A exhibition about historic Stockport recording studio Strawberry Studios opens this week.
Strawberry Studios: I Am in Love is opening from Friday, January 27, at the Stockport Museum.
The exhibition celebrates Strawberry Studios and explores Stockport’s musical heritage via film, conversation, collections, graphics, and above all else, the music.
Set up in 1967, Strawberry Studios became one of the first professional recording studios outside of London.
With a technical opulence built on co-owners 10cc’s success, the Stockport-based studio provided a level of sophistication never before seen in the North.
It soon became the go to studio for a diverse range of national and international artists. 10cc, Paul McCartney, The Buzzcocks, Neil Sedaka and the Bay City Rollers all stepped through Strawberry’s doors.
Legendary Factory Records Producer, Martin Hannett used Strawberry as his studio of choice and numerous iconic bands recorded their music within its walls.
Joy Division, The Smiths, The Stone Roses, James and The Happy Mondays all visited Stockport creating what has since become the infamous Manchester sound.
Strawberry may have stopped recording in 1993 but nothing can stop the music living on. 50 years later, the sounds still speak for themselves, ensuring that Strawberry remains forever preserved in music history.
Councillor Kate Butler, Executive Member for Economy and Regeneration at Stockport Council, said: “It is fitting that this new exhibition which celebrates how Stockport’s Strawberry Studios nurtured and captured that iconic Manchester sound should be hosted by Stockport Museum – only a stone’s throw away from where such memorable music was made.”
Peter Wadsworth, Music Historian, added: “This exhibition will allow the town and wider region to understand the role that Strawberry played in the Manchester music narrative, something that has been missing for too long.
“The vision of people like Peter Tattersall and 10cc, who challenged the London-dominance of the recording studio industry from their studio in Stockport, deserves to be recognised and remembered.”
The exhibition will run from January 27, 2017, to January 29, 2018.
Stockport Museum at 30 Market Place is open Tuesday-Saturday 10am-5pm and Sunday 11am-5pm. Entry to the exhibition is free.
Opening times
Tuesday to Saturday: 10am to 5pm
Sunday: 11am to 5pm
Admission: Free
