Why you can still celebrate Morrissey… without him

Stop me if you think you’ve heard this one before. Morrissey has cancelled his upcoming Manchester concert.

The former Smiths frontman and soloist in his own right was due to perform at Castlefield Bowl this weekend as part of a UK and European Tour which has now been called off.

It shouldn’t come as a surprise as Moz is believed to have cancelled or postponed as many as 134 concerts since 2012.

A public backlash regarding controversial comments he has made on social media may have something to do with it.

But there are people out there who are determined to celebrate the music – gig or no gig.

Reel Around The Fountain Records, an independent record shop in Stretford Mall – not too far from The King’s Road, where Morrissey once lived during his childhood years – is determined to encourage fans to venture into the suburbs and have a day celebrating Morrissey’s music on Saturday 7 July.

And they’ve invited the writer and director of the Morrissey film England Is Mine, Stretford-born Oscar and BAFTA-nominated director Mark Gill along.

He’ll be taking part in an in-store interview between 12-1pm, along with an audience Q&A session, and there will be indie DJ sets before and after from the Hit The North M41 DJs.

Expect top tunes all through the afternoon, with indie classics as well as the music of Morrissey and The Smiths on the decks.

And there’s a party the following day. One Nation Under a Groove was intended to be a protest event taking place on the day of the second of Morrissey’s two gigs at the Castlefield Bowl. It takes place at Revolution bar at nearby Deansgate Locks from 3pm till midnight. Entry is free.

“One Nation Under A Groove is about diversity, good times, community, and the power of music to bring people together,” said organiser, ex-Hacienda DJ Dave Haslam.

“There was no bigger Smiths fan than me. I interviewed the band, I went to so many gigs, I knew all the words including the lyrics inspired by Shelagh Delaney, lyrics from the B side, including this line from I Know It’s Over; ‘It’s easy to hate, it takes strength to be gentle and kind.’

“I invited Morrissey fans to come before or after the show.”