Rochdale’s rich musical heritage was centre stage at a packed launch event marking the beginning of a new borough-wide celebration called ‘Rochdale Music Stories’, featuring big names like Peter Hook, Clint Boon and Andy McCluskey.
A new cultural campaign has kicked off in Rochdale, shining a spotlight on the town’s long-standing influence on British music while promoting the next wave of talent. ‘Rochdale Music Stories’ officially launched at a star-studded event celebrating Cargo Studios, the legendary recording space where bands like Joy Division and Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark made music history.
Hosted by Clint Boon of Inspiral Carpets, the event brought together a rare panel of influential artists who recorded at the iconic studio between 1977 and 1985. Guests included Peter Hook (New Order), Andy McCluskey (OMD), Martin Moscrop (A Certain Ratio), and studio owner John Brierley, who spoke about their experiences working with the late producer Martin Hannett at the original Cargo site on Kenion Street.
The evening doubled as the launch of Chris Connelly’s new 360-page hardback book, Cargo Studios, which captures the story of the Rochdale studio where Joy Division laid down tracks including “Digital” and “Glass” for their debut Factory Records sampler. Brierley described “Atmosphere” as “the greatest song recorded at Cargo.”
The artists also took time to reflect on their most famous tracks. McCluskey spoke about recording OMD’s debut single “Electricity”, while Hook recalled the haunting atmosphere surrounding Joy Division’s sessions. Moscrop spoke about early A Certain Ratio releases, and Clint Boon reminisced on Inspiral Carpets’ early work produced at the studio with The Chameleons’ Dave Fielding.
The event also introduced an ambitious new album project tied to the campaign. The ‘Rochdale Music Stories’ record will see emerging artists from the area reinterpret classic tracks originally recorded at Cargo. McCluskey praised acoustic band PoolEra’s new version of “Electricity” as a standout.
Due for vinyl release on 14 March 2026, the compilation will be accompanied by a special one-night live showcase at Champness Hall that same evening. Artists will perform their reinterpretations live alongside their own original work. Tickets and full details are expected in early 2026.
The campaign forms part of Rochdale’s year as Greater Manchester Town of Culture and is backed by Rochdale Development Agency in collaboration with Voltalab Sound Studios and The Stockport Music Story. A dedicated ‘Rochdale Music Stories’ section will also appear on the Rochdale Creates website, preserving the borough’s music history through stories, memorabilia and podcasts.
The Cargo legacy lives on at Voltalab, the reimagined studio space now run by producer Jamie Alsop. Combining modern features with a strong connection to Rochdale’s music past, Voltalab continues to serve as a creative hub for artists from across the UK.
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