“With more style, charisma and panache than a football stadium full of Little Man Tates and Pigeon Detectives put together, thanks to a mixture of laddish licks and heartfelt, fight-clinching lyrics - there’s no doubt The Courteeners are the real deal.”
So wrote the Manchester Evening News in 2008.
This was the Middleton-based band’s gig supporting Babyshambles at the Apollo just months before they released their debut record ‘St Jude’.
The 'indie scamps', as this paper called them back then, had to curtail their 45-minute set to ensure that Pete Doherty and his friends came on at the right time.
Fast forward eleven years and The Courteeners don’t play second fiddle in Manchester.
Fifty thousand adoring fans are at Heaton Park for a massive homecoming headline show that sold out in a matter of hours.
Young Mancunian act Pale Waves open proceedings for the day with their bright and lively sound. They rattle through their impressive debut 'My Mind Makes Noises' in front of a sizeable crowd before DMAs arrive.
The three-piece have been branded ‘The Australian Oasis’ and their energetic set brings about the first of many flares from the night.
Main support act James open their crowd-pleasing set with indie classic ‘Sit Down’ as the audience descends into early euphoria. Tim Booth lives up to his reputation as he ends the opener in the crowd and the rest of the set follows a similar path.
It’s then time for the main event as the four-piece arrive, via helicopter from the Isle Of Wight festival, for arguably the biggest show of their lives. We’re very much in Middleton as front man Liam Fray repeatedly reminds the crowd.
They walk on stage to a hero’s welcome with Oasis’ ‘Morning Glory’ blasting out and are greeted with scenes of euphoric beer-flinging terrace-chanting welly-filled pandemonium.
Liam tears into ‘Are You In Love With A Notion’ as confetti is blasted into the air and the crowd breaks into chaos. Red, green and blue fills the sky as beer glasses and bottles fly.
Libertines-esque ‘St Jude’ classic ‘Acrylic’ sees crowd go wild for their local heroes followed by a rapturous version of 'No One Will Ever Replace Us'.
Moving on from the youthful energy and angst of ‘St Jude’ this is now a stadium band who deserves their reputation as one of the best live groups around.
Liam's fine vocal talents are demonstrated on epic ‘Take Over The World’ and raucous indie anthem ‘Bide Your Time'.
A new album is on the way as they reveal with the first play of two new songs. This is a group who aren't ready to rest on their laurels.
‘Small Bones' is a set highlight as the catchy chorus rings out across the Park while ‘Lose Control’ is another chant-friendly classic from 'Anna'.
Liam slows things down with acoustic 'Hanging Off Your Cloud' and the brilliant B-side 'Smiths Disco' before the rest of the band return for the final encore.
‘Not Nineteen Forever’ is a song that defines a generation as the crowd parties like it's 2008.
Their loyal followers have grown into adulthood with this band, from listening on their first iPods to having the very same songs at their weddings, this is something special.
Set closer ‘What Took You So Long’ sparks more chaotic scenes as a vast range of colours again fill the Manchester sky.
A huge sing-a-long results in a crescendo of bodies leaping around. A clearly emotional Liam heads to the front to thank the fans as the rest of the band stand and salute their crowd.
This is The Courteeners and they rule Manchester. God bless the band.
Setlist
Are You in Love With a Notion?
Acrylic
No One Will Ever Replace Us
Summer
Take Over the World
Better Man
Bide Your Time
The Opener
Van der Graaff
Lose Control
Small Bones
The 17th
Liam Fray acoustic
Hanging Off Your Cloud
Smiths Disco
Encore:
Heavy Jacket
Cavorting
Modern Love
Here Come the Young Men
Not Nineteen Forever
What Took You So Long?