Easterhouse

Easterhouse formed in Manchester in 1984, brothers Andy and Ivor Perry leading a band that combined post-punk energy with a political commitment that was entirely genuine. Named after a deprived housing estate in Glasgow, they wrote about unemployment, Thatcherism, and working-class life with a directness and melodic sophistication that set them apart from most of their contemporaries.

Their debut single 'Whistling in the Dark' (1985) on Rough Trade generated immediate critical excitement, and 'Contenders' (1986) became their best-known track — a passionate, melodically irresistible song about political engagement that deserved to be a major hit. Their debut album 'Contenders' (1986) was a strong record that earned strong reviews but limited commercial success.

Easterhouse released one further album, 'Waiting for the Redbird' (1989), before dissolving. They are one of the more fondly remembered acts of the mid-1980s Manchester indie scene — their combination of political conviction and melodic gifts was genuinely rare, and 'Contenders' in particular deserves rediscovery.