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Watch Andy Burnham blind-rank his favourite bands – including Oasis, The Smiths, Wolf Alice and more
NME reports that Andy Burnham has taken part in a blind-ranking of British bands, placing Oasis first ahead of Elbow, Courteeners, Wolf Alice and The Smiths. The piece matters mainly as a light culture-and-politics story, highlighting Burnham’s long-running association with Manchester’s music scene while also linking it to his growing national political profile. It presents his choices as part of a broader image of a politician who is publicly engaged with popular music and the creative industries.
According to the article, Burnham ranked Oasis at number one, followed by Elbow, Courteeners, Wolf Alice and then The Smiths, while noting he might have changed the order had he known the full list in advance. NME also ties the feature to wider context around Burnham’s use of Oasis music in campaigning, his previous praise for Courteeners, and the band’s recent support for his Labour leadership bid. The article adds that he is due to take part in Manchester’s Beyond The Music 2026 event from 6 to 9 October, where he will convene the ‘All Content Global AI Summit’ and continue speaking on issues affecting the music industry.
In short
- Burnham ranked Oasis top in NME’s blind band challenge
- The article links music taste to his public profile
- Beyond The Music 2026 also features in the story
Explained simply
Andy Burnham is the Mayor of Greater Manchester and a prominent Labour politician. His engagement with Manchester's music scene is an increasingly visible part of his public profile.
Manchester has played a central role in British popular music history, producing many influential bands across several decades. Burnham has actively associated himself with this cultural heritage, and his connections to bands like Oasis and The Smiths form part of his public profile.
A ranking of Burnham's music tastes matters because he is a politician whose public profile is significantly built on his association with music and culture. His musical preferences therefore offer insight into his relationship with the creative sector and Manchester's cultural heritage.