MUSIC HERITAGE | A DEEP DIVE INTO WIGAN'S MUSICAL LEGACY |

By Keira Knox

Popular music has long had a strong hold on Wigan, from George Formby and his father to The Verve in the 1990s and The Lathums in the present day. Not to mention the global phenomenon of Northern Soul, Wigan is also where the bands The Railway Children, The Tansads, Witness, and Starsailor all got their start. In addition to producing some of the top musical performers in Britain, Wigan has also welcomed a few. On October 13, 1964, The Beatles appeared at the town’s ABC cinema in an iconic performance. It was a part of the Beatles’ less than two-month-long UK tour, which stopped at 26 different locations!

For a town nestled directly between two musical cities, Manchester and Liverpool, it’s only fair that they get their share of musical talent. Wigan has produced some of the UK’s most beloved artists, in recent years the town’s music scene seems to have slipped under the radar. A town rich with musical history deserves a place on the map as a hotspot for music fans across the nation (and indeed the world).

NORTHERN SOUL AND WIGAN CASINO

Northern Soul dancers at Wigan Casino, February 1975

Perhaps the most surprising music subculture of all time was the Northern Soul scene, which swept over Northern England in the early 1970s. In locations like Wigan, hordes of young people developed an obsession with extremely unknown American soul songs. Northern Soul was more than simply music; it was a way of life. Girls wore vibrant colours, circle skirts, and polos, while men dressed sharply and stylishly in button-down shirts, high-waisted pleated trousers, and polished leather shoes. However, the patches, badges, and insignia that people wore—patterns from the club that people so frequently were a treasured record —were what really characterised Northern Soul fashion.

The inclusion and sense of belonging community that the Northern Soul culture at Wigan Casino promoted was among its most impressive features. Everyone was treated equally on the dance floor within the Casino, and it was a subculture that cut over age, class, and race. It is still one of the most well-known clubs in Northern England. Wigan Casino was purportedly voted “The Best Disco in the World” by the American music magazine Billboard in 1978, surpassing Studio 54 in New York City.

With its expansive sprung oak floor, the casino—once known as the Empress ballroom—offered a fantastic dancing surface for the northern soul’s flips, spins, and movements. Local DJ, Ross Winstanley helped two other DJs, Brian Rigby and Alan Caine, set up all-nighters. The Casino’s all-nighter emerged as its distinguishing characteristic. Every Saturday night, the club would welcome the crowds that had gathered in the tiny streets of Wigan’s downtown by opening its enormous doors at two in the morning.

Despite the casino’s closure on December 6, 1981, the legacy endures. The unique dancing routines and, most significantly, the music that the Northern Soul scene helped create have had a lasting impact on popular culture and continue to inspire new generations. The casino is woven throughout the talent of modern Wigan musicians if you dig deep enough.

WIGAN’S MUSICAL ICONS

Let’s begin by going back as far as possible to the man who first made Wigan prominent. After the death of his father in 1921, George Formby Junior continued his father’s act verbatim. He also didn’t change a single note in the songs. When he wedded fellow performer Beryl Ingham and purchased his iconic ukulele in 1923, everything changed. As the top paid entertainer in the UK in the 1930s and 1940s, Formby swiftly rose to international renown and starred in a number of films.

Georgie Fame, a singer-songwriter and former Wigan cotton weaver, shot to the top of the charts with his 1964 single ‘Yeh, Yeh.’ A charming Latin soul song first sung by Mongo Santamaria, put an end to the Beatles’ five-week dominance of the charts with their renowned single, ‘I Feel Fine’. In January 1983, Kajagoogoo’s first hit, ‘Too Shy’ shot straight to the top of the charts, bringing Wigan singer Limahl national recognition.

Without including The Verve, discussing Wigan’s music scene wouldn’t be complete. The band’s breakthrough album, ‘Urban Hymns’, which is now among the best-selling UK albums ever, was released in 1997. The hits ‘The Drugs Don’t Work’ and ‘Lucky Man‘ are included, along with the classic single ‘Bitter Sweet Symphony’.

Moving to the present day, Wigan band The Lathums have done the town proud. Two UK No.1 albums with ‘How Beautiful Life Can Be’ and ‘From Nothing To A Little Bit More’, sell out shows across the UK and Europe, they’re a force to be reckoned with.

WIGAN’S UPCOMING MUSIC SCENE

With bands and artists appearing everywhere you look, the local music scene appears to have a stronger future than before. Wigan’s artists had a very successful year in 2024. Casino Club enjoyed success with the release of their EP ‘Now You Want It’, Stanleys sold out their hometown show at The Monaco as well as supporting Richard Ashcroft at Robin Park. ‘Where’ve You Been Hiding’, a fantastic tune by The Lilacs, has been playing in my head ever since releasing.

A couple personal favourites of mine up next. Joe Astley and the Wallgate Band released ‘The Battle Of Wigan Lane’ back in 2021, and there hasn’t been a day since that I haven’t listened to it. In addition to getting several radio airplay, the song peaked at number three in the iTunes alternative rankings.

Over the past year, local audiences have been captivated by the rock and roll attitude and live performances of the up-and-coming band Double Yellows. They demonstrate that contemporary rock music is still alive and seek to reintroduce the genre to the mainstream media.