OMD / Town Hall / Rochdale
A trip up the A1 & M62 all the way to Rochdale, for something that looked like it might be pretty special. We’re here to see Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark on their ‘Summer of Hits’ tour. Interestingly, OMD recorded their first single here in Rochdale at Cargo Studios on Kenion Street. In fact all three bands tonight recorded their back in the day. Indeed, a new album is being released to celebrate the studio. More on that after the review ! The large stage is set up to the side of Rochdale Town Hall, and the weather is perfect – warm and sunny, just right for some great music.
So first up on stage is a set from A Certain Ratio. Formed in Manchester in 1977they were one of the first indie groups to draw heavy influence from funk as well as disco and Latin percussion. They were also one of the first bands who debuted on Factory Records in 1979, and were regulars at the Hacienda on Whitworth Street, Manchester. They dropped their debut “The Graveyard and the Ballroom” in 1980 and their 13th studio album “It All Comes Down to This” in 2024.
I last saw A Certain Ratio in 2023 and they were as good as ever tonight. ACR set the scene perfectly for the night, the crowd, grabbing a drink were standing in the sun and dancing to the classic hits. Their unique sound takes that familiar punk inspired sound, fusing it’s energy and aggression with the rhythms and musicianship of funk and soul. The result is a wonderful beat that you just have to dance to. It took me right back to those heady ‘80’s days.
Perhaps the highlight of the set was Knife Slits Water, but there’s also a fantastic cover in their of the Talking Heads’ track Houses in Motion which goes down a treat with the Rochdale crowd. I think the final track was Lucinda from 1982’s “Sextet” album, which brings their high energy set to a dramatic close.
Setlist
Not available
Next up are a true Manchester legend, Peter Hook with his band The Light. Formed in 2010, Peter Hook is best known as the bass player in influential post-punk bands Joy Division and New Order. The band also features Hook's son Jack Bates (also on bass), and Paul Kehoe (drums) who played with Hook as part of Monaco, one of Hook's previous groups. David Potts (guitars) and Martin Rebelski (keyboards) make up the complete band.
I’ve long been a Joy Division fan, and the chance to hear some of their greatest hits live is a real treat. The set is mainly hits form both the Joy Division and New Order years, with a single track (What Do You Want From Me? from another former Peter Hook band, Monoco.
The set starts with the Joy Division classic Transmission which got the crowd going immediately, and from there it was hit after stunning hit. Peter is a great frontman, chatting with ease and making everyone laugh, at one point picking on the lady doing a British Sign Language translation at the side of the stage, saying he looks forward to seeing how she handles his language lol. The hits never seem to age, with Temptation, and True Faith sounding as good now as they ever did.
But Peter saves the best til last. First off is the New Order classic Blue Monday, best selling 12” single of all time, spending 186 weeks on the UK Independent Singles Chart. The crowd sing along heartily to its iconic lyrics and the whole town hall square is bouncing.
Before we knew it, it was time to finish, and boy what a way to go out, as Peter Hook declares to the crowd something along the lines of ‘lets see if OMD can top this’ as the un-mistakable sound of Joy Division’s Love Will Tear Us Apart rings out. Rochdale goes wild. It remains one of my favourite songs from the ‘80’s and I have to say, it felt quite emotional hearing it performed live for the first time. As Peter and the band left the stage, the cheers and shouts wee heart-felt, for one of Manchester’s greats.
Setlist
Transmission (Joy Division)
Ceremony (New Order)
Regret (New Order)
What Do You Want From Me? (Monaco)
Bizarre Love Triangle (New Order)
Temptation (New Order)
True Faith (New Order)
Blue Monday (New Order)
Love Will Tear Us Apart (Joy Division cover)
As dusk decends, the air becomes chillier as they prepare the stage for tonight’s headliners OMD. Formed on Merseyside in 1978 by Andy McCluskey (vocals, bass guitar) and Paul Humphreys (keyboards, vocals). They released their self-titled debut album in 1980 but are perhaps best known for the classic “Architecture & Morality” which was released in 1981. They released their 14th and most recent album “Bauhaus Staircase” in 2023.
With the light fading fast now, the light show comes into it’s own as OMD step out to huge cheers. Ironically although they recorded in Rochdale all those years ago, I understand this is their first live show here lol. They launch into Isotype and demonstrate immediately why they are such a good live band. McCluskey’s vocals are still as strong as ever and the atmosphere ramps up another notch. Messages is next with some infectious synth hooks. It doesn’t take long to get to their first big hit of the night in the form of Joan Of Arcwhich again has everyone singing and dancing along.
Perhaps track of the set is the classic hit So In Love which has a rhythm that is super catchy and once again, McCluskey’s delivers the vocals perfectly before later in the track we enjoy a fantastic sex section from Martin Cooper.
The hits keep coming, with Locomotion and Sailing on the Seven Seas in particular going down a treat with the crowd. McCluskey is a true entertainer and he uses the size of the stage to his advantage, moving swiftly from side to side, to interact with every section of the crowd. Peter Hook challenged OMD to beat Love Will Tear Us Apart at the end of his set, and challenge set, perhaps it had to be this one to try it. The iconic synth intro bursts into life and the crowd go wild for the arrival of Enola Gay, their biggest hit. It is one of the best ‘80’s tracks ever – full stop, and so iconic. Not just the crowd, the band seem to be loving the experience and the reception they’re getting from the Rochdale crowd.
OMD return for a three song encore, much to the delight of the crowd and we enjoy Secret, from the 1985 album “Crush” followed by Pandora's Box from 1991’s “Sugar Box” before we go back to their 1980 self-titled debut album for the classic synth-pop anthem that is Electricity. For me it’s one of the most iconic synth riffs of all time and we’re all dancing along.
Three bands, all with a recording link to the town of Rochdale, all putting on a show to remember. OMD show their class as a headliner and look as fresh and relevant now as ever. An incredible setting and an incredible night of classic ‘80’s music. Whats not to love ???
Setlist
Isotype
Messages
Tesla Girls
History of Modern (Part I)
(Forever) Live and Die
If You Leave
Souvenir
Joan of Arc
Joan of Arc (Maid of Orleans)
The Rock Drill
Veruschka
Talking Loud and Clear
So in Love
Dreaming
Locomotion
Sailing on the Seven Seas
Enola Gay
Encore:
Secret
Pandora's Box
Electricity
Cargo Studios & 'Rochdale Music Stories
Cargo Studios was a recording studio located on Kenion Street, off Drake Street, Rochdale, Greater Manchester. It opened in 1977 by John Brierley to 1984. The studio was synonymous with the rise of the post-punk music scene in the North of England with many of the bands that recorded there, going on to make their mark in the UK and all round the world, including the likes of Joy Division, the Fall, the Teardrop Explodes, Blue Orchids, the Chameleons, the Membranes, Echo and the Bunnymen, Flight and Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark.
Now in 2026, Rochdale is Greater Manchester Town of Culture, and the Rochdale Development Agency launching 'Rochdale Music Stories' - an exciting collaboration between The Stockport Music Story and Voltalab Sound Studios. Funded by the Arts Council England as part of this innovative project, 14 emerging Rochdale artists have been invited to come together to re-imagine the classic tracks that were recorded at both Cargo and Suite Sixteen studios, for a new album due for release on a limited- edition vinyl. It’s a fantastic project, paying tribute to Rochdale’s role in the development of so many of Manchester’s best known bands.
“Kenion Street” is available to order HERE.
