Futures and Pasts: A Festival Celebrating 50 Years of The Fall
In the summer of 1976, a group of friends who were interested in poetry and music decided they were going to form a band. The resulting sound, attitude, look and ambition was like nothing else around them, either locally across Manchester or elsewhere around the world. Driven by a proletarian work ethic, Mark E Smith carried this on relentlessly for over forty years.
Now, for the first time, a festival is set to honour the seismic legacy and continuing influence of The Fall. Five decades on from their formation, it would be hard to image our cultural landscape without them. Their vibrations do live on.
When & Where
5th-7th June 2026, Band on ther Wall, Manchester
What’s On
DAS GRUPPE ON THE WALL (book launch)
The Look Back Bores
Funky Si’s Walking Tour of Manchester
The Fall 93 94: The Dave Bush Tapes (film premier)
WE ARE THE FALL
Poppycock
DJ Sets by Marc Riley & Craig Scanlon
Hey! Luciani (Directed by Graham Duff)
The Church of The Fall
Middle Mass-termind
The Poet Laureate Simon Armitage
Oh! Brother
Imperial Wax
The Fallen Women
DJ Set by Simon Armitage
Art Exhibition curated by Michelle Hickman (8bitnorthxstitch)
PLUS MORE TO COME
A limited number of early bird tickets are now available.
Click here to secure your place.
First Programme Announcements
Friday
Book launch: DAS GRUPPE ON THE WALL: A monograph by Paul Hanley.
Q&A with Daryl Easlea
Specially commissioned for the festival, this new monograph by Paul Hanley tells the story of The Fall at Band on the Wall, an iconic venue in Manchester which played an important role in the early career development of many groups in the city, thanks in the main to the activities of the Manchester Musician's Collective. The book also takes in the three-night residency The Fall had at Band on the Wall on the Hex Enduction Hour tour, when Paul played in the original two-drummer line-up. Paul played drums in The Fall from 1980-1984. He is the author of three previous books centered on Manchester music, Leave the Capital, Have A Bleedin Guess and Sixteen Again. Read his author profile here.
The Look Back Bores
The Look Back Bores are Fall fans playing Fall songs for Fall fans! They are not a tribute band. No dressing up! They cover the wonderful and frightening music of The Mighty Fall with respect and care.
+ 1 more live act TBA
Saturday
Funky Si’s Walking Tour of Manchester (Saturday & Sunday morning)
A one-of-a-kind walking tour led by Simon Wolstencroft and Jackie O’Malley, who bring their popular podcast Funky Si's A-Z of Manchester to life. Walk with them through the streets of Manchester as Simon shares first-hand tales from the city’s music scene. From iconic venues to hidden corners where musical history was made, this immersive tour brings Manchester’s post-punk and alternative legacy vividly to life. The walk will last for 90 minutes. Limited spaces, so registration to secure a spot on the walk is essential. Details to follow.
The Fall 93 94: The Dave Bush Tapes
Film Premier
When The Fall toured the USA in 1993 and 1994, band member Dave Bush took a video camera on tour with him. The surviving tapes have been digitised and collated into this film. It’s narrated throughout by Dave Bush on the scene, and includes never seen before concert footage, the band at sound checks, hotel rooms, bars, on the tour bus – all the sights and sounds of The Fall on the road.
WE ARE THE FALL
A live podcast recording with special guest Grant Showbiz
WE ARE THE FALL Podcast is a raucous, affectionate deep-dive into the chaotic universe of The Fall, where two mates, Gavin and Steve, explore Mark E Smith and the group’s sprawling sonic and visual aesthetic. Each week they crack open albums, lost nuggets, side projects, and Peel sessions with a mix of obsessive curiosity, dry humor, and pub-chat warmth, making even the wildest corners of the discography feel like stories shared between old friends. With special guests, fan perspectives, and 'interrogations' of Fall-related luminaries, the show leans into unpredictability and passionate argument, celebrating the band’s shifting line-ups and strange detours while keeping things fun, welcoming, and just scruffy enough to feel true to The Fall’s spirit. Drink the long draught, with WE ARE THE FALL. Spotify Page | Instagram
Poppycock
Poppycock was formed in 2012 by Una Baines (The Fall / The Blue Orchids / The Fates) who has been described as a ‘New Wave Pioneer’ and ‘Unassuming heroine of the Manchester music scene’. Working from Una’s substantial back-catalogue of songs, Poppycock began initially as a floating collective of musicians. Poppycock’s signature sound has been described as ‘Cockypop’ featuring quirky lyrics and seasoned musicianship – ‘Lizard Man’ for example, was written after a dream Una had about The Fall and is a tribute to Mark E Smith. Poppycock’s ethos of collectivism and creativity often results in a cross over between art and music.
