Buzzcocks & Pistols: Manchester's DIY Punk Spark

In this episode we dig into how the Buzzcocks and Sex Pistols staged two landmark shows in Manchester’s Lesser Free Trade Hall in summer ’76, a low‑budget event that sparked a DIY frenzy across the north of England. We explore the logistical gymnastics of booking an international punk act with a homemade PA system, the footage that seeded fanzines, and the ripple effect on future Manchester bands and record labels. The conversation shows how one modest gathering helped forge the city’s indie identity and proved that punk could thrive outside the big‑city hubs.

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