“Chorltonville” Concert, Chorlton-Cum-Hardy,
Manchester
I was watching The One Show
and when a ten-minute section featured an odd concert performed at Wilbraham
Railway Station in Manchester in the 1960's. I quickly pressed “Record” on the
remote control as I knew I’d want to learn more later on.
I learnt more: Granada
Television transformed the disused rail buildings into “Chorltonville”,
a southern U.S.-style station setting for a programme
entitled “Blues and Gospel Train”. It was for a small one-off concert broadcast
on Thursday 7th May 1964. Performers were Muddy Waters, Sonny Terry, and
others. The best by far was Sister Rosetta Tharpe a
black chick who can twang that electric guitar.
One Saturday afternoon I
went to see if I could find the location. I parked up near a Morrison's
supermarket on Wilbraham Road but couldn’t see anyway railway station. Rail
tracks have a sneaky way of snaking through places without you knowing they’re
there. I saw the road rose to cross a bridge and once on that bridge I could
look down onto the railway tracks sneaking up the back of Morrisons.
This was it. I suppose all modern buildings have to fit themselves around train
lines that claimed the terrain many years ago and refuse to budge. The original
train line is still there (though updated) and I wondered how many of the
people waiting on the platform knew of the wee pocket of history made there.
Just a few hundred people
turned up to watch the historic performance despite Granada Television using 70 of their stage and maintenance staff to build the
Southern-style set. Ticket-holders were brought in on a train and some local people arrived on foot in the hope of seeing
something for free.
Sister Rosetta Tharpe entered the platform on a horse and cart despite
being used to limousines. Despite the Southern-like setting there was no chance
of a dustbowl: the heavens opened over Manchester (what’s new?) as the show got
underway. At the last moment Rosetta switched songs and sang Didn't It Rain? She’s brill on that
guitar and at belting out gospel type songs (without even looking at her
fingers.) I’ve now downloaded everything she’s released. I’d heard her name but
not the twangs from that guitar. I’m surprised she isn’t more well-known.
There were about
seven performers in total. Some people who attended said it was as important as
the Sex Pistol’s 1976 show at Manchester’s Lesser Free Trade Hall (which
spawned Morrissey, Joy Division and The Buzzcocks.)
About ten million people saw the concert on television and it fired up a wave
of blues acts.
Here’re a few links…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SR2gR6SZC2M
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jeDF1g2cGDI&list=RDjeDF1g2cGDI#t=22
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ow5UGTe3QgQ
The concert
happened down here many years before the rail track was re-developed…
Does that man sat on the bench know
a legendary concert happened here?
Rosetta was used to limousine, not
horses and buggies…
Go to it Muddy…
Was this the exact spot, not sure…
