Manchester: A City, United

I write this post on the 27th May 2023, six years after Courteeners had taken to the stage at Old Trafford Cricket Ground for the first time.

Proving them Wrong

The gig was the biggest gig the band had ever announced. Heaton Park two years previously had saw the band make a jump to huge outdoor audiences playing to 25,000 people. Playing to almost double that was a big deal. Old Trafford Cricket Ground was usually reversed for Oasis, Radiohead, Foo Fighters, Arctic Monkeys. However they proved the doubters wrong, and sold out the venue. They sold it out quickly as well! Manchester had a band they could back, and back them they did.

Liam Fray and the rest of the band saw an opportunity with the concert, not only would it help propel Courteeners, it also allowed them to showcase that things were still happening in Manchester. They did this through there support bands. The Charlatans were booked, and it showed that even the older bands from Manchester were around and still producing music. Blossoms and Cabbage were proof that Manchester was still producing new music and in particular new guitar bands. Blossoms have since gone on to become a huge band in there own right.

The gig was set to be a celebration of Manchester and it's music.

A Change of Mood

Five days before the concert, the 22nd of May 2017, a suicide bomber walked into the foyer at Manchester Arena and detonated a bomb,  killing 22 music fans at an Ariana Grande concert. Men, Women and Children were killed in the attack and it was something that brought the world to a bit of a stop. This was an attack on everything, it had shaken Manchester to it's core. Manchester went into mourning for the 22 that were lost, and looked after those who had been affected by the attacks. Trying to piece together what had happened, and trying it's best to heal the wounds caused by the attack.

Many thought that music in Manchester would stop, at least for a little bit. It's safe to say that, it was quite a shock when Courteeners announced the show would go on. Just five days after the attack. It had become more than just a concert now, it was a show of defiance, resilience and most importantly a sign of solidarity towards the people of Manchester.

This is Manchester, Our Manchester 

Before the concert , the city centre is abuzz: fans stop for selfies with policemen and gather on street corners to howl songs by Oasis, The Stone Roses and The Smiths. Down at Old Trafford, they laugh, dance, fall, pick each other up and – contra to a request from the organisers – light flares.

Manchester wanted to celebrate the lives of those lost in the attack, and wanted to prove to the world that nothing could tear them apart or divide them. The UK was in shock after the attacks and it seemed to create a divisive culture, hate crime had risen and certain groups became Prosecuted. In Manchester people wanted to look after each other, to combat this divisiveness and rally around each other. Music helped them do this.

Before the band took to the stage, Courteeners front man read a poem by poet Ryan Williams, that seemed to perfectly sum up the city and what it was going through at the time.

The band then played a indie rock masterclass, a 20 song set which saw the band dip into an eclectic back catalog of anthems. From 'Are You in Love With A Notion' 'Cavorting' through to 'Small Bones' and 'Take Over the World' right through to the teenage anthem 'Not Nineteen Forever' it was the best showcase of the band, and proof to the rest of the UK and the world that guitar music was not dead.

16 songs into the set, Liam took to the stage and a solo acoustic cover of’ ‘Don’t Look Back In Anger’ – a song that’s become the anthem for Manchester’s bounce-back, and one that couldn’t be any better received if it were the Gallaghers themselves on stage. It seemed signifcant that the band had chosen to do this, they had done it for Manchester but they were also having a water shed moment. This was there Maine Road moment, on 27th anniversary of Spike Island. The stars had aligned over Manchester that night.

Liam Fray did not feel the gig was the bands Knebworth moment though, he was a lot more reflective and thankful. He said this to the NME I feel like it wasn’t about us tonight. “It wasn’t ‘our gig’, it was a celebration of people doing what they love. This will stay with me for the rest of my life.”

The gig had gone to become something more than just a concert. I was not at the concert, however I have friends who were and they have told me it was something special. I would see Courteeners re open the Manchester Arena, 4 months later on September the 9th 2017 and the feeling in that room was something I am unable to describe. Manchester is a truly special place, with truly special people.

Thank you for reading x