Rochdale Rocks: Legendary Studios Spark Epic Summer Concert Bash!

This summer, Rochdale will host a special outdoor concert to honor the town's famous Cargo Studios, a place where many well-known bands began their musical journeys. The event is being organized by Karen Boardman from the Rochdale Development Agency, who reached out to bands that once recorded at Cargo Studios. She was thrilled when several of them agreed to return and perform at the concert. The headline act will be Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, a group known for their electronic pop music. They will be joined by Peter Hook, the bass player from Joy Division, and the band A Certain Ratio. Karen Boardman explained that Cargo Studios played a key role in the 1970s and 1980s, helping to launch a new wave of music in the UK. She said she still can't believe the concert is really happening and feels very lucky to be part of it.

Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark recorded their first single, Electricity, at Cargo Studios in 1979. Since then, they have sold over 40 million records worldwide. Factory Records boss Tony Wilson brought Joy Division to Cargo Studios, where they recorded the song Atmosphere with Peter Hook on bass. The concert is part of a campaign called Rochdale Music Stories, which aims to highlight the town's important role in British music history. The event will take place just 300 yards from the original Cargo Studios building, in a new pedestrian square next to Rochdale Town Hall, on August 7.

Cargo Studios was opened in 1978 by John Brierley, a former cameraman for Granada TV. The studio was located in a converted warehouse on Kenion Street and became known for its connection to the UK post-punk music scene. Bands like The Fall, The Teardrop Explodes, and The Chameleons all recorded there. The studio's goal was to make recording affordable for new bands, but this meant they struggled to upgrade their equipment. In 1985, the studio became Suite 16. Over the years, other famous bands such as The Happy Mondays, The Charlatans, The Inspiral Carpets, and The Stone Roses also recorded at the studio. The building was empty for a long time, but in 2009, a mural of Joy Division's Ian Curtis and a blue plaque were added to the outside wall.

In 2013, the studio reopened as Voltalab Sound Studios, featuring modern equipment like floating floors and rotating acoustic panels. Jamie Alsop, a recording engineer and producer at Voltalab, said they wanted to keep the building's musical history alive. He mentioned that bands from places as far away as the South of France and New York have come to record at Voltalab because of its famous past. Laura Howkins, the studio manager, said it's important that artists don't have to leave Rochdale to find a world-class recording experience. Since reopening, Voltalab has welcomed a wide range of musicians, including rock bands, grime rappers, folk artists, and string quartets. Local groups like The Guest List, The Donaghys, and Sleep Walking Animals have also recorded there. The upcoming concert is a way for Rochdale to celebrate its rich musical heritage and the many artists who have passed through Cargo Studios over the years.