Manchester in 12 Songs

It’s a bit of a cliché, but the first home-grown popular song to capture the public’s imagination and dent the charts focused on the local rain.

“Bus stop, wet day, she’s there, I say/Please share my umbrella.
Bus stop, bus goes, she stays, love grows/Under my umbrella.”

Now if it dampened the spirits we wouldn’t bother mentioning it, but Graham Gouldman’s lyrical twists made the Hollies’ 1965 release, “Bus Stop”, a worthy opener for our “Manchester in 12 Songs” walk on Sunday 3 July. It starts at 2pm from outside the Visitor Centre in Piccadilly Gardens; indeed we can even find an equally riveting hummable number that connects with the unlovely Gardens, plus contributions across town from the Fall, Joy Division, Happy Mondays, Bob Dylan and the obligatory dig at Oasis.

The walk ends at the Hacienda, as was. Let’s just hope a Hard Rain don’t fall.