Join us for an event with author Audrey Golden for a conversation with Jesse Sublett celebrating her new book, I THOUGHT I HEARD YOU SPEAK: WOMEN AT FACTORY RECORDS. Tickets include a copy of the book and a reserved seat.

Factory Records has become the stuff of legend. Known for their post-punk musical catalog, from Joy Division to The Durutti Column, the histories of the label have been told from many perspectives, from visual catalogues and memoirs to exhibitions. Yet no in-depth history has ever been told from the perspectives of the women who were integral to Factory’s cultural significance.

The history of Factory Records is one of women’s work at nearly every turn: recording music, playing live gigs, running the label behind the scenes, managing and promoting bands, designing record sleeves, making films and music videos, pioneering sound technology, DJing, and running one of the most chaotic clubs on the planet, The Haçienda.

Told entirely in their voices and featuring contributions from Gillian Gilbert, Gina Birch, Cath Carroll, Penny Henry and over fifty more interviewees, I THOUGHT I HEARD YOU SPEAK is an oral history that reveals the true cultural reach of the label and its staying power in the twenty-first century.

Audrey Golden is a writer with a focus on music, culture, cinema and politics. She loves punk and post-punk and holds a Ph.D. in literary studies from the University of Virginia.

Jesse Sublett is a musician and writer from Austin, Texas. As a musician, he is best known for his long-running rock trio, legendary Austin band The Skunks. His essays and journalism have appeared in a wide range of publications, and he is also known for his mystery novels featuring a bass-playing sleuth named Martin Fender.