Band on the Wall

During World War II the venue was popular with British, American, Canadian and French servicemen, as well as the local market traders and mill workers.

This was part of the New Manchester Review nights, a fanzine and listings magazine which was the starting point for the now defunct City Life.

It was during this decade that the venue began to gain an international reputation for so-called "World Music" and a programme that covered multiple genres.

The building was refurbished before reopening on 25 September 2009 with a performance by the venue's patrons Julian Joseph and Mica Paris.

[4][5] On 18 June 2018, Inner City Music Ltd announced that Arts Council England had approved £1.65 million stage two capital funding for the venue's Bigger, Better, Stronger expansion plan.

[6][7] The plans included the renovation of the derelict Cocozza building, which adjoins the venue and the enlargement of the auditorium by demolishing the wall from which it derived its name.

Brighter Sound participants have performed at the nationwide Children in Need Choir in 2011 singing "Keep Holding On" by Avril Lavigne, the Lowry Theatre, and worked with musicians such as Elbow, Schlomo and Soweto Kinch.

A project delivered as a partnership between Brighter Sound and Band on the Wall in 2012 provided opportunities for emerging musicians from across the UK to work with The Unthanks.

[11] Band on the Wall's website (and developers Cahoona) won a Big Chip Award in the 'not for profit' category.