Iconic music recorded in Rochdale is being celebrated with a new album featuring re-imagined recordings of some of the classic tracks, and a live concert in March.
Rochdale boasts a rich and diverse musical legacy, from Gracie Fields to The Courteeners, Lisa Stansfield to Autechre.
Between 1977- 2001 it was home to both Suite Sixteen and Cargo Studios on Kenion Street in the town, where trailblazing artists including OMD, The Stone Roses, Happy Mondays, Joy Division, Inspiral Carpets, A Certain Ratio, The Fall and many others recorded some of their most memorable work.
Fast forward to 2026 – Rochdale’s year as Greater Manchester Town of Culture and lots of local artists, a choir and a brass band have recorded their version of a Cargo or Suite Sixteen classic at Voltalab Studios in Rochdale that will soon be released as a limited-edition vinyl record.
But first, on Saturday 14 March, the album titled ‘Rochdale Music Stories presents: Kenion Street’ is being launched with a concert at the recently refurbished Heywood Civic, with each act performing their track live. It will be hosted by the Inspiral Carpets frontman Clint Boon, who’ll also be chatting to some special guests as well as introducing the array of local talent including: K-Estate, Micah Stalgic, Desyfer & Emma Konnanov, From The Ground Up, PoolEra, Medley, P*Starr, Blvckout, The Velvet Shadow, Jen Reid, Leo HC, Bloom Music Community and Local Vocals.
Staged in partnership with Rochdale Borough Council and Rochdale Development Agency the show is part of ‘Rochdale Music Stories’ – a campaign launched in October 2025 as part of the town’s year as Greater Manchester Town of Culture, to shine a spotlight on Rochdale’s longstanding influence on British music whilst promoting the next wave of talent.
Councillor Sue Smith, cabinet member for culture and co-operation at Rochdale Borough Council, said she wants to invite fans and new audiences to discover the town’s musical past as well as talented new acts of today: She said: “Music is so important to Rochdale, not just as a part of its rich history in the seventies and early eighties but in more recent decades too, and we’re pushing this further during our year as Greater Manchester Town of Culture with this fabulous new album and concert. In the town where so many world-famous artists
Tickets for the Kenion Street Album Launch Concert at 7pm on Saturday 14 March (from £13.65) are available now from www.heywoodcivic.co.uk
