A long-gone record shop which catered for Manchester's hip hop, soul and funk community, also home of Fat City Records, releasing music by various artists such as Broke ‘ n ‘ English, Andy Votel and many more, and its affiliated Grand Central Records. It was also the birthplace of UK soul giants Rae & Christian.
Fat City Records was more than just a record shop; it was a living, breathing testament to the enduring power of soulful music. it rapidly became a beacon for those seeking authentic sounds beyond the mainstream.
Originally located in Manchester's Affleck's Palace in 1993, they later moved to premises on Oldham Street when Vinyl Exchange became so popular it had to move to bigger premises next door. It added to the existing Oldham Street-facing record shops, along with Eastern Bloc, Vinyl Exchange, Piccadilly Records and Butterfly Music, making that 100 yard stretch of road a must-visit for music lovers.
Imagine a meticulously curated archive of the finest hip-hop, funk, soul, jazz, and beyond. Its journey, marked by both triumph and near-closure, speaks to the fragile beauty of independent music culture.
The Fat City shop was originally based in Afflecks Palace,
Grand Central ran various highly popular club nights like Friends and Family and Counter Culture, as well as having a great roster of acts like Only Child, Riton, Aim and Fingathing.
Sadly, the shop closed in the 2009 and is now a coffee shop. But Fat City Records is still going strong and Matt Triggs, Label boss at Fat City Recordings and part of the Friends and Family / Counter Culture crew, now runs the brilliant
Red Laser Records.
