Despite famously recording their debut single ‘Electricity’ in the town, remarkably the 80s icons have never played Rochdale before. But on Friday, 7 August 2026 the duo will put that right, bringing their acclaimed ‘Summer of Hits’ tour to town alongside guests – post-punk legends Peter Hook & The Light, and Manchester’s post-punk/funk band – A Certain Ratio.
Excitement has been building since the news was announced, with over 3,000 tickets already snapped up and Andy McCluskey, co-founder and lead vocalist from OMD said they’re looking forward to headlining one of the north’s most spectacular heritage venues which has recently undergone a multi-million-pound revamp:
“We can’t wait to come and play at Rochdale’s magnificent town hall square. We recorded our first single at Rochdale’s Cargo Studios back in 1979, but have never played in the town before, so what a great way to finally come back and have a party with our old Factory Records friends.”
With a career spanning more than 4 decades, over 40 million records sold worldwide and 18 timeless top 40 hits, OMD are one of Britain’s best-loved and most influential pop groups. They followed that debut single with genre-defining hits including Enola Gay, Maid of Orleans, Souvenir, and If You Leave, propelling them into the stratosphere and shaping the musical landscape of the 1980s. Today their live shows are packed with energy, nostalgia and synth-driven brilliance.
Peter Hook and The Light will be playing a career-spanning set including seminal tracks from the back catalogue of Joy Division and New Order. (Photos courtesy of Adam Kennedy and Timothy Norris).
Peter Hook and The Light, the powerhouse post-punk band fronted by Joy Division and New Order co-founder Peter Hook, also recorded at Cargo Studios, cementing Rochdale’s crucial role in the post-punk and electronic music scene. Peter Hook said Rochdale looms very large in all 3 of the bands’ histories:
“Simply because of John Brierley and Cargo Studios on Kenion Street, all 3 of us – me, OMD and A Certain Ratio recorded with John, engineering at Cargo. He was a sonic assassin, working wonders with the equipment in that studio. The songs sounded as fantastic then as they still do today, it must have been something in the water! The sound was why I bought the studio when John retired and while we didn’t have his sound, we still recorded and helped hundreds of bands at the beginning of their journey, in the town.”
Manchester’s post-punk/funk band A Certain Ratio will be taking to the stage in Rochdale.
Whilst all 3 bands on the line-up started their recording careers in Rochdale, incredibly this August it will be the first time they’ve played together in 47 years, said Martin Moscrop, founding member of A Certain Ratio:
“This show feels like the Factory Records outings we did between 1979 and 1980, when we used to go out as a package and played many times with OMD and Joy Division. So playing with Peter, Andy and Paul again will be a pleasure. The last time we all played together was at The Acklam Hall, London back in May 1979.”
Staged in partnership with Rochdale Borough Council and Rochdale Development Agency the special show is part of ‘Rochdale Music Stories’ – a campaign launched last year as part of the town’s year as Greater Manchester Town of Culture, to shine a spotlight on Rochdale’s longstanding influence on British music whilst promoting the next wave of talent.
Tickets (£55 + booking fee).
