Festival celebrates The Fall's legacy, 50 years on
Poet Laureate Simon Armitage, comedians Frank Skinner and Jim Moir and numerous former band members will be taking part in a weekend festival commemorating the legacy of one of Manchester’s most influential bands, The Fall.
Of all the groups that emerged from punk and post-punk, not only were The Fall the only one to exist continuously for more than 40 years, they were also matchless in their ability to constantly move forward. The group’s final line-up was as fresh and vital as its first, and their last album New Facts Emerge left fans as eager to hear what would come next as their first, Live At The Witch Trials.
Taking place in Manchester’s legendary venue Band on the Wall over three days from June 5-7, Futures and Pasts will explore Mark E Smith and The Fall’s singular influence on modern culture. There will be contributions from hugely successful artists in the fields of music, art, drama and comedy, and live music and interviews featuring several key ex-members of the group.
With many events unique to this one-off celebration, Futures and Pasts is as ambitious and extensive as The Fall themselves, and is set to be the definitive retrospective Mark and The Fall deserve.
The festival kicks off on Friday with the launch of a specially commissioned book. Das Gruppe on the Wall by ex-Fall member Paul Hanley tells the story of The Fall at Band on the Wall. The launch is followed by a unique collaboration, a one-off group featuring ex-Fall members with guest vocals by BC Camplight. Friday night is brought to a rousing conclusion by a set from Look Back Bores, who will fill the room with Fall classics.
Saturday June 6 features a Walking Tour of Fall related sites across the city with guides Simon Wolstencroft and Jackie O’Malley; a film premiere of The Dave Bush Tapes, which presents previously unseen, candid footage of The Fall on tour in the US in 1993 and 1994.
American podcasters We Are The Fall will record a live episode with a special guest, long-time Fall producer Grant Showbiz, who also will be performing a set of his recent solo material. There will be DJ sets by Fall alumni Marc Riley and Craig Scanlon across the day; plus an in-conversation with artist, comedian and fan of The Fall, Jim Moir.
Saturday evening is dedicated to Mark E Smith’s play about the murder of Pope John Paul I, Hey Luciani. There will be a Q&A featuring cast from the original production hosted by The Guardian’s head rock and pop critic Alexis Petridis, followed by a new restaging of the play 40 years on from its debut, directed by writer, producer and creator of Ideal, Graham Duff. The play features live music from Look Back Bores and the cast includes Jack Carroll and Jonathan Mayor.
Sunday morning has a discussion about the Fall in academia led by Professor Martin Cloonan, plus The Church of The Fall, Steve Titley’s joyous, musical spoken-word show that celebrates the epic music and life of Mark E Smith.
The afternoon has Middle Mass-termind, a quiz that pits two teams of Fall fans against each other, hosted by comedian Frank Skinner. The poet laureate Simon Armitage has a DJ set, which is followed by a guest appearance on a live recording of the much-loved podcast series, Oh! Brother, hosted by legends of The Fall, Paul and Steve Hanley.
Sunday evening is dedicated to live music, with a performance by Imperial Wax, the group formed by the remaining members of The Fall following the death of Mark E Smith in 2018, and a set by The Fallen Women, comprised of veteran super-starlets of the indie scene plus a series of guest vocalists, adept at recreating every era of the band’s catalogue in a way that the band proper were never required to.
Across the weekend there is an exhibition of Fall related paintings and photographs curated by Michelle Hickman (8BITNORTHXSTITCH).
Jill Adam of Louder Than Words Festival, who has co-organised Futures and Pasts with Route Publishing and former Fall members Paul and Steve Hanley, said: “As well as hearing stories and anecdotes from aficionados and fans alike, Futures and Pasts Festival also offers a unique chance to get up close to people often only seen on the stage; in the social and ideally set atmosphere of Band on the Wall.
“We have sole use of the fully accessible venue, including the main hall, adjoining function rooms and bar, giving visitors the best experience of comfortably moving between events. Attendees are coming from as far as the USA, Finland, Ireland and from across the UK to enjoy the festival. Our guest list includes ex-members, producers and associates of The Fall from across the last five decades.
“This is an unprecedented and glorious celebration of The Fall and all those who have supported and enjoyed them over the years. It also serves to cement their growing legacy as one of the most creative and pioneering groups that Manchester and England have ever produced, whose work continues to inspire a new generation of fans.”
Futures and Pasts runs from June 5-7, 2026 at Band on the Wall, 25 Swan St, Manchester M4 5JZ.
Tickets are available via: https://www.route-online.com/blog/post/blog/fallfuturepast
These are available as weekend passes or specific day passes. Prices range from £35 for the evening of Friday June 5 to £135 for a full weekend pass (prices are subject to a booking fee).