We love digging up little glimpses of the old world and nuggets of what Greater Manchester used to be like back in the day, but unearthing a song all about how wonderful Stockport is might just be up there with one of the best things we’ve ever come discovered.
Yes, we fully appreciate how surprising and potentially funny that sentence alone might be to a lot of you, but please just bear with us.
We’ll confess that finding this gem of a track came from nothing more than a stroke of sheer luck and the whims of the YouTube algorithm during one of the late-night scrolling on our phones, at which we point we stumbled across what appeared to be an ode to the town of Stockport.
Simply entitled, ‘Stockport’, the song was performed by Liverpool-born easy-listening star and all-round crooner, Frankie Vaughan, who was a big recording artist throughout the 1950s and, without further ado, here’s what it sounds like. Are you ready?
The best and likely only song about how great Stockport is. Simply glorious.
Yes, that is a real single that was genuinely recorded in the old Cheshire borough back in 1983, and not at the legendary Strawberry Studios as you might have expected, but in the equally iconic Plaza Theatre located in the town centre.
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Believed to have been recorded as a bit of a wink and a nod by Vaughan and lyricist Geoff Morrow, a songwriter and businessman from London, the tune came about as a response to an article by the Mail on Sunday which essentially dragged Stockport’s name through the dirt.
While the details surrounding exactly how that article led to this collaboration are equally muddy, it’s thought that the Mail set up a competition for someone to write about how great the area was as a kind of apology — i.e. giving the locals a chance to paint it in a better light like no one else could.
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However, perhaps because SK residents weren’t overly keen to shout about the region themselves, it turned out Morrow asked Vaughan to do it as the two were friends and (tongue firmly in cheeky, we expect), the 60s/70s cabaret singer gave it his full big band best. It was a big story at the time, too.
The result is an almost Sinatra-esque soliloquy all about the place that has gone on to be dubbed ‘the new Berlin’ by some and was voted Greater Manchester’s town of culture in 2023, but we dare say few would have expected it to have such a reputation today — including the blokes who created it.
From the almost Coronation Street-like opening second or two, to Frankie Vaughan’s insistence upon occasionally letting loose a laugh at the end or even sometimes in the middle of a lyric, there are moments when this song very much feels like a bit of a parody, but I guess we’ll never know.
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As someone born in Stockport myself, I feel I have some authority to assume that lines like “there’s nowhere that can beat it”, “the houses seem to say ‘come in'”, and “there’s nowhere finer” were sung at least a little bit sarcastically but, regardless, we’re very happy to have pulled this love letter out from the very back of the Manc music draw.
Nevertheless, in all seriousness, the Stockport of the mid to late-20th century is very different from the one we’ve come to know of today, boasting plenty of new cultural hotspots, highly-regarded restaurants and bars, not to mention a new wave of local artists like Blossoms, Fuzzy Sun, Findlay and more.
Fellow Stopfordians might smirk at the suggestion of their town being “where it’s at”, as Frankie Vaughan puts it with such questionable sincerity, but the honest truth is that it’s still one of our favourite places to go in and around Manchester and has a special place in our hearts.
The only difference is that we’re fairly sure our love comes from a very different place than the songs did. Exhibit A through Z.
Featured Images — Helder Rock (via YouTube)/Stockport Library Archive Footage/The Manc Group
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Bastille at AO Arena – A night of nostalgic throwbacks
Dec Kelly
A night like this – when Bastille took to the stage at the AO Arena – reminds you exactly why live music matters.
It felt like travelling back to our early teens – windows down, speakers up, yelling Bastille lyrics like our lives depended on it. That familiar rush came flooding back the moment we stepped into the legendary AO Arena.
And honestly, the whole experience, from securing tickets through AXS to walking into one of Manchester’s best venues, was seamless and stress-free, setting the tone perfectly for the night.
The band opened with a classic from their debut album Bad Blood. A single orange beam flickered across the stage, almost like a fire dancing in the dark, creating an intimate calm before the storm. Dan Smith’s slow, acoustic rendition of ‘Things We Lost in the Fire’ pulled the entire crowd into silence. It was raw, emotional, and the perfect way to kick off a night dedicated to the anthems that shaped a decade.
