Sex Pistols at the Lesser Free Trade Hall

On 4 June and 20 July 1976, English punk rock band the Sex Pistols performed two concerts at the Lesser Free Trade Hall in Manchester, England. The shows were organised by local punk enthusiasts Howard Devoto and Pete Shelley, who had formed the Buzzcocks in February that year after witnessing the band perform. The June performance would be supported by the Bolton group Solstice, filmed by Mark Roberts, photographed by Paul Welsh and recorded by Dave Eyre. Neal Holden provided lighting for the event. While the July performance was supported by the Buzzcocks and Slaughter & the Dogs and photographed by Al McDonell.

Among the audience were future members of Joy Division, New Order, the Smiths, the Fall, Simply Red, Magazine and Buzzcocks, who later cited the performances as primarily inspiring their musical careers. Other notable attendees included Martin Hannett, Tony Wilson and Alan McGee who later cited the gig as inspiring their launch of influential independent labels such as Factory and Creation Records. Alongside Sounds journalist Jonh Ingham, punk poet John Cooper Clarke, singer Jon the Postman and writer Paul Morley, who'd later work for NME. In 2001, writer David Nolan produced a TV documentary about the show titled "I Swear I Was There" which was later followed by a book in 2006 titled "I Swear I Was There: The Gig That Changed the World". The show was also depicted in the opening scene to the 2002 film 24 Hour Party People.

Although the shows were attended by only a small crowd, they'd later be regarded as a pivotal moment in Manchester's alternative music history, as well as instrumental in the development of British post-punk, DIY music and indie rock. In 2021, Mark Roberts' original Super 8mm film which captured the 4 June Manchester show, was sold at an auction for £15,000. Additionally, the 4 June 1976 performance has been described by the NME as "the most important concert of all time".