Author

Chris Sharratt

@chrissharratt

MDA

CH Chris Sharratt · The Riff

Feb 1990: Northside and Paris Angels, Haçienda, Manchester

This never-published review was written in longhand and has been in a folder of my early music writing for the last 35 years. Talk about…

Feb 21, 2025 · 3 min read · 58 claps paywalled #90s-music #northside #factory-records

An interview with conference co-organiser Gavin Bowd, prior to this two-day event at Manchester’s Haçienda. For City Life magazine, of…

Nov 22, 2024 · 3 min read · 26 claps paywalled #situationism #manchester #hacienda

CH Chris Sharratt · The Riff

New Order’s manager died from a heart attack on 15 May 1999. This tribute to him was for the 26 May edition of Manchester’s City Life…

May 14, 2024 · 6 min read · 5 claps paywalled #new-order #manchester #hacienda

TCH

I was back working in Manchester and Belle Vue magazine asked me to write a piece on how I felt about the city. Something Shaun Ryder said…

Mar 12, 2026 · 4 min read · 0 claps paywalled #manchester #shaun-ryder #factory-records

SPR

I don’t have this box set. That is, I don’t have the beautifully-packaged object which, with drama and grace, provides the darkly artful…

Mar 19, 2024 · 4 min read · 0 claps paywalled #ian-curtis #joy-division #manchester

The hot pop news (again!) was that Robbie was rejoining Take That. Which he did, of course. But not at this time

Mar 20, 2026 · 3 min read · 0 claps paywalled #take-that #robbie-williams #trevor-horn

ECO

Expectations were high for this short residency at Upper Campfield Market, but despite David Attenborough’s contribution it didn’t quite…

May 27, 2026 · 2 min read · 0 claps paywalled #bjork #david-attenborough #manchester-united

GEN MDA

His new album was called Pre-Millennium Tension. He wasn’t in a good mood. But eventually, his talent shone through.

Apr 03, 2026 · 2 min read · 0 claps paywalled #tricky #hacienda #massive-attack