In this episode of Manchester Scene Stories, I’m joined by Rafe, founder of The Temple of Convenience and Big Hands, alongside musician Graham Clark, for a fascinating conversation about Manchester’s independent venues, creative communities and the friendships that shaped them.
Rafe reflects on his journey creating some of Manchester’s most distinctive venues, beginning with The Temple of Convenience before opening Big Hands. He also shares the story of the Ladybarn pub, a hugely ambitious project that ultimately failed after difficult experiences with pub companies, robberies and the pressures of running an independent business.
The conversation explores how The Temple and Big Hands became welcoming spaces where musicians, artists, writers and creative people naturally came together. Graham remembers performing intimate Sunday afternoon sessions at The Temple, while Rafe explains how those musical moments created exactly the atmosphere he had hoped to build.
Along the way, they remember many of the characters who helped define Manchester’s cultural scene, including Bryan Glancy, Scott Alexander, Johnny Bramwell, Graham Massey, Kim Simms, Mani, Leroy Richardson and Billy Whizz. Bryan, in particular, is remembered as someone who brought people together and whose influence can still be felt today.
Rafe also shares stories of musicians gathering at Big Hands after gigs, meeting members of The Alarm, and why he always wanted his venues to be more than simply places to drink. Art, conversation, music and community were always at the heart of what he was trying to create.
Graham discusses improvisation, performing across Manchester for decades, and his academic research into music cognition, exploring how expectation and surprise shape the way we experience music. The conversation also touches on jazz, experimental music and Manchester's remarkable network of creative people.
Throughout the interview, both Rafe and Graham reflect on friendship, ageing, creativity and the importance of celebrating people while they're still here. The discussion is funny, thoughtful and moving, finishing with a heartfelt toast to absent friends and the communities that grew around Manchester's independent venues.
If you enjoy Manchester's music, venues and cultural history, don't forget to subscribe to Manchester Scene Stories for more interviews with the people who helped shape the city.
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