Salford Lads' Club, most famous for being used by The Smiths for their 1986 album The Queen Is Dead, is set to to become a music venue.
The club, located in Ordsall, Greater Manchester, has been a must see for Smiths fans ever since the band decided to take a photograph outside its infamous green doors and print it inside the album's sleeves.
Taken 30 years ago today - The Smiths outside Salford Lads Club. Photo by Stephen Wright. https://t.co/kC46eH90iL pic.twitter.com/UsR7rX04OS
— Sonic Editions (@soniceditions) December 2, 2015
Although the Club has hosted bands before, including The Courteeners in 2010, as well as The Charlatans within the same year, this would be the first time where shows would be hosted on a semi-regular basis.
Reports from the Manchester Evening News have indicated that there "is already interest from major promoters", and also the venue would be looking at hosting around 10 shows a year. Salford Lads Club spokesperson Leslie Holmes said: "We can apply for up to ten temporary licences per year. We have one or two people interested already - promoters wanting to help us."
Holmes also talked about the changes in the venue's state. “We have put in new fire escapes and a lift. We have improved access to the building with a grant. Now we can have 200, and the sound gets better the more people you have in the room.
“We could have small exclusive gigs. In the past we had a secret XFM gig with Liam Fray, of the Courteeners, and we have had Billy Bragg here. We had a limited number for the concert hall, and since we did the work with the Sport England grant we can accommodate more."
Last week, Charlatans vocalist and frontman Tim Burgess visited the Club to film a TV clip for the FA Cup match between Salford City FC and Hartlepool United, and proceeded to play harmonica in the club on stage.
