On 4 June 1976, Pete Shelley and Howard Devoto introduced the Sex Pistols to Manchester at the Lesser Free Trade Hall for the first time. The modest gathering of roughly 40 people included a remarkable number of figures who would later become legends of Manchester’s music scene, such as future members of The Smiths and The Fall, Tony Wilson of Factory Records, punk poet John Cooper Clarke, producer Martin Hannett, and a young Peter Hook with his friend Bernard Sumner.
Motivated by that chaotic performance, Hook purchased a bass guitar the next day. He went on to revolutionise British music through Joy Division and New Order, pioneering post-punk and synth-driven soundscapes. Five decades later, he returns to celebrate that iconic night.
On 4 June 2026, Peter Hook & The Light will perform a retrospective set at the Academy, covering tracks from Warsaw, Joy Division, New Order, Revenge, Monaco, and Freebass. It promises to be an unforgettable evening for fans celebrating Hook’s enduring influence.
Special guests Buzzcocks, who forged their own place in British music history on the same night fifty years ago, will mark their own 50th anniversary with hits including Harmony In My Head, What Do I Get?, and Ever Fallen In Love (With Someone You Shouldn’t’ve).
Following the Get Ready UK tour, the Manchester show will be Peter Hook & The Light’s only headline UK performance in 2026. Pre-sale tickets start Wednesday, 3 December, with general sale from Friday, 5 December.
AJ
Source– Total Entertainment