Contact Us
News

Sound And Fury: Manchester Music Venues Fight Back Against Development Threats

Placeholder
Soweto Kinch at the famous Band on the Wall venue, Manchester

Manchester's gig world has been warned not to fall into the same trap that has left music venues priced out and redeveloped in London's property boom.

The calls come as Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham unveil's Greater Manchester's first-ever night-time economy adviser.

Warehouse Project and Parklife founder Sacha Lord has been appointed and set out bold plans to ensure people on a night out can have a safe and enjoyable time. 

The adviser will champion Greater Manchester’s thriving nightlife and set out bold plans to build on the city-region’s status as the number one place in the U.K. for a night out. The adviser will be supported by a panel of experts drawn from across Greater Manchester.

Senior figures from the Music Venue Trust have warned that Manchester venues must organise if they are not to lose out in Manchester's fast-changing property scene, Mancunian Matters reports.

The conflict between music venues and other uses such as residential was "a kind of a war of attrition" Music Venue Trust founder Mark Davyd said.

“Manchester identifies itself with music so much it really should be taking a look at its cultural policy, its planning policy, its licensing policy and making sure that it’s written down how much it cares about music rather than just have it as a feeling,” he told Mancunian Matters.