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Conference marvin::uk_music

Title:The UK Music Conference
Notice:Welcome (back) to UK_MUSIC on node MARVIN.
Moderator:RDGENG::CROOK
Created:Mon Mar 28 1988
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:1381
Total number of notes:39269

93.0. "MANCHESTER,HACIENDA,HELP!" by SPHINX::CARKIN () Sat May 28 1988 12:03

         Hi, I'm an American student who plays in a college band.  After
    graduation I'm planning to move to Manchester and "forge" something
    there.  I've never been to Manchester, but I've lived with alot
    of English exhchange students who are from the region.  They say
    the city has the perfect climate for starting a "progressive" band.
         Since then, I've turned into a hard-core Joy Division, New
    Order, Smiths (not to mention Echo and Cocteau Twins) fan.  I read
    so much about the city and the HACIENDA, and I'm really eager to
    finish school, and get over there (seeing that the American music
    climate is stagnant-and will be in the future...what with Tiffany
    and the rest).
         I just "stumbled" over this file, and I think that this is
    the perfect file to "air" my thoughts.  I hope that some of you
    could respond with some of your thoughts and opinions to such questions
    as;
    'Has the music scene "died" in Manchester and moved to other cities
    like Birmingham?'
    "Is Manchester clogged with Morrissey and Ian Curtis wanna-be's,
    and new ideas are never appreciated?"
    "How about finding employment, while forming a band?"
    "Housing in Manchester?"
    "Or housing in nearby towns?"
    "Are American musicians ignored?"
    "Are there other cities that are in their musical "hey-day"?"
    "Should I go to Manchester and see for myself?"
    "Or is this a stupid idea on the whole?"
         Nonetheless, all ideas and opinions are appreciated.  Many
    of my English friends have differing opinions...some say, "I wouldn't
    live in that pit if you payed me."....Others who go to the University
    say otherwise....Fire away.....Thanks alot, Chad Edwards.
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93.1RDGENG::KEDMUNDS$ no !fm2r, no commentSat May 28 1988 14:5923
.0�    "How about finding employment, while forming a band?"

    In Manchester? Difficult, I would imagine.

.0�    "Are American musicians ignored?"

	Next! Actually, no: we go on quality, not nationality.
    
.0�    "Are there other cities that are in their musical "hey-day"?"

    Well London has some progressive music secenes..
    
.0�    "Should I go to Manchester and see for myself?"

    Yes. But accept that you may prefer to end up somewhere else.
    
.0�    "Or is this a stupid idea on the whole?"

    No ideas are stupid, but I'm surprised you think that Manchester
    is "where it's at". Of course, I could be wrong, maybe it is where
    it's at.
    
    	Keith, who's only been to Manchester once.
93.2Go for itEAYV01::GOUDIESun May 29 1988 11:5313
    
    
    Ah Manchester you have a lot to answer for .. or is it Morrisey?
    
    I don't think you'll find it's what your looking for ,but you
    should go nonetheless .You'll never know whats in the pot at the
    end of your rainbow (will it be nice or nasty) ,unless you go
    and look.
    
    	Good luck to you ,send us all a postcard.
    
    	_stuart_.
    
93.3 ;-)OFFCLU::DKEATINGNot all that shivers is coldMon May 30 1988 15:346
.0�    "Are there other cities that are in their musical "hey-day"?"

    Yeah, forget Manchester...unless you want to find some  BEATLEMANIA
    Come to Dublin,Ireland and follow bands like U2 and Hot House Flowers.
    
    - Dave Keating.
93.4FORTY2::WATKINSGet Down Shep!!!Mon May 30 1988 18:3820
    
    Hey hold on a moment what's all this lets slag off Manchester bit? 
    
    First I was a student at Manchester University from 84 to 87 so
    have some knowledge of the place. The hardest thing about setting
    up a band in Manchester is the attitude of people in the South like
    in the previous replies. It was quite trendy with the media a few
    months back the so called North South divide.
     
    If you're seriously considering living in Manchester give me your
    address and I'll send you details of the housing  etc. I'll
    put together a brief overview of the current music scene as a reply
    to this note.
    
    As for the Hacienda. This was the night club set up by New Order
    from a coverted Ware House. I not too sure its any thing like you
    expect. Each time I visited the place it has had a very different
    crowd. 
    
