SUNDAY PASS: The Fall Futures and Pasts - Sunday 7th June 2026

Why not take full advantage of a packed Sunday of Fall focused fun with our Sunday Pass - this pass gives you access to all of our Sunday events**

Our Sunday Programme includes:

FUNKY SI's WALKING TOUR OF MANCHESTER

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. Starting at The Free Trade Hall, walk with them through the streets ofManchester 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.

THE CHURCH OF THE FALL: Steve Titley

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’!

Image credit: Jane Whittaker

HEY! STUDENT | Prof Martin Cloonan
How – if at all – can academia help us understand and appreciate The Fall? Join leading Popular Music Studies scholar Professor Martin Cloonan for a discussion of academic work on The Fall. A long time Fall fan who first saw them at Sheffield University, Cloonan will situate his talk within the wider study of popular music and suggest, pace Marx, that while Popular Music academics have studied the Wonderful and Frightening World of The Fall, they have yet to change it. Wise Old Man, Glam Racket or A Lot of Wind? You decide.

Professor Martin Cloonan is the Director of the Turku Institute for Advanced Studies (TIAS), a multidisciplinary research centre in Finland. He is a leading Popular Music Studies scholar with particular interests in the live music industry, musicians' work, music policy and issues of freedom of expression. Martin is also coordinating editor for the leading academic journal, Popular Music. In this talk he reflects on academic accounts 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).

DJ SET with SIMON ARMITAGE

Simon Armitage | The Poet Laureate

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.

Image credit: Chris Close

Oh! BROTHER LIVE PODCAST - in conversation with Simon Armitage

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.

IMPERIAL WAX
Imperial Wax were formed by the remaining members of The Fall following the death of Mark E Smith in 2018. They have produced two albums, Gastwerk Saboteurs (2019) and Tranquilliser (2024), experiencing a few line-up changes in the interim. They describe themselves as 'noise rock & garage brawlers unafraid of a psych workout or a rockabilly dust-up'.

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

All events accurate at the time of publication. There may be some additions and alterations to programme content and order.

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

Get App

Host or Publisher Louder Than Words Festival