This was the first time Ray has played solo in Manchester and he was especially proud of his debut being at Band On The Wall. It’s an iconic venue, hosting live music since the late 1930’s. It was originally The George and Dragon Hotel when the owner installed a stage high up on a wall for musicians which led to its nickname of “Band on the wall”.
Ray is standing in front of a photograph from the 1940’s showing servicemen and civilians with two musicians up on the stage on the wall.
By the 1970’s, the whole area had become almost derelict when Steve Morris, a jazz musician who always wanted to run a jazz club, bought the lease and created the Band On The Wall club.
It evolved over the years but was always an independent venue, not following the current musical fashions.
From their website: “After six years of fundraising and planning, Inner City Music proudly reopened Band on the Wall in 2022 following a £3.5m transformation. This rebirth created one of the UK’s best showcase venues of its scale and added purpose-built education spaces—including rehearsal rooms, studios, and a large communal music-making area. This expansion reflects our mission as a music charity: to celebrate the UK’s diverse communities and connect globally through music.”
Click here to visit their website and here for their history.
Ray played in the Copper Bar which has a good stage, sound and lights. Here is a comment on Facebook about the show:
Next, we drive over the pennines to York, returning to the FortyFive Vinyl Cafe for a double header with local band White Sail.
A Visitor On Europe’s Roads 
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