Venue that hosted early Joy Division gigs reopens

A venue which helped launch the careers of bands likes Joy Division, Buzzcocks and The Fall is reopening tonight (September 25).

Band On The Wall, which is on Swan Street in Ancoats, has been part of the Manchester music scene since the '30s, and after major refurbishment is reopening its doors.

"Joy Division flourished during three low-key Band On The Wall gigs," Wrote music writer Mick Middles in his book 'Factory - The Story Of The Record Label'.

"Peter Hook, his bass hovering just inches above the floor; [Ian] Curtis, just beginning to swerve and jerk in an intriguing manner; [Bernard] Sumner, stock-still and nervous; [Stephen] Morris, intense and tightish. Joy Division had become a band," Middles continued to write.

Opening tonight with a line-up featuring Mica Paris, the venue claims to once again be returning to its roots, and hosting an eclectic range of music from around the world.

Tomorrow night (Saturday 26) sees one of Factory Records' old acts A Certain Ratio play.