Manchester mourns Roadhouse closure recalling its impact on famous bands and music scene.
Papa’s had a chippy, like Roadhouse later did. A cafe and chip shop were above ground, while the basement club held the real magic. Mike Saffin, a former DJ, recalls good times. He mentions a nice dance floor in the basement and cozy alcoves facing the dance floor.
Saffin described a long bar. It ran along the Back Piccadilly wall. Multi-colored Perspex divided the stairwell and cloakroom. He thought it looked fantastic in the dark and noted that it was very ahead of its time.
John McBeath took over in 1993 and renamed it Roadhouse. It became known as a blues venue. Katy Mountain became the owner in 1999, having previously been a barmaid there.
The venue helped many people, including Guy Garvey, Elbow’s singer, who worked the door for over four years. Other Elbow band members worked the bar before Elbow got famous.
Garvey said many found their start there, including painters, novelists, and actors. They succeeded because of Kate, who cared for music in Manchester. Garvey even wants a statue for Katy Mountain.
Elbow played at Roadhouse after winning an award in 2008. Katy Mountain said Pete Turner asked for a job first, followed by Craig, Jupp, and Guy. She noted that Guy was good at front-of-house.
Katy said they were responsible. When Elbow lost their record deal, they returned, causing her to lose a third of her staff. They worked at Roadhouse for six months longer before getting their second deal.
Roadhouse became a music scene cornerstone. Many famous bands played there, including Coldplay, Muse, and The White Stripes. Fleet Foxes and The Kills played there as well.
Roadhouse held live bands and club nights, with Electric Chair and Hoya Hoya being popular. The closure in 2015 saddened music fans, including William Black, whose band played there first.
He remembers scratching their name on the wall and seeing other bands’ names too. He felt proud and believed the stage helped them get taken seriously. He felt gutted about the Roadhouse closing.
Jimmy Lee said his friends played there, and he discovered new Manchester music there. He also enjoyed many club nights there, recalling that it was always hot and sweaty, with condensation dripping from the ceiling.
Mat Payne saw The White Stripes there, finding it very hot and sweaty. He also saw Coldplay, though it was less busy. Vicky Parsons queued all day for gigs at Roadhouse, starting when she was only 14.
The owners joked about her living there because she saw them so often. She has great gig memories at Roadhouse. She will really miss this place, adding that it truly is a shame that Roadhouse is closing.
John Hall called Roadhouse a sanctuary for genius. Reminiscing, Guy Garvey spoke of their success and noted that when they got their deal, they all quit, leaving Kate Mountain in the lurch.
Garvey also said she took them back when they lost the deal, and he appreciates her help. He noted that those days are precious and expressed his thankfulness for his city’s support. They even wore Roadhouse shirts during their first tour.