From there, the pace picked up. The show unfolded like a living scrapbook of Bastille’s 15 years of music, skipping through albums and eras with effortless precision. Every transition felt like rediscovering a memory of songs we’d forgotten we loved, songs we never stopped playing, and songs that hit harder live than they ever could through headphones. It was a rollercoaster of indie brilliance, nostalgia, and the kind of energy only Bastille can create.
Credit: Bastille at the AO Arena in Manchester
One of the biggest highlights of the night was the VS. (Other People’s Heartache) segment. We genuinely don’t talk enough about what a masterpiece that project is. The band stripped back their setup as two DJ decks rolled out centre stage, transforming the arena into a full-blown Bastille club experience. It was unexpected, refreshing, and showed off the band’s ability to bend genres without ever losing their identity. The lighting, the bass, the crowd reaction everything came together to create a completely different vibe, proving just how dynamic and experimental Bastille can be.
And then came ‘Pompeii’ and ‘Happier’ , two songs that feel almost woven into modern music culture at this point. Hearing thousands of voices echo those choruses back at Dan Smith was genuinely spine-tingling. It’s moments like that when you realise how much Bastille’s music has grown, evolved, and connected with fans over the years. Their audience now spans generations, and you could feel that unity in the room of parents with teens, old fans, new fans, and everyone in between, all sharing the same unforgettable moment.
What also stood out was the atmosphere. There’s something special about AO Arena: the acoustics, the crowd energy, the lights that sweep across the entire venue. Every detail enhances the performance, making even the quietest moments feel grand and the biggest hits feel monumental.
And honestly, the whole experience was made so much easier by AXS. Keeping track of gigs, managing tickets, and discovering upcoming shows is all right there in the app. No stress, no scrambling, just tap, book, go. It’s the perfect way to make sure you’re always one step ahead and never miss out on seeing your favourite artists live.
Last night wasn’t just a concert, it was a reminder of why we fell in love with Bastille in the first place. A celebration of their past, a showcase of their growth, and a promise that they’re not done surprising us yet.
And if this tour is anything to go by, your next best memory might be only one AXS tap away.
Lorde at AO Arena, Manchester – stage times, setlist, tickets and more essential info
Daisy Jackson
Lorde is performing a huge gig at the AO Arena in Manchester this week, as part of her Ultrasound World Tour.
The New Zealand-born singer burst onto the music scene at the tender ages of 16 with her smash-hit single Royals, way back in 2013.
Since then, she’s gone on to break several records with the releases of her four studio albums, and scooped up a handful of GRAMMYs and BRIT awards along the way too.
As well as her gig at the AO Arena here in Manchester, Lorde will also be calling at major UK cities including London, Birmingham and Glasgow.
The tour comes hot off the heels of the release of her latest album, Virgin, which once again topped the Official UK Album Charts.
If you’re heading to see Lorde at the AO Arena, here’s everything you need to know.
Lorde UK tour dates
15 November – AO Arena, Manchester
16 November – The O2, London
17 November – The O2, London
19 November – OVO Hydro, Glasgow
20 November – Utilita Arena Birmingham
Who is supporting Lorde at the AO Arena?
Experimental musician and producer Blood Orange, otherwise known as Devonte Hynes, will be the main support act for Lorde in Manchester.
The British musician has worked with the likes of Florence and the Machine, Mac Miller, Kylie Minogue, and – of course – Lorde, and will be warming up the crowds ready for our headliner.
Also taking the stage before Lorde will be electronic and indie pop star Jim-E Stack, whose solo releases have featured everyone from Bon Iver to Charli XCX.
Tickets for Lorde’s gig in Manchester
Credit: Thistle Brown
At the time of writing, there are just a handful of random tickets left for Lorde’s gig.
These are priced between £48.60 and £161.30.
Otherwise, your best bet is to look at resale tickets from a reputable site.
Stage times for Lorde at AO Arena Manchester
The AO Arena hasn’t yet confirmed the exact stage times for Lorde, but has said that doors will open from 6pm with a start time of around 7pm.
At other shows, Lorde has typically arrived on stage at around 9pm.
You can roughly expect stage times to be as follows:
Doors 6pm
Jim E-Stack 7pm
Blood Orange 8pm
Lorde 9pm
Keep an eye on the AO Arena’s socials for the latest.
Danny Jones -
12th January 2024 