DJ sets from Craig Scanlon & Marc Riley
Craig Scanlon played guitar in The Fall between 1979 and 1995. During his tenure, he was a stalwart member for 17 albums and co-wrote over 120 of the group’s songs; singer Mark E. Smith excepted, this tally is unmatched by any other musician to have passed through the group.
Marc Riley: Birth / School / Bowie/ Fall /Creepers / Radio…AND BEYOND!
Hey! Luciani Q&A
A discussion about the original staging of Mark E Smith's play Hey! Luciani: The Life and Codex of John Paul I at Riverside Studios, Hammersmith, with twelve performances between 5th-20th December 1986. Here, some of the original cast share their memories of this audacious project 40 years on. With Steve Hanley (Pope John Paul II), Marcia Schofield (Commander Kommando Ninrod), Simon Wolstencroft (Cardinal Villot) and Jackie O'Malley (Sister Bon Amico).
Hey! Luciani
A stage play by Mark E Smith.
Raw, strange and uncompromising, Hey! Luciani is part theatre show, part performance art-rock gig. Smith himself mischievously described his play as ‘a cross between Shakespeare and The Prisoner’. In reality, it’s his typically elliptical interpretation of the events of September 1978, when Pope John Paul I (aka Albino Luciani) was found dead, leading to theories that he had been murdered by the Papal Court, with involvement from the Freemasons. Incorporating witty dialogue, grotesque characters and contemporary dance, Hey! Luciani also features performances of several Fall songs, including ‘Doctor Faustus’, ‘Sleep Debt Snatches’, and the unreleased ‘Luciani Today’.
In its 40th anniversary year, with a script transcribed from recordings of the original 1986 performances, this new production of Hey! Luciani features guest appearances from some of the original cast, plus a live band performing the original score. It’s directed by Smith’s friend and collaborator Graham Duff (Ideal, The Otherwise).
Sunday
Funky Si’s Walking Tour of Manchester (Saturday & Sunday morning)
The Church of The Fall
The Church of The Fall is an award-winning, joyous, musical spoken-word show that celebrates the epic music and life of Mark E. Smith. Expect joy, laughter and genius music, as you follow Stephen G. Titley on a musical journey where he will convince you that The Fall isn’t just a cult band – it’s a broad church! Come and revel in the love and certainty of the faithful – ‘Come one, come all, to The Church Of The Fall’!
Middle Mass-termind
A quiz pitting two teams of Fall fans and associates against each other to test the depth of their knowledge of Fall ephemera. Set by none other than Dan Bye, aka Dannyno, whose Fall knowledge is legendary, and more than a little worrying, if we're being honest. Audience participation encouraged (at your own risk – you'll probably be wrong).
Simon Armitage
The Poet Laureate in conversation (and more) with the Hanley Brothers
Acclaimed poet and lyricist Simon Armitage was born and grew up in Marsden, West Yorkshire. His numerous awards include the Queen's Gold Medal for Poetry and an Ivor Novello for songwriting. Armitage has explored where poetry and song lyric converge through different enterprises – most recently as writer and performer with the ‘ambient post-rock’ band LYR but also as lyricist for various film and theatre productions including the BAFTA-winning Feltham Sings. He has published over twenty poetry collections including Blossomise and Dwell, both recent Sunday Times bestsellers. His book Never Good with Horses features his song lyrics for the first time. A regular broadcaster, Armitage presented the popular BBC Radio 4’s series The Poet Laureate has Gone to his Shed. His brand new podcast series The Shed is available now. He also contributes to Guy Garvey’s Finest Hour (BBC Radio 6 Music). He was appointed UK Poet Laureate in 2019. Website | simonarmitage.co.uk
Photo by Chris Close
Oh! Brother is a much-loved, long-running podcast about The Fall hosted by celebrated Fall alumni, brothers Paul and Steve Hanley. Guests include ex-members of the band, associates, collaborators and fans from the world of arts and entertainment. Early in the conversation, guests will be asked how they first encountered The Fall, and then it can travel in any way the wind might blow it. Spotify | YouTube | Instagram
DJ Set from Simon Armitage
Imperial Wax
The Fallen Women
‘The Fallen Women are a Fall that never were, comprised of veteran superstarlets of the indie scene, adept at recreating every era of the band's catalogue in a way that the band proper were never required to, be it gruelling dirges, garage punk bangers, or fizzy Falltronica. It’s a shame Mark E Smith never lived to front The Fallen Women, as surely their turn to till the Fall sod would one day inevitably have come. Instead, as this strange performance art project surges ever forward, it is you that gets to front The Fall from another dimension. I’ve done it at half a dozen gigs and it’s like riding a rocket. And it’s true what they say. You never forget your first time.’ Stewart Lee
ACROSS THE WEEKEND
Art Exhibition
Michelle Hickman (8bitnorthxstitch) is currating a Fall related art exhibition for the weekend.
MORE TO FOLLOW
Futures and Pasts is presented by Louder Than Words Festival and Route
Contact: thefallfuturesandpasts@gmail.com
