© Kevin Cummins
Music matters …. and Manchester is a city inextricably linked to its musical heritage … so here, more than anywhere, it really matters. Indeed the music of Manchester is so deeply ingrained in the DNA of the City that you cannot imagine rock music or the city without it.
‘There is a Light That Nevers Goes Out’ is a photography exhibition that celebrates Manchester’s music history. A collection of over 80 gritty photographs of bands and musicians from those that formed in the wake of punk, at a time when the music scene was expanding in a unique and inimitable way, those that shaped the world during Manchester’s glorious rise to prominence in the 80s, 90s and through to the present day.
The images on show document the rise of Buzzcocks, Joy Division, The Fall, The Smiths, The Stone Roses and Oasis, as well as highlighting some of the places and people who helped make it all happen such as the Hacienda and Factory Records. Many of the iconic images were taken from a pool of the UK’s most talented music photographers, including legendary Manchester based lensman, Kevin Cummins, as well as Paul Slattery, Pennie Smith and Rockarchive founder Jill Furmanovsky.
© Jill Furmanovsky
In addition a number of contemporary photographers have contributed images of the current Manchester scene, giving an overall picture of Manchester’s music heritage from the mid-1970’s right up to the present day.
This extraordinary exhibition curated by Rockarchive.com and Jon Savage was first displayed a few months ago at Manchester Central Library where it was enjoyed by over 38,000 visitors. So great was the local acclaim and pride in the exhibition that we wanted it to remain in and belong to the city, as a legacy for current and future generations to enjoy.
What do we need?
The exhibition has now been redisplayed at The Market, a food hall and exhibition space at the University of Manchester where we want to give it its permanent home, so the people of Manchester, visitors & students can enjoy it for free for years to come.
So now we, Rockarchive.com & The University of Manchester, are crowdfunding to keep this great visual record in its home city - where it belongs - and we are asking for your help.
To ensure the exhibition can stay on permanent display, we need to raise £25,000. So we have created a range of fantastic unique and limited edition rewards that you can buy and pledge your support.
The exhibition is now on display at:
The Market
University Place
University of Manchester
176 Oxford Road
Manchester M13 9PL