    Marc.
93.5Manchester's golden yearsRDGCSS::LIPSZYCTue May 31 1988 10:3948
    The manchester music scene seems at present to be one long round
    of 'acid' and mainstream house music or hip hop, it seems that those
    glorious years of ALTERNATIVE rythms and jazzy SOUNDS are going
    to come to nought as the music scene dissappears up it's own as*h*le.
    It's  really annoying and upsetting, Manchester used to have such
    a thriving and exciting independent music scene with clubs like
    the Hacienda and Berlin catering to the musical fetishes of a great
    cross section of the fashion victims of Manchester, New order sounds
    followed punk anarchy tunes on the dancefloor, goths mixed with
    rockabilly's , while everyone took the rip and danced to Louis Jordan's
    "There ain't nobody here but us chickens". On the street quite a
    few of my friends used to bump into Morrisey whilst shopping at
    Affleck's Palace and supposedly he was a real nice guy. This all
    lead to the feeling among Manchester youth that this was wear it
    was really AT and we were sticking two fingers up at the london
    scene. But then the whole thing got messed up, in their continual
    search for something new and exciting people began to listen to
    Electro music and the scene shifted from live music to a synthesized
    soulless sound , sampling and sratching became the order of the
    day. With the new sound an old  fashion reappeared on the streets,
     FLARED TROUSERS  , in my opinion this was an indication of the
     depths that Manchester was going to spiral too and i began to think
    about leaving town. 
    	      The hacienda was at the fore front of RE(DE)VOLUTION and
    it's ironic to think that was once my favourite nightclub because
    of it's variety became one of my least favourite due the dull
    monotonity of the jack your body toones that now echoed from it's
    dancefloor. Berlin soon came to an end shortly after and a number
    of one nighters dissappeared.
    	I left Manchester then and came to university in London. I have
    lived three years in London and in my opinion although there are
    some great music clubs here ie for live music the 100 club, Ronnie
    scotts , Town and Country , university gigs, plus some great nightclubs,
    the Wag club and various one nighters NOTHING seems to have captured
    the same feeling of intimacy , fun , party  and excitement that
    surrounded that scene in Manchester around 1982 to 1984.
    	I have of course been back to Manchester regularly and whenever
    i can, i hit the HAC' on a friday night the music seems to have
    improved but ..... 
    	Finally to end this reply, i just want to say that Manchester
     is a great city packed full of interesting, beautiful and fashionable
    people and its not the drab dreary grey armpit of a place it's
    caricatured as. Unfortunately though it seems that these people
    are staying home rather a lot these days just reading the FACE and
    washing their hair.  	
                       
    		-ERAN-
    	(axe_murderer_and_adventurer)
93.6Glasgow_a_gogo45645::CROOKSTONDon't throw the 'R' away !!!Tue May 31 1988 18:5613
    
    I agree with a lot of what was said in .5., things like the intimacy
    isn't quite the same down London way, and the north isn't as dreary
    and dull and awful as legends have it....the only difference being
    in my case is that I'm referring to Glasgow.
    
    Now there is a city that has a LOT of style, and MANY a good band
    have appeared from there...Orange Juice...you know the rest (that's
    just a cover up 'cos ah cannie be bothered thinking aboot it)

    Anyway, give it all a try
    
    TC (who_hasn't_noted_for_quite_some_time_now___high_everyone)
93.7I Want tHis feeling evEry day !WARDER::REXLEYAnna Stesia come to me ! Thu Jun 02 1988 14:1516
    
    
    I have always been under the impression that the more 'depressed'
    the town, the more effort the younger people put into their social
    scene......I would definately say Manchester is far more interesting
    than the South (I know cause I lived in both)...but as far as
    recommendations go...I understand that Newcastle and Glasgow are
    the 'hippest' places en ce moment.....!
    
    If you want, I have an artical from this weeks NME about the Club
    scene in Manchester which you may find interesting...!
    
    
    Rex
    
    
93.8Mecca Of The NorthKERNEL::COHENKeep Music LiveMon Jun 06 1988 19:0513
    
    Lived there for 25 years.  Nearly everyone I might in the south,
    who has been in Manchester at some time, liked the place.
    
    Check out The International and International II.  I use to be a
    big Free Trade Hall/Apollo frequenter, but also checked out Band
    On The Wall.  Also, it has it's own version of Time Out/City Limits
    - there's lot's goin' on - biggest punk toen outside London in '77.
    
    Love it!
    
    David (who_is_trying_to_keep_up_with_notes_too)
    
93.9Long Live New Order - Jive Turkey45610::BROWNMMon Feb 13 1989 13:319
    the place to be
    
    Manchester has one lively club scene, but jobs are slightly hard
    to come by.  But it does have a good soccer team (United).  Try
    Sheffield and the Jive Turkey club.  House (Not Acid) is the future
    and the north is where it's at.  It happens second down here.
    
    Long live New Order
    
93.10SHAWB1::HARRISCNot very nice at allThu Apr 11 1991 17:388
    Looks like the Hacienda could well be reopening!  Appanrantly Factory 
    Records are recruiting new security staff for the club and are holding a
    board meeting tonight - a full statement will be made after the
    meeting.
    
    Sourse - Manchester Evening News.
    
    ..Craig