Thomas Blower is a documentary photographer from Manchester, UK. Thomas captured inner city Manchester in the 1970s-80s and still continues to document the changing face of the city today.

The Northern Carnival featured performances from X-O-Dus (Who later signed to Factory Records), Buzzcocks, China Street and Steel Pulse. Prior to the bands performing in excess of 15,000 people marched from Strangeways Prison (where it was believed the National Front had infiltrated the staff) to Alexandra Park. During the march a number of reggae, punk and steel bands played on the back of lorries creating the carnival atmosphere that would spill into the park later in the afternoon.