Think gay music and what comes to mind? Dolly Parton* and k.d. lang?

Well if you care to put your stereotypes aside you’ll find that over the years gay culture and music have been heavily intertwined, no much more so than in Manchester. Celebrating this very fact is a new online project Queer Noise, launched by the Manchester District Music Archive (MDMA).

The aim of this virtual exhibition is to once and for all cement the place of the gay people in Manchester’s rich musical history. From the Hacienda to Homo Electric and Bollox to Piccadilly Palare a digital timeline showcases artifacts that queered-up pop culture. Yet there are still holes in the story…

That is where you can get involved by uploading your contribution to the exhibition on the MDMA website or by e-mailing info@mdmarchive.co.uk.

*For all you Dolly fans the great-breasted one takes to the stage at the MEN Arena, Manchester on the 11th of September 2011. Tickets go on sale on the 11th of February 2011.

c/o halcyonday licensed under Creative Commons.