Manchester

Since the 1940's when Jimmy Savile became the first modern DJ by welding two record decks together for continuous play, Manchester has been known as a nightclub town. In the late 80's and early 90's, when Factory Records, the Independent music label from Manchester was at its height, people partied at the Hacienda, the famous nightclub which became a cultural hub of of the emerging techno, acid house post-punk guitar music genres. This became known as the "Madchester" scene. The 2002 film "24 Hour Party People" was about Factory Records, the Madchester years at the Hacienda, and the stories surrounding them. Currently, both Factory Records and the Hacienda club are gone, but its memory lives on in many of the local clubs of the area. With everything from pubs, to dance clubs to trendy wine bars, you're sure to find a great night out in Manchester.

Manchester's musical artistic centre is the Northern Quarter. It's a mecca for DJ's with many vinyl record shops, clubs and bars and also a great place to shop for designer clothing and art. The Northern Quarter as a whole is characterised by its offbeat, alternative atmosphere. Live music abounds in this part of town, and on any given evening, you're sure to find big name muscians performing. All kinds of live music can be found, from jazz to dance to modern. You'll also find many great restaurants where you can dine before an evening of live music and dancing.

The venue for large concerts is the Manchester Evening News Arena, typically refered to as just "Manchester Arena". It seats over 21,000 and is the largest arena of its type in Europe and is often compared to Madison Square Garden in New York. It was named "International Venue Of The Year" in 2001 nominated in the same category from 2002-2004. It is one of the most successful venues in the world, and features sporting events as well as big name stars such as Paul McCartney, Elton John, The Rolling Stones, Pink, and Destiny's Child.

Manchester is also the home to two symphony orchestras -- the Halle Orchestra and the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra -- as well as the Manchester Camerata, a chamber orchestra. Bridgewater Hall, a world class venue home home to the Halle Orchestra, is one of the most technically advanced musical halls with an acoustically designed interior for optimum sound quality. Bridgewater Hall seats 2,500 people and hosts more than 250 performances per year, so you're sure to find a performance during the year to enjoy.

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See a Map of Manchester