Book now: The Blockheads at Band on the Wall

The sun’s got its hat on, summer’s arrived in Manchester and there are even more reasons to be cheerful as The Blockheads return to the city for a show at Band on the Wall. Formed with the late Ian Dury in 1977, the current incarnation has drawn on its history on the hit parade to dazzle a whole new generation of fans with its no nonsense cockney rhyming set against funk laden rock ‘n’ roll. The band have toured the world, scored number ones – including ‘Hot Me With Your Rhythm Stick’ – and taken various hiatuses along the way, but their output since Dury’s death has been their most prolific recording period since first exploding into life with commercial success in the new wave scene. An example of their continuing relevance, as well as an openness to song writing wit, was their appearance on Charlie Brooker’s 2014 Wipe, who adapted the words to their 1979 #3 hit single to become ‘Reasons To Be Fearful ’14’.

Fri 10 Jul, Band on the Wall, 25 Swan Street, M4 5JZ. Tel: 0161 834 1786, 7.30pm, £15.50 – £17.50, www.bandonthewall.org