Album 1

Watching some of Manchester’s finest home grown talent, on Manchester turf, after the horrific events witnessed in the city this week, well, it was always going to evoke a rollercoaster of emotions. But as 50,000 defiant music fans gathered at Emirates Old Trafford, united not only by their love of music, but in an incredible showcase of solidarity, you knew this one was going to be pretty special.

Tameside’s latest music makers Cabbage were the first on stage to kick off proceedings at the home ground of Lancashire County Cricket Club. They were closely followed by Stockport’s best musical export, Blossoms, who warmed us up with an array of melodic tunes that had the whole crowd singing in chorus. Next up, adopted Manc band The Charlatans touched the nostalgic spot with classics including ‘North Country Boy and ‘One to Another’. Reminding us of exactly why, even in the face of such terrible atrocity, this was a live gig that no one wanted to miss.

So as the time came for the headline act, spirits were high, the crowd was swaying and excited chants were already echoing throughout the packed out ground.

To open the show Liam Fray took to the stage looking suitably slick in a white coat. He immediately created a sense of unity and celebration as he read out heartfelt words from Ryan Williams’ poem, The Bees Still Buzz. Lyrics including ‘we’re a city of workers, a city of shirkers, a city of tracksuits, bibles and burkas’, ‘100 per cent red, 100 per cent blue’ and ‘if you think you can beat us, you don’t know who we are’ saw the sell-out crowd erupt.

The band joined the stage, kicking straight off with fan favourite ‘Are you in love with a notion’ before belting out a lively set of Courteeners classics that included ‘Lose Control’, ‘Take over the world’ and ‘No one will ever replace us’.

As flares and pyrotechnics lit the night sky and the jubilant crowd danced, sang and swayed, perhaps the most special moment of the evening came as Fray treated us to an acoustic solo performance of Oasis’ ‘Don’t look Back in anger’. The Middleton born performer gave a classy, emotional and dignified rendition of the song which has become even more poignant to the city following the events of last week.

An explosive encore included ‘What Took You So Long’ and ‘Not Nineteen Forever’ with the ecstatic crowd rejoicing to every last lyric.

Closing the show, Fray thanked the crowd for their bravery in attending under such difficult circumstances, crediting the show as the best night of the bands’ lives. And judging by the gleaming smiles, endless hugs, cheers and song that slowly filtered out of the stadium, they weren’t the only ones.

God bless the band.