk record in early 1977. And The Smiths - fronted by the charismatic Morrissey - formed in 1982, going on to become one of the most influential ‘indie’ bands of all time.

Take That conquered the pop music world too, forming initially as a five-man boy band act in the early 1990s and selling almost twenty million albums between 1991 and 1996. And all this before we even begin to discuss other influential giants of the music world such as Oasis, The Stone Roses, Happy Mondays, Simply Red, New Order and David Gray.

So, it would seem that there is certainly something in the water in this magnificent city. And for those looking to experience life in a city that has been living and breathing music for countless years now, the Manchester of today doesn’t disappoint either. As such, ‘Band on the Wall’, ‘Night and Day’ and ‘The Roadhouse’ are among the key venues to catch new and established acts, not to mention over thirty smaller venues that combine to accommodate what can only be described as a thriving live music scene.

England’s ‘capital of the north’ is a veritable magnet for music lovers - both for those who come to stay and for those who are simply passing through - which means that Manchester hotels are always in great demand. And for those wishing to sample the Manchester music scene first hand, there is sure to be something to suit all budgets.