The Summer Open Neck Shirt 2007

The Summer Open Neck Shirt will commence at Dukes 92 in Castlefield, Manchester, England

at 12.45 on Friday 13 July 2007.
Full location details at: http://www.dukes92.com/location.php
See you there...

A Conversation....

harry

just had a look at the blog, very interesting mate, good work.
excellent weather isn't it ?
went to see a french thriller called "tell no one" yesterday, very good indeed.
didn't watch much glastonbury but really enjoyed the arctic monkeys on friday night although i was a bit drunk.
nice to see you last wed, turned into a very nice evening and the loch fyne oyster bar was excellent, hope the office move has gone well.

peter

Pete,

Glad you enjoyed the blog - I've had an email from Clarkey, I think he's interested in joining us on the 13th. Do we have an itinerary yet? I think it would be good to take in the Festival Pavilion at some point. Good to see you as well - went to the X Keys again on Thursday. Office move isn't until mid July - just planning where everyone will sit at the moment.

Cheers Harry
PS Let me know when we have an itinerary and I will blog it!

harry
itinerary ?
don't really know. meet about 12.30-1.00 is
if the weather is okay then somewhere outside like dukes 92 would be good.
visit festival pavilion.
eat something.
go home not too late.
i haven't heard anything from clarky.
i'm on hols next week but will concentrate on details upon my return and e mail people.
bought the editors cd yesterday, very good indeed.

cheers
peter

Manchester International Festival

Manchester International Festival (28 June - 15 July) http://www.manchesterinternationalfestival.com/ fortunately happens to coincide with the latest summer open neck shirt on Friday 13 July - full timings of the day to follow shortly.

Personal highlights of the festival include The Blue Nile, the Festival Futures lectures, The Fall (I know I can't make it Neil) and Damon Albarn and his Monkey - sorry Damon! But there's masses more including the recently announced Festival Pavilion - so get your asses down to Mcr City Centre this summer.

The Festival Pavilion is set to become the hub of the Festival. Located at Manchester Central (formerly G-MEX and the MICC) the Pavilion will be at the epicentre of the Festival itself. It will feature a range of live music, visitors to the Pavilion can use the space to relax between shows, have something to eat or simply soak up the Festival’s ambience and energy....or just get out of the rain.

The Pavilion site will house some unique offerings; from an exclusive screening of unseen Sex Pistols and Buzzcocks footage, to multi-award winning chef Heston Blumenthal’s bespoke Festival culinary creations, to an eclectic programme of international music. Additionally, a programme of Artists in Conversation (Not Piss Artists) will take place in Manchester Central.

The Pavilion has programmed a diverse range of musicians to play lunchtime and rush hour concerts. Spanning jazz, world and classical music, the music programme picked some of the best artists from Manchester. The lunchtime concerts will run from 12.30pm – 2pm; while rush hour concerts will take place from 5pm – 7.30pm.

A wide range (so they say) of food will be available in the Pavilion.
Eyck Zimmer, National and Manchester Chef of The Year 2006, and executive chef at the 5 star Lowry Hotel, will be creating simple, classic northwest fine food, (Steak Pudding, Chips, Peas & Gravy then) in conjunction with the team led by world masterchef, Larry Serra. There will be plenty of wine, beers and spirits on site.

Multi-award winning chef Heston Blumenthal will create three chilled summer treats to be sold exclusively at the Pavilion site. Bringing Blumenthal’s innovative culinary methods to Manchester for the first time, the unique dishes have been created especially for the Festival.

The Festival will screen exclusive footage of two of the most revolutionary bands, at one of their most historic gigs – The Sex Pistols and err The Buzzcocks at The Free Trade Hall on 20th July 1976.

You don't need to be a ticket holder to enjoy the Festival Pavilion. It’s open from early until late, between Friday 29 June and Sunday 15 July. See you there....

joy division

The provisional date for the summer open neck shirt is now Friday 13th July! In the meantime here's Joy Division performing Transmission with an intro and an outro by JCC performing Chickentown.

A Certain Ratio - Shack Up

Just spotted this seminal video from ACR on the phenomenon that is YouTube. If you are not already addicted to YouTube, it is only a matter of time....

