Band on the Wall

Kate Feld
Manchester music venue, Band on the Wall

Band on the Wall, with its 200 year history, has been transformed. The capacity of the main room has been extended to 500, there’s a whole floor dedicated to the venue’s innovative World of Music learning programme, plus an impressive new bar, which doubles up as a smaller, 80 capacity venue.

Dating back to 1803, Band on the Wall has played a unique role in Manchester’s musical heritage. The name ‘Band on the Wall’ comes from when the venue was known as The George and the Dragon pub, where performers would play on a stage situated halfway up the wall. Flash forward to the late ’70s and it became the epicentre of Manchester’s punk scene, hosting some of the earliest performances by The Fall, Buzzcocks and Joy Division. Since then, everyone from Björk to the Sun Ra Arkestra has graced its iconic stage. All before the venue shut shop in 2020 to work on this ambitious capital project.

The (fairly) newly opened, fully accessible venue has expanded into the three-storey Cocozza Wood building, which it adjoins at the back. This Victorian building has long been derelict, but now forms part of the larger ground floor venue space and the upper floor learning suite where Band on the Wall nurtures a hotbed of Manchester talent via World of Music – a community-focussed programme of heritage, music, learning and research projects which celebrate Manchester’s migrant communities and their musical legacies. As for the new bar, it’s a grand and ambient space, which serves hot food, and stays open during the day to serve the local community. It also doubles up as a smaller venue on some evenings, meaning that more live music than ever before is coming to Swan Street, and that can only be a good thing.

25 Swan StreetManchesterM4 5JZ View map
Telephone: 0161 834 1786 Visit Now

Admission Charges

Free (admission to events varies)

Commercial and Hire Services

For Hire

Services and Facilities

Cafe, Bar, Music Venue

Opening Hours

  • Monday5:00pm - 11:00pm
  • Tuesday5:00pm - 11:00pm
  • Wednesday5:00pm - 11:00pm
  • Thursday5:00pm - 11:00pm
  • Friday5:00pm - 11:00pm
  • Saturday5:00pm - 11:00pm
  • Sunday5:00pm - 11:00pm

Always double check opening hours with the venue before making a special visit.

What's on at Band on the Wall

MusicManchester
Un-Convention Manchester 2024

Un-Convention is the ultimate independent music industry conference and showcase taking place at Band on the Wall in Manchester this November.

Until
ActivityManchester
Beyond the Music 2024

Hear directly from the people powering the music industry in both Manchester and the UK, as well as witnessing some of the North’s upcoming talent at Beyond the Music.

from £16.75

What's on near Band on the Wall

MusicManchester
Un-Convention Manchester 2024

Un-Convention is the ultimate independent music industry conference and showcase taking place at Band on the Wall in Manchester this November.

Until
ActivityManchester
Beyond the Music 2024

Hear directly from the people powering the music industry in both Manchester and the UK, as well as witnessing some of the North’s upcoming talent at Beyond the Music.

from £16.75
Ramona Live
Until
Food and DrinkAncoats
Ramona Live at Ramona

Every Thursday, Ramona’s MOT Station plays host to a specially curated roster of touring bands, local artists and resident performers. All live, all free entry, all the time.

free entry
Women in Comedy Festival 2023
Until
ComedyAncoats
Women in Comedy Festival 2024

Described as one of the “UK’s best comedy festivals”, the Women in Comedy Festival MCR returns with its 11th bumper edition of top-notch comedy. 

from £3.00

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