Register for a two-day conference at Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU): Neither Factory Records nor Madchester: Rethinking Manchester’s Musical and Subcultural Histories, 19th-20th June 2025.
Recent research (Rose, 2024) suggests that Manchester might not be as much an exception as it is an illustration of broader urban trends. The city’s vibrant cultural legacy has played an important role in shaping its identity and has been used as a form of ‘place marketing,’ celebrating its creative spirit and contributing to its growth. Popular music and subculture have been key elements of this narrative. Yet in this process, popular music and subcultures often suffer. Certain people get to tell their stories; others don’t. Certain stories are told and retold and others forgotten. Even the stories we do hear become homogenised, easily digested clichés of friendly Northerners and historical firsts. When some stories dominate, others may fade or remain untold. Even the narratives we celebrate are often simplified and mythologised, focusing on familiar themes and collective historical milestones.
This conference asks: what do we find when we critically examine the dominant stories of Manchester music, or when we shift our focus to those stories less often told?
Neither Factory Records nor Madchester: Rethinking Manchester’s Musical and Subcultural Histories has been co-organised by Chair of the Raymond Williams Society Dr David Wilkinson and other members of the Subcultures Network.
You can find out more information about the conference and register here.
Please note that there are significantly reduced rates for students, unwaged and unaffiliated researchers.
The Raymond Williams Society 