The Madchester alternative rock genre developed in Manchester, England, towards the end of the 1980s and into the early 1990s. The music that emerged from the scene mixed indie rock and dance music.

Artists associated with the scene included The Stone Roses, the Happy Mondays, the Inspiral Carpets, 808 State, James, The Charlatans and A Guy Called Gerald. At that time, The Haçienda nightclub was a major catalyst for the distinctive musical ethos in the city that was called the Second Summer of Love.

In late 1988, a series of record releases came together as the first rumblings of a serious new music scene in Manchester and in October, the Stone Roses released 'Elephant Stone' (produced by Peter Hook of New Order) as a single. Also in October, Happy Mondays released the single 'Wrote for Luck', the 'Bummed' album, produced by Martin Hannett, followed by A Guy Called Gerald's first solo single, 'Voodoo Ray'.

Although none of these singles achieved mainstream success, all three got attention in Manchester, and were recognised as significant records nationally within the indie and dance communities respectively.

In May 1989, the Happy Mondays released the single 'Lazyitis' and the Inspiral Carpets put out their first single with new singer Tom Hingley, 'Joe'. Like the Stone Roses, the Inspiral Carpets were producing sixties-inspired indie music. All three of the main players in the emerging scene took a dance influence, particularly from 1970s funk, with disco basslines and wah-wah guitar being added to their indie jingle-jangle. The Inspiral Carpets added the distinctive sound of the Farfisa organ.

This sound, which was to become known as "baggy", generally includes a combination of funk, psychedelia, guitar rock and house music. In the Madchester context, the music can be seen as mainly influenced by the indie music that had dominated the city's music scene during the 1980s, but also absorbing the various influences coming through the Haçienda. Alongside the music, a way of dressing emerged that gave baggy its name. Baggy jeans (often flared) alongside brightly coloured or tie-dye casual tops and general sixties style became the standard uniform of young people first in Manchester and then across the country - frequently topped off with a fishing hat in the style sported by the Stone Roses drummer Reni. The fashion, like the music, was somewhere between rave and retro. Oh dear!

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