Stockport Music Map Walking Tour

The tour meets at 12pm at the historic Red Bull pub on Middle Hillgate, a favourite watering hole of many musicians who were working at Strawberry Recording Studios in the 1970's including Paul McCartney, Neil Sedaka and 10cc who used to go here regularly for a curry.

Ticket price includes complimentary refreshments of a bacon barm or vegan sausage at the Red Bull. Please note that drinks are not included. The ticket price also entitles you to £10 discount off the price of the Stockport Music Map.

The Tour will start at the Red Bull with a welcome by your tour guide John Barratt and Dr 'Strawberry' Peter Wadsworth. There will be time to get a drink with your complimentary barm before the tour sets off at approx 12.30pm.

This walking tour will be using Paul Slattery's book 'Joy Division at Strawberry Studios' as a guide to visiting the locations featured in the photographic shoot. There will be an opportunity to buy the limited edition hardback which also includes three postcard-sized prints for £20.

On the way to Strawberry Studios the tour will walk past the the site of The Rhythm House music shop owned by Eric Haydock of The Hollies. The next stop is the corner of Waterloo Road and Middle Hillgate, the location of that famous photograph with Joy Division at the railings which featured the derelict remnants of The Tabernacle Club in the background.

At Strawberry Recording Studios, Peter Wadsworth will talk about Joy Division recording with the maverick producer Martin Hannett, who employed some rather unconventional recording techniques. Joy Division recorded the seminal album  'Unknown Pleasures' with Hannett at Strawberry Studios, which was documented in the film '24 Hour Party People' when drummer Stephen Morris was sent up on the roof to play. U2 visited Strawberry Studios during the recording of 'Love Will Take Us Apart' and Bono was struck by the intensity of Ian Curtis vocals which left the singer emotionally drained.

The tour will then walk down Hopes Carr where Joy Division were photographed against an industrial backdrop of water towers and chimneys and progress to Lower Hillgate and Little Underbank to take in the landmarks that played a significant part in The Stockport Music Story from the 1960's to the present day including The Sinking Ship club and Inter-City Studios the fore-runner to Strawberry Recording Studios. 

The tour will then convene at Syndikat 27 Great Underbank where Paul Slattery will deliver a presentation about his book 'Joy Division at Strawberry Studios. There is another opportunity here to buy the limited edition hardback with three postcard-sized prints. There will be a screen presentation after which Paul will take questions. Syndikat has a bar which will be open for refreshments (not included). The talk will end at approx 3pm.  Please allow enough time for your parking on the day.

Stockport Music Map Walking Tour is supported by Stockport Town of Culture and Arts Council England Lottery Grants.