New Order legend in Rochdale for special music night

Preparations are well underway for a special star studded night celebrating the Rochdale borough's extraordinary contribution to British music.

The ‘Rocking the Blue Plaques’ gig will see a host of legendary music stars, including New Order's Peter Hook, playing live at the Back Door Music Project in Rochdale on Wednesday 23 September - the same day that blue plaques are unveiled commemorating local recording studios that influenced rock and pop music nationally and internationally.

Also taking to the stage for a star studded celebration of Rochdale, Manchester, Hacienda and Factory music will be Factory stalwarts ‘Section 25’ performing live along with young bands. There will be DJ sets by Clint Boon (Inspiral Carpets, XFM) Martin Coogan (Mock Turtles) and John Robb (Goldblade).

Music people with links to the borough from across the UK will also be attending the intimate gig including Andy Mcluskey from OMD who recorded hit single Electricity in Rochdale, Ian McNabb from Icicle Works, Pete Wylie from The Mighty Wah and Rochdale author and musician Nick Blincoe.

Music legend Peter Hook, who will be playing some New Order and Joy Division hits at the gig, said: “The evening gig at Back Door Music Project is going to be an interesting jam session considering all the musicians who are coming to Rochdale.”

The show starts at 8pm with proceeds donated to the Back Door Music Project.

From tomorrow (Friday 21 August) a further release of tickets go on sale from www.ticketline.co.uk or via phone on 0844 888 9991.

Tickets are also available priced £15 from Rocks Off music shop, 65 Drake Street, Rochdale.

Earlier in the day Blue Plaques will be erected on the former Tractor Sound Studios in Heywood, where local rockers and the first band signed to John Peel’s Dandelion Records – Tractor, rehearsed from 1968. This will be followed by the Kenion Street Music Building in Rochdale, former home to a music shop, hire company and two successive studios – Cargo Studios and then Peter Hook’s Suite 16 Studios. From 1977 onwards it saw a stream of bands from Manchester, Liverpool and all over the UK pass through its doors. Joy Division recorded there from 1978.