A special exhibition documenting the formation and early years of the iconic Factory Records is set to open at Manchester’s Science and Industry Museum in June.
Founded by Tony Wilson and Alan Erasmus, Factory Records played an influential part in the city’s transformation from an industrial powerhouse to a beacon of art and culture.
Use Hearing Protection will examine the period 1978 to 1982, revealing how the label grew and thrived to give the city an authentic voice and distinctive identity.
The exhibition will focus on Factory Records’ formative years from 1978 to 1982 / Credit: Science and Industry Museum
So, what can we expect when the exhibition opens then?
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Visitors will be guided through the pre-Haçienda years to uncover the history of the label and how it earned its status as a catalyst for innovation through rarely or never-before-seen objects.
The first 50 artefacts from the official Factory Records catalogue will be on display, including creations from Joy Division, New Order and The Durutti Column, as well as graphic designs by Peter Saville and objects loaned from the estates of both Tony Wilson and Rob Gretton – the former manager of Joy Division and New Order.
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Visitors can expect interactive experiences that offer the opportunity to get hands-on with the technologies of the time (which have gone on to change the face of music) including a mixing desk and synthesiser.
The ‘Gig Room’ will also transport visitors back in time by playing out the sounds of Factory Records through large-scale projections of the early signed bands.
There’s a lot to look forward to.
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It will also disclose lesser-told stories from family members, alternative voices and international collaborators / Credit: Science and Industry Museum
Use Hearing Protection: The early years of Factory Records is set to open on 19 June 2021, and run right through to 3 January 2022.
An after-hours celebration of Manchester’s music scene will also take place on Thursday 23 September.
Tickets will be priced at £8 for adults, £6 for concessions, and under 12s go free when attending with an adult too.
A live orchestral football chant concert is coming to Manchester city centre
Danny Jones
Yes, you heard us right: a whole live concert revolving around the world of football chants is coming to Manchester city centre.
And better still, you don’t have to wait long for it to come around either.
Teaming up with the National Football Museum, our city’s well-renowned Manchester Camerata chamber orchestra will be doing what they do best and putting a twist on some of the most famous songs sung at stadiums around the world.
Being MC’d by Classic FM and sports presenter Karthi Gnanasegaram, the unique show will see the soundtrack of the beautiful game brought to life and to the people in a whole new light.
From local terrace chants like ‘Blue Moon’ and ‘Glory, Glory, Man United’ that are regularly belted at full volume every weekend in our city, to ‘Three Lions’ and other iconic England anthems, die-hard footy fans have helped score (pardon the pun) the sport as we know it for nearly two centuries.
Moreover, they will continue to do so for generations to come – and it’s live, musical spirit that these performances are looking to capture in a fully-fledged orchestral fashion.
The oldest football chant on record is thought to have been written by composer Sir Edward Elgar way back in 1898, who wrote ‘He Banged the Leather for Goal’ in tribute to the once beloved Wolverhampton Wanderers striker, Billy Malpass.
Great last name for a player, by the way.
Speaking ahead of the perfect springtime event, host Karthi recently gave us a better insight into the exclusive show; you can find out more down below.
Spanning all the way from the foundational song by Elgar to more modern-day examples like ‘Wavin’ Flag’ by K’naan, written for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, it’s an oral journey through a big sport of not just sporting culture but countries all over the world.
‘The Beautiful Game’ at the National Football Museum aims to “celebrate the drama and passion of the nation’s most beloved sport”, with the classical arrangements to be conducted by Enyi Okpara.
Fresh off being appointed as Fellow Conductor of the London Philharmonic Orchestra for the 2026/27 season, you couldn’t ask for a better pedigree – especially with all the talents that make up the Manchester Camerata itself.
Taking place over the duration of two shows on Friday, 24 April 2026 at 6:30pm and 8pm, Gorton residents can get tickets from just £3, only a fiver for students, and under 30s at just a tenner.
Featured Images — Publicity pictures (via MCR Camerata/The Manc Group)
Art & Culture
Five Greater Manchester artists we’ve been listening to this past month | March 2026
Danny Jones
Don’t look at us like that… It was a bank holiday, and we had a lot of stuff to sort before the long weekend – and a good chunk of that was spent listening to loads of Manc music, new and old, so just shut your trap and get ready for another batch of fantastic artists.
Seriously, though, we’re sorry you had to wait a few extra days than usual to get your latest fix of local tunes, but good things always come to those who wait.
