Shining a spotlight on Blackpool's history of music and film

‘Blackpool in Film and Popular Music’, edited by Ewa Mazierska, a UCLAN film studies professor, examines popular culture about the town.

She said: “Blackpool is like a symbol of an enduring working class culture which is in decline in Britain, and yet still exists. You could say it has its heyday behind it, but it’s still the enduring well against the background of other resorts. It’s the largest British seaside resort.

“At the same time there’s a lot of anguish and negative feelings in the music. There’s a motif of a decline of Britain generally. But there’s pride in being Northern and an emphasis on remaining that way.”

The book is written by a variety of authors including Ms Mazierska, each with their own connection to the resort.

Blackpool-born Chad Bentley, explores how the town is represented in the films Away and Bob’s Weekend, while Cecilia Mello, of the University of São Paulo in Brazil, looks at Hindle Wakes, A Taste of Honey and Bhaji on the Beach.

Former Warbreck High School pupil Colin Appleby goes into Blackpool’s contribution to the music industry and popular culture over the past half a century.

UCLAN lecturer Les Gillon analyses songs devoted to Blackpool from the 1930s to the present day. He said: “For many musicians Blackpool stood for what is best and worst about England; hence many of the songs, particularly those produced in post-war period, have a bitter–sweet taste.”

Kamila Rymajdo writes about the town’s grime music scene, and local man Philip Smith looks at Blackpool punk band the Ceramic Hobs.

'Blackpool in Film and Popular Music’ is available to buy from Palgrave Macmillan and can be found at www.palgrave.com/gp