It would be safe to say that the North West of England has, and still is, a hotbed of innovation and talent when it comes to the world of music.
From leaders of the Britpop movement, Oasis, through to the band that laid down the foundations for pop bands in the future, The Beatles, there is plenty to celebrate when it comes to musical influences around the region - but we’ve only picked 25 to save you a few hours.
Be it spoken-word poets, teeny-bopper boy bands or the hedonistic Madchester music scene, here’s our picks of 25 acts from the North West region that helped define musical genres going forwards, based on cultural relevancy, influence and their everlasting appeal across future generations of musicians.
25. A Certain Ratio (Manchester)
A Certain Ratio blended funk, jazz, and dance music with a unique experimental approach. Known for their groove-heavy, danceable rhythms, they were key to defining the sound of post-punk dance music, influencing future acts in the indie and dance scenes, including LCD Soundsystem and Happy Mondays. | Getty Images