Explore 200 years of Manchester’s musical history with Band on the Wall’s new digital exhibition

Manchester’s Band on the Wall, a legendary music venue, has launched a new digital heritage exhibition to celebrate its rich musical legacy.

They have put up three new screens which pay homage to 200 years of Manchester Music and social history.

Band on the wall has an immense history, having been a  fixture of the city’s music scene since the 1930s, and over the years, it has hosted some of the biggest names in music, including Duke Ellington, Johnny Dankworth, and Art Blakey.

The new digital exhibition features a short film, directed by renowned graphic designer Malcolm Garrett, that explores the musical contributions of Manchester’s migrant communities over the past two centuries.

It will be screened every evening on three screens outside the venue and will be free for all to enjoy.

Documenting the Ruthless Rap Assassins, a pioneering Manchester rap group from the mid-1980s to early 1990s, on one of the screens outside Band on the Wall.

The image captures the Rap Assassins in 1991 against the backdrop of Hulme’s now-defunct Crescents, the group’s former headquarters, and a hub for other Manchester-based bands.

The new exhibition is a celebration of Manchester’s diverse music scene and highlights the city’s history of welcoming migrants who have enriched the cultural landscape through their musical contributions.

Band on the Wall is a perfect example of this, having hosted an array of artists from around the world, including jazz legends like Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald, and more recently, emerging artists from Manchester’s vibrant music scene.

The launch of the new exhibition marks the first anniversary of Band on the Wall’s reopening following a £3.5 million renovation.

The venue has been an integral part of Manchester’s music scene for over a century, and the refurbishment has allowed it to continue to be a platform for emerging artists and a destination for music lovers.

Malcolm Garrett, the director of the film, is a celebrated graphic designer who first gained fame in 1977 for his work on the Buzzcocks’ iconic single “Orgasm Addict.” The film is a testament to his ability to capture the essence of Manchester’s musical heritage.

If you’re in the Northern Quarter, make sure to take a look at the exhibition outside Band on the Wall.

It’s a fantastic opportunity to learn more about Manchester’s rich musical history and to see the Ruthless Rap Assassins getting the recognition they deserve.