Wigan Casino dancers 1975 Northern soul dancing

Manchester’s bar, club and music scene of the ‘70s is celebrated in a new book, with foreword by The Smiths bass player Andy Rourke.

The ‘Dirty Stop Outs’ Guide to 1970s Manchester’ is an affectionate look back at the era defined by glam rock, industrial action and the rise of punk, told by the people who were there.

Written by former Piccadilly Radio youth presenter and girl about town Rikki Wright, it celebrates the era dominated by venues like The Free Trade Hall, Russell Club and The Electric Circus.

From Saturday Night Soul Fever in Rotters and Rafters to the swirling psychedelic rock of Deeply Vale and UMIST Heavy Rock disco, from the spectacular Northern Soul terpsichory of Wigan Casino, to the pogoing punk of The Electric Circus, the ‘Dirty Stop Outs’ Guide to 1970s Manchester’ tells the unheard and forgotten ‘70s stories, brought together in an often-riotous collection of tales told by the people who were there, having a blast, watching world class acts at local venues and dancing themselves dizzy to Pop, Soul, Blues, Progressive, Rock, Punk, New Wave, Reggae and Northern Soul music.

It features stunning tales from much missed places including King’s Hall, Pips, Rotters, The Hardrock, Check Inn, Stoneground, Free Trade Hall, Phoenix, Poly, Poco-a-poco, Ranch, Magic Village, Russell Club, Champness Hall and a host of others.

Rikki says: “The book features hilarious, no holds barred contributions from Smiths bassman Andy Rourke, Piccadilly Radio DJs Roger Day and Pete Reeves, Club DJs Dave Booth, Steve Toon and George Andrew, the ‘Punk Monk’ David Gray, Festival and event guru Chris Hewitt, Punk musicians Alex Sidebottom and Paul Keelagher, Alberto’s frontman CP Lee, seminal music writers Mick Middles and Dave Haslam, and you, the great British public, leaving no doubt about what made Greater Manchester the most exciting place to be in the ‘70s – the independent, innovative spirit that still makes this a place where great things happen.”

The ‘Dirty Stop Outs Guide to 1970s Manchester’ is a fond and funny glimpse of places we’ve loved and lost, the people we were, and the stunning legacy left by those amazing days.

The book is published by www.acmretro.com and is available from all good bookshops at £13.95.

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