Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council

01/28/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 01/28/2026 08:33

Rochdale’s soundtrack reborn: Kenion Street album and concert celebrates music history

Some of the local artists who feature on the new album alongside Andy McCluskey (OMD), Clint Boon (Inspiral Carpets) and Martin Moscrop (A Certain Ratio) outside Voltalab Sound Studios on Kenion Street, Rochdale.

Published: 28 January 2026

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 2026.

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.

'World-famous'

But first, on Saturday, 14 March 2026, 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:

"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 recorded iconic tracks it's great to see how groundbreaking music continues to thrive."

Tickets for the Kenion Street Album Launch Concert at 7pm on Saturday, 14 March 2026 (from £13.65) are available now.

The story continues this summer, with synth-pop icons Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD) returning to where it began when they perform a headline show at Rochdale Town Hall Square in August alongside post-punk legends Peter Hook & The Light, and Manchester's post-punk/funk band - A Certain Ratio.

Rochdale Music Stories is a collaboration between Voltalab Soun Studios, Stockport Music Story and Rochdale Development Agency, funded by Arts Council England, Rochdale Borough Council and Rochdale Development Agency.

Rochdale Music Stories Presents: Kenion Street - album track list

  1. Micah Stalgic featuring Local Vocals - Atmosphere (Joy Division)
  2. K-Estate - Damaged Goods (Gang of Four)
  3. Desyfer & Emma Konnanov - Twenty Four Hour Party People (Happy Mondays)
  4. P*STARR - Keep The Circle Around (Inspiral Carpets)
  5. Leo HC - Up The Down Escalator (The Chameleons)
  6. PoolEra - Electricity (OMD)
  7. Medley - Dreams Never End (New Order)
  8. Blvckout - All Night Party (A Certain Ratio)
  9. The Velvet Shadow featuring Maisie Thompson - All Tomorrow's Parties (Nico)
  10. Jennifer Reid - Totally Wired (The Fall)
  11. From The Ground Up featung Bloom Music Community - Elephant Stone (The Stone Roses)

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Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council published this content on January 28, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on January 28, 2026 at 14:33 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]