Video
Lorraine Birtwistle
2026

In this video I sit down with Lorraine, mum of Spencer Birtwistle from Intastella, for a brilliant journey through Manchester, Stockport and Marple music memories from the late 1950s through to the 1990s.

Lorraine begins with memories of rock and roll nights in Liberal and Conservative clubs, where young people danced to Bill Haley, Little Richard and the early sounds of the era. She talks about teddy boy fashion, pencil skirts, blouses, bleached fringes and the strict world young people grew up in at the time.

From there, she takes us into early 60s nightlife around Stockport, Sale and Manchester, including places like Sale Locarno, Bramhall Hall, Hurlbert Grange, Dino’s, Mr Smith’s, the Plaza on Oxford Road and the Whiskey Go-Go. She also remembers lunchtime dancing in Manchester while working in a Market Street typing pool — with Jimmy Savile DJing at the Plaza and Manchester United players in the room.

Lorraine shares memories of Manchester fashion, Market Street shops, Wallace’s, coffee bars like the Kardomah, and seeing The Beatles live at Buxton Pavilion and the Odeon in Manchester. She also talks about local venues like Offerton Palace, where she saw acts including Freddie and the Dreamers, The Swinging Blue Jeans and Tony Christie.

The story then moves into pub culture, jukeboxes and live music in the 70s, 80s and 90s. Lorraine worked behind bars and later ran pubs, putting on bands and DJs. She talks about buying records from jukebox suppliers and bringing them home for a young Spencer, helping spark his love of music.

We also discuss Spencer’s bands Laugh and Intastella, memories of Intastella playing The Haçienda, Jennifer Saunders turning up at a packed gig, and the almost legendary moment when Inspiral Carpets were due to play outside her pub before the weather ruined everything.

Lorraine also remembers Massive Attack, Smashing Pumpkins, Scott Walker and why “No Regrets” still means something to her.

This is a warm and funny Manchester Scene Stories conversation about ordinary lives, changing music, local venues, jukebox culture, family, fashion and the way music passes from one generation to the next.