Manchester Academy was built in 1990 about 100 yards from Manchester Students Union on Oxford Road and was renamed as Academy 1 in 2004 when the Academy venues merged. It is the largest of the group with a capacity of 2600, but I have always found it to be an accessible venue and tend to head down the right side to endeavour to have the best vantage of the stage. Generally, though it is a decent view from any area in the venue. The bar by the entrance however is brutally hard to get served.
Since my first visit on 24/05/91 I have attended there 30 times placing it at No 3 on the venues most attended list. That first gig was a starry double bill of Wedding Present and Buffalo Tom and was the first gig where we caught the 1.20am ghost train back. That train became a staple for many years after. I saw the Weddoes there again in 2007.
My next two visits in 1992 and 1993 involved stalking Sugar (Bob Mould’s new band after Husker Du) on their initial tours. The following year I saw Kristin Hersh (previously of Throwing Muses) and remains one of only about five gigs I have ever driven to, because quite frankly why would one want to drive to a gig?
In the tail end of the 90’s Billy Bragg played twice with a Spiritualised gig in the middle of those two. In 2000 I had high hopes for Queens of the Stone Age but despite a great first track it disappointedly petered out.
2002 saw Rocket from the Crypt imitators The Hives in town, the gig did not work for me at all. That was followed by two gigs involving legendary bands I had chased for a while, Sonic Youth and Fugazi. Both were excellent but on reflection Fugazi shaded it. The band contained Ian MacKaye (previously of Minor Threat) and they cut an intelligent and engaging presence.
Somewhat unsurprisingly I have caught every Mogwai Manchester date and they graced the stage four times between 2003 and 2011, all of consistently high quality. The only gig I have never attended due to illness was a Hundred Reason show, so I immediately rectified that by catching them on their next tour in 2004.
The Vines and Mercury Rev were splendid gigs and I also saw Go Team and Nine Black Alps there in 2006. Later that year I saw a proper high energy set from the Subways which turned out to be my 100th gig in Manchester.
We went to see Explosions in the Sky in 2008 missing an important North End relegation game against West Brom. We were keeping ourselves updated and confirmation of the final result – a 2-1 win induced whoops of delight which coincided with a very quiet passage on stage generating quizzical looks in our direction from the band!
Further gigs followed from Ash, Buzzcocks and Hole. The final one inducing regret that I didn’t see them earlier in their career as their performance felt somewhat staged. The Hold Steady on 10/12/08 was as ever a positively uplifting experience.
I thoroughly enjoyed Eels in 17/03/13 in attendance with super fan Gary Moore who now runs the Schooner pub in Gateshead which stages live music. I have not yet had the opportunity to visit said establishment.
My two most recent gigs there were to see Toots and the Maytals, decent but too quiet and a 25th anniversary gig with Feeder in 2018.