The Word Interview with Stuart Maconie

Stuart Maconie recently did an interview with David Hepworth of The Word magazine about his recommended new book 'Pies and Prejudice - In Search of the North'. Here's a link to the piecast for you to download:

http://laxman.audioblog.com/rss/wordpodcast.xml

Football, Photography & the World

I've been a fan of Stuart Clarke's photography for a number of years having bought his wonderful book 'Football in Our Time' - A Photographic Record of Our National Game' back in 2003. He's now introduced a brand new website at: http://www.homesoffootball.co.uk/
The new look website aims to reflect Stuart's wider body of work. The intention is to put his entire collection online, which means you'll be able to browse, search and even request to purchase individual photographs. The brand new 'Football, Photography & The World' will feature music festivals and environmental issues as well as, of course, his great specialism footy. Stuart has enjoyed great success with his Homes Of Football Exhibition in Ambleside, Cumbria over the past 15 years. His work has had a huge impact on the changing the face of football culture. A record-breaking 15 year exhibition tour to 88 cities and 2 million people. A staggering 1,200 media interviews, five books, two TV programmes, three quarters of a million visitors to the Ambleside headquarters and the plaudits of football legends, national team managers and even some heads of government. Stuart Clarke's own Giant Step Book Publishing will be releasing a series of books over the coming years, reflecting the growth in the archive. There are currently 2012 photos online... and counting. Definitely worth a look methinks!

Pies and Prejudice - In Search of the North

Well it finally arrived yesterday Stuart Maconie's new book 'Pies and Prejudice - In Search of the North'. I'm only half way through, but it's another quality offering from the author of 'Cider With Roadies'. A social commentary with laugh out loud moments and witty observations about our friends in the North. A top Wiganer and a long time Latics supporter as well. It's available online at: www.amazon.co.uk
or from the usual bookshops. Rush out and order a copy now.

Talking Moose

Was there really a Talking Moose at the Open Neck Shirt on Friday, or was it just a figment of my imagination?

Twenty Eight Bloody Years

The Open Neck Shirt
17 November 2006, Manchester, England

1pm The Sevenoaks

2pm Albert Square - Christmas Market

3pm Circus Tavern

5pm La Tasca, Deansgate

6.30pm onwards - Britons Protection, Peveril of the Peak, Corbieres, etc

Any problems, and all nuisance phone calls to Neil on 07976 540836 - Hey Phil we expect at least one!

As usual it is...
Politics, gratuitous insults, lying and cheating, violence and heavy drinking.

The Open Neck Shirt 2006

Another year has passed, but what are the significant changes that have taken place in the lives of the Open Neck Shirters.....

Will Phil now be called 'Digger', and be living somewhere in the Outback?
Will Pete have become a Hari Krishna?
Will Neil have had a full body wax?
Will Harry have joined the Tory party?
Will Ken have opened a Gay Wine Bar in Gorton?
Will Stan have joined the Local Immigrant Support Group?
Will Gary have become a Viagra addict?
Will Graham have become a Trappist Monk?
Will Jon have become Ben Thatcher's agent?
Will Ian have joined the Pearly Kings?

All will be revealed at twenty eight years in an Open Neck Shirt on Friday 17th November 2006.

Full details of the day's itinerary to follow soon.

Hacienda Exhibition

The Haçienda - Photographs of Manchester's Legendary Club
18 Oct - 4 Dec
Urbis

As part of it's Manchester Season, Urbis has commissioned photographer Ian Tilton's homage to the Hacienda. This should be of interest to both Open Neck Shirters and all students of pop culture. This exhibition is a precursor to the much larger Hacienda retrospective due next summer.

Manchester Music Archive

I recently purchased the Q Classic magazine 'Morrissey & The Story of Manchester', which is highly recommended for nostalgia freaks and Manchester music fans. Contained within is an article about the Manchester Music Archive at http://www.mdmarchive.co.uk
This is a very useful online resource about the Manchester music scene. There is a poster and photograph archive, information about upcoming events and the archive would like contributions about your Manchester music experiences. The long term ambition is to create a building based museum. The team have already sourced thousands of artefacts, records, posters, flyers, recordings, and personal journals. The archive covers everything from the Halle Orchestra, the formation of the Musicians Union to Manchester's newest bands. Recently the archive was able to sift through the lock-up of Rob Gretton the Manager of Joy Division and New Order. Rob kept almost everything from his time as Manager. The notebooks amount to a complete history of the band, plus there are photos, posters, hundreds of Factory acetates, white labels and live tapes.
There is also an excellent unofficial blog, history and archive about Factory Records at Cerysmatic Factory http://www.cerysmaticfactory.info
which is well worth checking out.
I've added the two sites to the Links section on the side panel for future reference.

Musical Nostalgia Reigns

Musical Nostalgia Reigns

Why are we always listening to old records and CD's? Is it because we are nostalgic and like to remember our association with a particular band or album? Or is it because these bands and albums and have stood the test of time and still sound great today?
Of course, it's a combination of both. These bands and albums still sound great. But they have a greater resonance for us. We are nostalgic for our youth and the associated events which relate to a particular band or album.

