Don't look back in anger wistfully

In June 2018, UK Music and the Mayor of Manchester, Andy Burnham, teamed up to kick off a project to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the city's music culture. In fairness to Burnham, at the launch he did state: "This city has always been a vibrant music scene and it still is today". However, the strong implication was that it is somehow failing, no longer churning out the big hitters of the past. Oh for the halcyon days of the Hacienda, Oasis, New Order, The Stone Roses, Happy Mondays...

Music critics Luke Turner and Laura Snapes have been among those on Twitter who have argued that this obsession with nostalgia, with looking back not in anger but with rose-tinted specs, is exactly what is crippling the city now. On the Sounding Bored episode dedicated to Manchester, we touched on the same issues. Why hasn't the city produced any massive acts for years? Has its heritage become a millstone around the necks of anyone wanting to do something new? Does it dwell too much on its musical past, to the detriment of its musical present and future? 

Given that none of the Sounding Bored panel were "on the ground" in Manchester, however, I was very concerned about us implying (erroneously) that there is nothing of note going on. On the contrary, as this recent Quietus article by locals ILL amply illustrates, there are in fact plenty of exciting, talented bands and artists worthy of your time and attention - and their list doesn't even include the likes of DUDS, Jane Weaver and PINS.

Does it actually matter that few of them have genuine mainstream crossover appeal of the sort that might translate into significant record sales? In the era of streaming, in fact, very few acts anywhere do. What really matters is that the city's grassroots scene is in rude good health - that much is evident from ILL's piece - and that it's properly supported politically and financially in terms of opportunities for musicians and protection for small venues. If Burnham's collaboration with UK Music can help to ensure that, then it's worth pursuing. Whether or not it produces the next Noel Gallagher is immaterial.