Band on the Wall
Band on the Wall, originally called the George and Dragon, has stood on the corner of Oak Street and Swan Street since 1803. It had a series of landlords throughout the early 1800s, but when the McKenna’s took it over in 1856, the story of The Band on the Wall began. The McKenna’s had migrated from Ireland and were running the Briton’s Protection on Oldham Road, where the Chinese supermarket, Wing Yip now stands. Ten years after the death of Bernard McKenna in 1847, the family purchased the George and Dargon. Their Irish heritage had a huge cultural impact on the venue.
This area had a large amount of footfall due to the Smithfield Market (now Mackie Mayors) a few yards away. The residents of Ancoats were the main customer base for this pub. Not only did Ancoats residents drink here but they brought the place alive through their music. Most musicians who played here were from the Irish or Italian Ancoats community. Italian Ancoats residents made the instruments that were played here too!
The George and Dragon continued to flourish, gaining a reputation as a rowdy pub full of life and music. In 1937, under the management of Ernie Tyson, there was a stage installed on the back wall of the pub, the origin of the venue’s current name. Music played from half past seven at night to closing time, six days a week! Rudi Mancini, an accordionist, and his brother Albert Mancini became resident musicians at the George and Dragon- two of the most popular musicians from Ancoats’ Little Italy!
Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, the venue became nationally recognised for its jazz scene. Steve Morris, the owner at the time, was a jazz musician and played a large role in forming the venue’s on-going connection to jazz music. In the 1980s, Band on the Wall once again become a cultural hub for Manchester’s migrant communities. Band on the Wall now embraced reggae music. Reggae bands came from all over the country to perform at Band on the Wall. There was a huge appetite for reggae music in Manchester due to the largely Caribbean populations of Hulme and Moss Side.
For more information:
Visit the Band on the Wall website: https://bandonthewall.org/history/19th-century-history/
“The Shudehill and Northern Quarter Area of Manchester: An Outgrowth of Accident and Built According to Plan”, (York, English Heritage, 2001), Pp. 1-111.
Anthony Rea, “Manchester’s Little Italy”, (Neil Richardson Publications, 1988), Pp.1-44.
http://www.ancoatslittleitaly.com
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