'Dragnet' - The Fall at Cavendish.
A remarkable band whose mercurial longevity is renowned.
Mark E Smith is hit by a bottle thrown from the crowd - in typical Smith style he leaves the stage and tries to assault the perpetrator. Only the actions of the rest of the band prevent a mini riot. The Fall go on to put in an incredible performance quite unlike anything I'd ever seen before.

'Give Em Enough Rope' - The Clash at the Apollo.
The Clash take the stage, the crowd surges forward the punks and pseudo punks leap forwards pogoing and jumping on each other. Half way through the first song the bouncers have had enough and randomly remove a few of the punters. Unfortunately our house mate Rob Miller is one of those removed and misses the rest of the gig. Despite the removals the pogoing continues undiminished. The Clash are the predominant band of the time. At the gig and maybe because of the hype I am somewhat reluctant to be over enthusiastic. In retrospect the performance is, of course, excellent and their music has definitely stood the test of time.

'Chairs Missing' - Wire at the Factory.
For some strange reason I was at that Mancunian institution 'Tommy Ducks' and was drinking with a disparate group, Mike Wales, Anne, Julian Bickerton, Andy? and maybe some others? We didn't have tickets for Wire, but we just thought we'd go along and see if we could get in.
This was our first time at the Factory, we walked through the urban wasteland that was Hulme and managed to find the Russell Club or the Factory as it was known on certain nights. This was possibly the coolest and probably the edgiest of venues and it was to be one the most memorable gigs ever. Wire produce a remarkable set, totally different from anything else I had seen and heard before. The band are almost statuesque on stage, lit in a half light and the performance is mesmeric. An event and an album that will live in the mind forever.

Ultimately I think we return to these albums not only because they still sound great today, but because they remind us of the events, the new experiences, the feelings, and the emotions. They were very exciting times indeed.

Ten Great Albums of 1980

1. Remain in Light - Talking Heads
2. Boy - U2
3. Crocodiles - Echo and the Bunnymen
4. Empires and Dance - Simple Minds
5. Strange Boutique - The Monochrome Set
6. Get Happy - Elvis Costello
7. Closer - Joy Division
8. Metamatic - John Foxx
9. Psychedelic Furs - Psychedelic Furs
10. Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables - The Dead Kennedys

Dodgy Photos

Well it was a great turn out on Friday, the only obvious
absentee was Phil G'day Sorah and he had a legitimate excuse. We'll expect to see you next year Phil. I only managed to take a few pics on Friday, I don't think they do full justice to the day's events.

Can't quite remember Neil's 'graphical' comment, but did remember that Pete has an obsession with A**l Cream Pie! I won't include the link, I think you can guess anyway......

OU` EST LA MAISON DE FROMAGE?

To celebrate The Open Neck Shirt, the bard of Salford, John Cooper Clarke has re-issued his 1978 classic album, Ou` est la maison de fromage? More info at: http://www.amazon.co.uk

Well it's 27 years in an Open Neck Shirt on Friday 25th November 2005.
Kick off is 1pm in the Sevenoaks.
Look forward to seeing you all.

Ten Great Albums of 1979

1. Dragnet - The Fall
2. Entertainment! - Gang of Four
3. London Calling - The Clash
4. Unknown Pleasures - Joy Division
5. Three Imaginary Boys - The Cure
6. Reproduction - The Human League
7. B52's - B52's
8. Armed Forces - Elvis Costello
9. Fear of Music - Talking Heads
10. Inflammable Material - Stiff Little Fingers

Only Two Weeks To Go

Only two weeks to go to 'The Open Neck Shirt 2005'.

The key questions to be asked.....

• Will Phil fly in from Australia?
• Will Pete find a new football team to support?
• Will Neil apologise for all that he has done?
• Will Harry show restraint?
• Will Ken stay longer than 5pm?
• Will Stan still like Maggie Thatcher?
• Will Gary, Graham, Jon and Ian all show up?
• Ou` est la Maison de fromage?

These and many other questions will be answered on the 25th November.

See You There.

Ten Great Albums of 1978

1. Another Music In A Different Kitchen - The Buzzcocks
2. Real Life - Magazine
3. The Man Machine - Kraftwerk
4. Stage (Live) - David Bowie
5. More Songs About Buildings & Food - Talking Heads
6. Give 'Em Enough Rope - The Clash
7. This Year's Model - Elvis Costello
8. Chairs Missing - Wire
9. Who Are You - The Who
10. Parallel Lines - Blondie