Courteeners singer Liam Fray paid tribute to his home city as they celebrated ten years since the release of their debut album St Jude at Manchester Arena.

On 22 May 2017, 23 people were killed and more than 500 people were injured when a bomb was detonated at an Ariana Grande gig at the Arena.

Liam said: “If you were there that night in May, then you know, the way that you all were, is f***ing incredible. Thank you so much for just lifting each other up and lifting us up. Because that’s what this city is about.

“There’s nothing else to say but thank you for letting us do this for 10 f***ing years. I can’t believe it. We’ll be here for another 10. You won’t get rid of us .Be safe, look after each other, take care.”

After an incredible derby match when Manchester United stopped Manchester City winning the Premiership, for a few days, the atmosphere was electric and the singing started as soon as we arrived at the stadium.

It feels like a football crowd, as there were choruses of “Liam” and “Manchester la la la” outside the arena, which carried on throughout the night, between songs.

Their gigs have been getting bigger and bigger from the early days at Night and Day and the Roadhouse, to Manchester Arena (2010), Delamere Forest (2011), Castlefield Bowl (2013), Heaton Park (2015), Manchester City’s Etihad stadium (2016), Lancashire’s Old Trafford cricket ground (2017), which became a demonstration of defiance after the bomb.

 

Confidently. pic.twitter.com/ohyjEurF0P

— Courteeners (@thecourteeners) April 6, 2018

From the moment Liam arrives on stage in a massive yellow hoodie, to the stripped down version in white short-sleeved shirt that showed off his pecs, Liam has the audience under his control.

He had cause to celebrate their decade of cavorting as The Courteeners have proved their critics wrong, especially the one that said: “I confidently predict that exactly no-one will be listening to it in 10 years time.”

How wrong they were and the Courteeners used the quote on their billboards on the day they celebrated their 10th anniversary by releasing a newly recorded and unplugged version of their debut album St. Jude.

Liam had been out on an acoustic tour when he decided to re-record St Jude, and he included an enchanting acoustic section in this gig featuring How Come, Yesterday, Today & Probably Tomorrow and Smiths Disco.

Two red flares were let off during the gig, which was surprising considering the increased security checks on our way into the Arena.

But the gig carried on, with massive sing-a-longs for Are You In Love With A Notion, Fallowfield Hillbilly, Bide Your Time, Please Don’t, Not Nineteen for Ever and What Took You So Long?

Manchester loves the Courteeners – let’s hope Liam is right and we’ll be singing along for another ten years. Photos below by Alicia Boukersi.

There was a chance to celebrate everything Courteeners before the gig as Hunky Dory promotions, Vital Publicity and VIVA Magazine joined forces to host the ultimate pre show party at the Liquor Store in Manchester – see photos below by Elspeth Moore.

Courteeners are headlining Neighbourhood Weekender, Victoria Park, Warrington on Saturday 26 May 2018. All tickets have SOLD OUT for this brand new two-day festival with Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds headlining on Sunday 27 May.

They are also at Leeds Festival 24-26 August. For tickets click here.

St. Jude Re:Wired is available now. For more details: thecourteeners.com

Read the interviews with Viva Ems and Jonny Brown (Twisted Wheel) about the pre-show party.

Courteeners star Liam Fray awarded honorary doctorate by University of Salford