On record: Rochdale’s new album celebrates town’s music history

Posted by on 8 Oct 2026

An album of iconic music recorded in Rochdale by local artists has already reached millions of listeners on national radio and thousands more on streaming platforms, with a single off the record making the UK official charts, alongside a stack of glowing reviews.

Launched as part of Rochdale’s year as Greater Manchester Town of Culture and released on vinyl and digital platforms this summer the album ‘Kenion Street’ featured local acts performing their version of a classic track originally recorded at Cargo or Suite Sixteen studios in Rochdale. 
The borough boasts a rich musical legacy, from Gracie Fields to Lisa Stansfield, and more recently The Courteeners.  Between 1977- 2001 Rochdale was home to both Suite Sixteen and Cargo Studios on Kenion Street, where trailblazing artists including OMD, The Stone Roses, Happy Mondays, Joy Division, Inspiral Carpets, Autechre, A Certain Ratio, The Fall and many others recorded some of their most memorable work.

The eleven tracks on ‘Kenion Street’ included PoolEra’s version of Electricity by OMD, Dreams Never End by New Order re-imagined by Medley, and Jennifer Read’s dramatic version of Totally Wired, by The Fall. All the new tracks were recorded and produced at Voltalab Sound Studios, based in the original Cargo/Suite Sixteen building on Kenion Street, by studio founder Jamie Alsop.
Radio 6 Music also featured the album, playing Middleton band’s K-Estate’s version of Gang of Four’s Damaged Goods. It was also made Track of the Day on Radio X with other tracks played across XS Manchester, Mersey Radio, Phoenix FM and many more, with a combined audience of over 3.5 million. 
One of the album’s singles by Desyfer and Emma Konnanov - a cover of the Happy Mondays anthem Twenty Four Hour Party People reached 62 in the official UK singles chart and 58 in the official UK singles download chart. Vinyl copies of the album were distributed to record shops nationwide with listening parties held at Rough Trade stores in London, Liverpool, Bristol and Nottingham.

The album achieved national media coverage with positive reviews from the likes of ‘Louder Than War’, ‘The List’ and many more. 
Two bands who featured on the album, Metro and K-Estate were awarded slots on the main stage at this summer’s Rochdale Feel Good Festival, supporting acts including Gabrielle, Ash and Starsailor.

Councillor Sue Smith, cabinet member for culture and co-operation at Rochdale Borough Council, said: “Everyone involved should be so proud of creating this lasting record of an important part of our borough’s story. Thanks to the album, new audiences have discovered the town’s musical past as well as heard some of our talented acts of today. Music is so important to Rochdale, not just as a part of its history with Gracie Fields in the 1930s and then in the seventies and early eighties but in more recent decades too with the likes of The Courteeners and Lisa Stansfield. In the town where these world-famous artists recorded iconic tracks it’s great to see how groundbreaking music continues to thrive.”

In partnership with Rochdale Borough Council and Rochdale Development Agency the album was part of ‘Rochdale Music Stories’ - a campaign launched in October 2025 during the town’s year as Greater Manchester Town of Culture, to shine a spotlight on Rochdale’s longstanding influence on British music whilst promoting the next wave of talent.

Karen Boardman, music development manager at Rochdale Development Agency, added: “I’m incredibly proud of this record which we believe is the UK’s first commercially released album by a council, celebrating a town’s musical history, whilst championing its new talent. It’s been a privilege to work alongside our partners and all the artists to bring the album to life and I’m very excited for the next phase of this project, there’s lots more to come.”

The story continued this summer, with synth-pop icons Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD) returning to where it began when they performed a sold-out show in front of over 5,000 fans at Rochdale Town Hall Square in August, alongside post-punk legends Peter Hook & The Light, and Manchester’s post-punk/funk band - A Certain Ratio.

You can listen to the album ‘Kenion Street’ on streaming platforms or pick up a vinyl copy at Rocks Off on Drake Street in Rochdale and other good record stores.

Rochdale Music Stories is a collaboration between Voltalab Sound Studios, Stockport Music Story and Rochdale Development Agency, funded by Arts Council England, Rochdale Borough Council and Rochdale Development Agency.