Photography: Stephen Wright’s A Dark Day in Salford with The Smiths at The Lowry

This Smiths exhibition at The Lowry showcases the work of music photographer Stephen Wright. If you don’t know his name, you’ll almost certainly know his most famous photo: The Smiths standing outside Salford Lads’ Club. Originally taken one rainy afternoon for the inner sleeve of The Queen is Dead, over the years, the photo has become one of the most iconic in rock history. Not bad for something he developed in his makeshift darkroom using chemicals stored in fizzy drinks bottles. It is this celebrated pic that gave the exhibition its name: A Dark Day in Salford. The collection features all of Wright’s work with the band, including some lesser-known photographs and live shots. The event coincides with the Lowry’s newly-commissioned audio installation, 30 Days of The Smiths. Writer-in-residence Jackie Kay interviewed 30 local people with the surname Smith, and sound artist Oberman Knocks set their stories to some of the band’s classic songs.

Sat 9 Apr – Sun 5 Jun, The Lowry, Pier 8, Salford Quays, M50 3AZ, Tel: 0843 208 6000, 11am – 5pm, FREE, www.thelowry.com