Those Who Were There (Six stereo sound recordings and map, 2021, total playing time 24 minutes 2 seconds) explores the rich, varied, international history of Wigan’s music scene. Eighteen interviews take the listener on a tour, from the heyday of Wigan Casino to Wigan’s thriving contemporary rock and electronic music scenes. The listener sonically visits legendary venues past and present, from the former ABC Cinema - where the Beatles once played - and the renowned Casino; the heady, hippy event that was the legendary Bickershaw festival; the long-running international jazz festival; punk, post-punk and underground clubs, such as The Lux Club, The Den, The Boulevard, The Tudor and the Tavern, to the current scene. .The history, present and the future of Wigan’s music is recounted by those who were there, accompanied by samples of the music that they listened to; the music that they made, or the music they are making now..

Those Who Were There was originally a sound walk, made in collaboration with Maya Chowdhry www.interactiveartist.org

Very many thanks to Christopher Rainham for the map which guided participants through the walk; to all the contributors and to Jane Fairhurst and Al and Al for their support with the project.

You can listen to each track below.

The Arcade, 3’45”: Stuart Maconie, Dave Arnold, Tina Finch, Adrian White, Ian Darrington

Wigan Youth Jazz Orchestra Children of Sanchez by kind permission of Ian Darrington, Wigan International Jazz Festival.

The Wiend, 3’43”: John Togher, Paul Bibby, Rob Fairhurst, Kate Moore, Tina Finch, Stuart Maconie

Volunteers You Know His Head, Long Wavy Random Arm, Baucher Road, John the Baptist and the Second Coming, Dark Matter by kind permission of Paul Bibby and John Togher.

Wallgate, 4’14”: Jake Dorsman (Stanleys), Rob Fairhurst, Ian Darrington, Eddie Sherwood, Jane Fairhurst, Paul Bibby, Dave Arnold

Stanleys Look Back, Wigan Youth Jazz Orchestra Lost in the Shuffle, Jailcell Recipes Forced and Smiles by kind permission of Jake Dorsman, Ian Darrington Wigan International Jazz Festival, Dave Arnold.

The Old Courts, 4’06”: Jonathan Davenport, Ian Darrington, Jack Heaton (Flechettes), Jake Dorsman (Stanleys), Stuart Maconie, Dave Arnold

Moco Twice Bitten Once Shy, Wigan Youth Jazz Orchestra Lost in the Shuffle, Flechettes Man of the Hour, The Insane El Salvador with kind permission of Anthony Rigby, Ian Darrington Wigan International Jazz Festival and Jack Heaton.

The Tudor, 4’03” Russ Miller, Jake Dorsman (Stanleys), John Togher, Rob Fairhurst, Kate Moore, Jonathan Davenport, Breb Lynch, Stuart Glover (Sun Curves)

Boy or Bison Periscope, Rob Fairhurst and Rob Baker’s Subtopia and 5am, Lynchs Breathe by kind permission of Dustin Lyon, Rob Fairhurst and Breb Lynch 

The Fire Within, 4’21”: Jack Heaton (Flechettes), Jake Dorsman (Stanleys), Breb Lynch (Lynchs), Dustin Lyon, Stuart Glover, Russ Miller, Paul Bibby, John Togher

Sun Curves Turquoise 85, Stanleys What’s Been and Gone, Dustin Lyon Noise, Lynchs Think Responsibly, Flechettes Solitude by kind permission of Stuart Glover, Jake Dorsman, Dustin Lyon, Breb Lynch, Jack Heaton.

Thanks too to Paul from Static Records

Those Who Were There on Bandcamp