A NIGHT AT THE M.S.G.

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Back in the 1960s Manchester boasted one of the most iconic and important venues for live acoustic music in the north of England.

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The Manchester Sports Guild (M.S.G.) was a grubby and unimposing building on Long Millgate, which housed a warren of rooms where jazz, blues and folk stars performed nightly.

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The club was managed by the legendary 'Jenks' whose entrepreneurial style and tight economic restraints kept the club afloat until the mid 1970s, when a combination of 'health and safety' regulations, licence infringements and planned development led to its abandonment.

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In 2011 a small group of people came together to stage a fundraising event at the Ukrainian Cultural Centre, Smedley Lane, Cheetham, bringing together a wide range of artistes who had graced the stage at 'The Guild' nearly 50 years earlier.

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Collected here are the recordings of those performances along with a large number of interviews with performers and audience members. These are unedited recordings and come complete with introductions, 'noises off' and background chatter. (The interviews were recorded by Mark Dowding, the performances by Chris Pollington)

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A CD, which includes a selection  of these recordings is still available to buy. There is also a small publication consisting of memories of the M.S.G. contributed by many people, some of whom were unable to take part in the concert but who wished to register their recollections.

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A series of photographs, recording the event can be found on Roger Liptrot's site.

Some of the photographs are used below. 

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N.B. A selection of songs was used on the C.D. whilst the remaining tracks were discarded. Thankfully, they have been located and are listed below.