FESTIVAL CELEBRATING THE FALL AND MARK E SMITH OPENS IN MANCHESTER

A festival dedicated to the post-punk group the Fall has taken place, bringing together fans, cover bands and cultural figures to celebrate the group's legacy. The event, titled The Fall: Futures and Pasts, featured walking tours, live performances and a karaoke session including the Fall track Eat Y'Self Fitter. Mark E Smith's sisters attended the festival. Poet laureate Simon Armitage performed a DJ set at the event.

The Fall was founded by Mark E Smith, who led the group through decades of recordings and line-up changes until his death. The festival drew attendees from as far as Los Angeles. Frank Skinner hosted a quiz focused on the Fall and their catalogue. The event reflected the sustained following the group commands among dedicated fans across the world.

The Fall: Futures and Pasts positions itself as a comprehensive fan experience built around the group's history and cultural impact. The inclusion of Smith's sisters and figures such as Armitage signals the festival's reach beyond dedicated fan circles into broader literary and cultural spheres. Cover bands performed the group's material as part of the programme. The festival underlines the continuing significance of the Fall's catalogue in British post-punk music.