Blackburn’s 101-piece archive brings King George’s Hall to life
Blackburn’s King George’s Hall now holds 101 prints tracing more than a century of performances, protests and local memories. The People’s Archive installation by artist Jamie Holman was created for the Grade II listed venue’s reopening after a £13.5 million refurbishment, and is on display inside the hall at Blakey Moor.
The installation is open to the general public. The source does not give opening dates or hours, an admission price, booking details, transport information or accessibility arrangements, so check current venue information before making a visit.
From rock shows to a televised wrestling brawl
The prints draw on newspaper archives, books and historical accounts gathered by Holman and researcher Bruce Wilkinson. They include stories of artists who played the hall, from The Beatles, Queen and David Bowie to Blondie and Chuck Berry, alongside moments that reveal the character of the venue and its audiences.
Blondie reportedly hesitated to perform because of spitting in the crowd. Chuck Berry demanded payment in cash before his show, then encouraged a stage invasion. After a Ziggy Stardust appearance, the council was reported to have banned further Bowie gigs because of his “provocative” stage outfits.
The archive reaches beyond music. It recalls bhangra dancing, the rise of Acid House in Blackburn, comedy and sporting events. One print revisits a wrestling match involving show jumper Harvey Smith and wrestler Jackie Pallo that made the front page of the Daily Mirror after it descended into a brawl.
The hall’s history reflects Blackburn’s public life
Holman has described King George’s Hall as “a bit radical and a bit rowdy”. Built on Blakey Moor, an area associated in his account with a cattle market, poets, artists and civic disorder, the hall became a place where entertainment and public debate met.
Political meetings feature in the collection too. One print recalls opposition to Enoch Powell’s appearance, with the headline “Blackburn is Anti-Fascist!” The selection also includes a 1931 live radio broadcast for Blackburn Rovers supporters of the FA Cup match against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
Two large lightboxes use images by Derren Poole, adding a stage-light reference to the installation. Around 20 people contributed to the project, which was supported by the Creative Alliance and Blackburn with Darwen Council. A specially made 101st print, “Changing Man”, is dedicated to Paul Weller, who has performed at the hall in every decade of his career.
Visiting the People’s Archive
The exhibition is at King George’s Hall, Blakey Moor, Blackburn, and is intended for the general public. It was created for the venue’s grand reopening and is described as a permanent or long-term feature. The source gives no specific end date, price or booking instructions; check with the venue for current visiting details before setting out.
Source: Blackburn with Darwen Council News
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Event details and historical examples are drawn from the source account; it does not specify visiting hours, price or booking arrangements.
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- 2026-10-23 16:54
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