Manchester Music Then and Now: Music Worth Fighting For

Thirty years on from Madchester, Manchester Music Then and Now: Music Worth Fighting For has been produced by Marketing Manchester to demonstrate how Manchester music is stronger than ever, with more diversity, better venues, and a new generation of talent continuing the story. Production started ahead of the pandemic and then adapted to detail the extraordinary resilience and struggle of people working in the sector, with bands providing online performances and United We Stream GM attracting millions of viewers worldwide for events featuring Manchester artists.

Music Worth Fighting For features a stellar cast of famous faces and places from the Manchester music scene, including A Certain Ratio, Blossoms, Courteeners, Denise Johnson, New Order/Joy Division, Happy Mondays, Lottery Winners, Manchester Collective, Working Men’s Club and Elbow, alongside emerging talent including Valve and DJ Olli Ryder, son of Shaun Ryder, and Oliver Wilson, son of late Factory records supremo Tony Wilson.

It also hears from industry professionals including technicians, band bookers, photographers and promoters (Jay Taylor, Sacha Lord, Jenna G, Paul Husband), tour guide Rose Gill, and the many venues and festivals (Night & Day, Manchester Jazz festival, Parklife) that attract many thousands of visitors to Greater Manchester each year.

Please pay “what you feel”.

Marketing Manchester is encouraging “pay what you feel” donations to charities that support people affected by the pandemic. Donations can be made to #OneGM or WeMakeEvents’ fundraiser for BackUp, which supports people who in the Entertainment Technology Industry.

Manchester Music Then and Now: Music Worth Fighting For was produced by Marketing Manchester  Content Curator Simon Donohue in partnership with a team at Social Communications led by videographer and editor Luke Barnett. It is dedicated to the memory of singer Denise Johnson, who features in the documentary. The production was funded by Visit England.