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Gainsbourg: Genius – Manchester Plays The Serge Songbook is a one-off celebration of the French maverick that will see a selection of Manc bands take up their guitars and have a crack at songs like that infamous ode to love, Je T’Aime.

It’s been put together by local Serge-ophile Andy Murdoch, though he says he got the idea from long-time friend Jay Taylor, manager of the Genius venue, the Ruby Lounge.

"I hit 40, had a bit of a midlife crisis and thought ‘right, I’ll step up’. I really wanted to put a Serge Gainsbourg thing on, as I’m a big fan of his.

"He’d have been 80 next year if he was alive and France are going crazy over it, but not many people in this country know him. So I wanted to spread the message a bit.

"A cover version of one of his songs by Barry Adamson got me into him years ago, but last Christmas, I didn’t listen to any English music for about three months. I went off in all different directions, but all from Serge.

"And people did. Some got in touch who I hadn’t even asked to begin with, just through the grapevine, saying they wanted to get involved."

On the day, there’ll be performances from artists such as Magic Arm, Modernaire, Bone-Box and Denis Jones and Andy says that they’re all getting to grips with the French lyrics well, though the versions that they produce might be a little different to the ones that anyone who knows Serge’s work is familiar with.

"Some bands have French singers and some have been meaning to do Serge covers for some time and this has given them an excuse, but it’s about experimentation, it’s not straight covers.

Gainsbourg: Genius is a one-off, but Andy says that so many people wanted to get involved with it that there are plans to turn the Genius idea into a regular thing.

"The response from this was amazing. Lots of people wanted to play this who couldn’t, due to being in the studio and things like that, so I thought we’d do Love and Arthur Lee next.

"He’s another big favourite of mine so I thought I’d spread the message of that too. After this, I’ll need a rest as it is a one man thing, but if this does go well, after Arthur Lee, we’ll be doing Kraftwerk and Neil Young and then who knows? It’s all about legacy artists that are a little bit different."

Which means it might not be too long until a Manchester name pops up, though quite who remains to be seen. Morrissey: Genius anyone?

Gainsbourg: Genius is at the Ruby Lounge on Sunday 11 November. Tickets are £7