If you happen to be new to this regular series of ours in 2026, it’s pretty much what it says on the tin: every month, we round up the stuff from in and around the Greater Manchester region that we’ve been listening to of late.
Simple as that. Let’s crack on, shall we?
1. Freak Slug
Born in Italy and now based in Manchester after studying in London, Xenya Genovese – a.k.a. ‘Freak Slug’ – is mixing trippy, shoegazey, alt-pop and rock sounds to great effect, which is even more impressive when you find out she produces pretty much everything herself.
There are notes of everything from Slow Pulp and Mazzy Star, to bits of Hazel English and Soccer Mommy; if you were thinking NewDad, too, you’d be absolutely right. In fact, the rising star is currently on tour with them over in North America after having played some domestic and European shows.
If you’re just getting started, we’d recommend two of her biggest hits, ‘Radio’ and ‘Friday’, as you’ll get a good broad strokes idea of her style, but we do love the slightly more Northern attitude and almost Kate Nash-esque no-nonsense of recent single ‘Honest Man’. You can find a snippet of her latest down below.
In at number two is Manchester’s answer to the country music scene – specifically, the growing host of fantastic female artists who are becoming increasingly influential in the space. If you’re a fan of Lainey Wilson, Ella Langley, Ashley Cooke, Alana Springsteen and the like, she’s right up your alleyway.
One of our own, if you’re a fellow British country fan who often suffers from a dash of impostor syndrome, you’ll be glad to hear she does her best work when she leans more into that some of that self-awareness and self-deprecation, highlighting what makes her different rather than trying to blend in.
It’s a trap that plenty of UK artists can fall into when trying to tap into a sound, but instead, this is what sets it apart; there are no better examples than ‘Past Life Cowgirl’ and ‘Don’t Give Me Hope’, which still show a pop sensibility that could see her playing arenas. And if you don’t like it, as the girl says, you can ‘Kiss [Her] Accent’.
We spoke to her at our first taste of C2C music festival.
3. Ishango Bone
In at number three up is an up-and-coming band that technically has only one Spotify release as yet, along with a smattering of other raw recordings from gigs, etc. online, but they’re nonetheless one that has quickly caught our attention – and not least because of that moniker.
Taking on the same title as a 20,000-year-old ‘calculator’ found near the Nile River in the Democratic Republic of Congo (fall down the rabbit hole at your peril), choosing to name themselves after this gives you a little bit of insight into this curious, interesting, experimental and admittedly odd project.
Even their social media is pretty unique and eccentric, mirroring that somewhat detached, third-person voice used by the likes of Sleep Token, and talking about the project as if it were research into some new alien entity. Bit weird, but so are we, and we like it. New single ‘The Agency’ out on 24 April.
The Salford kid is still very early in his career. It was only back in February 2023 that a then 12-year-old Denton won Marr’s eponymous award from the Salford Foundation Trust. However, since then, the young man has clearly got the right people around him as his sound is already coming across well-developed.
He doesn’t have tonnes out yet, so you might as well complete his discography. Thus far, you can hear influences of Britpop legend Richard Ashcroft, but also fellow Wiganers, the Stanleys, but it’s still too early to tell where he’ll go. All we know is it’s uplifting indie that’s perfect for a spring soundtrack.
5. The Cavs
Last but not least, we have The Cavs, who feel like they’ve been around forever because, well, it has been a good seven years or so since their very first song. We feel like we’ve caught them at festivals here and there, but never quite seen them have their one breakout moment. Could it be coming this year?…
The local lads are back after a little break, having last released music this time last year, but there feels like a fresh wave of momentum might be about to take them onto that next level, as we’re once again seeing them all over our algorithm. They’ve always had a big sound, but it deserves a bigger following.
We might still have a soft spot for the anthemic, 90s/early noughties feel of ‘Find A Way’, and we still maintain that ‘Headshot’ has one of the most addictive intros and recurring riffs we’ve any contemporary rock band could hope to write, but their new release ‘Hallowed Ground’ is well worth a listen to, as well.
So there you have it: another round-up to wrap up Q1 of this year’s journey through Manchester’s musical scene.
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As always, we’re looking for new suggestions all the time, so let us know who you’re listening to at the minute – or rather who we should be – down in the comments.
Oh, and since you’re here, why not check out last month’s list?
Emily Sergeant -
2nd June 2021 
