31/08/2026
"Why had those early Factory releases had that magical Hannett sound? The young genius had been able to plug in his digital thingy into the outboard racks of a major world-class thirty-six track studio that was in Stockport - Stockport ladies and gentleman, Stockport, because 10cc were a Manchester band and they had taken the proceeds of the delicious I'm Not In Love and had reinvested in their home. Reinvested. Built a f**k-off studio. Respect." (Tony Wilson 2002)
How did a major recording studio, that played host to Manchester's finest (10cc, Joy Division, New Order, The Smiths, Sad Cafe, Barclay James Harvest, Happy Mondays, James, The Stone Roses, Factory Records, Granada Television etc etc) as well as artists from across the world, end up in Stockport? To hear from the man who started it all and built Strawberry up over 20 years, come along to the Strawberry Studios Forever talk (with book signing session) at the amazing Louder Than Words Festival on Sunday November 15th at 12pm. Tickets are available at https://tinyurl.com/y7kzfus8
Details of the amazing 2026 Louder Than Words Festival programme can be found at https://louderthanwordsfest.com/whats-on/
(Tony Wilson and Martin Hannett in Strawberry photo copyright of Roger Barnes)