For The Courteeners, Heaton Park is now a cherished home from home and it’s time for a highly anticipated round three as more than 40,000 fans join the latest momentous homecoming.
The latest M25 party contains an extra layer of significance as the band commemorates the 15th anniversary of their iconic debut album, St Jude.
Frontman Liam Fray has teased some surprises for the night, promising to build upon the now legendary performances at the park in 2015 and 2019.
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The Courteeners are a band that has consistently defied the doubters, triumphing over those who have repeatedly dismissed them. Their unwavering determination has paid off with an incredibly loyal fanbase who have a deep-rooted love for the Middleton group.
Their re-release of a remastered version of St Jude even secured their first number one in January, a testament to their enduring appeal.
Friday night is not only a celebration of the band’s last 15 or so years but also an opportunity to express their gratitude and pay homage to their loyal followers. And true to form, they deliver another unforgettable evening.
The talented Brooke Coombe sets the mood for the early revellers before The Snuts truly ignite the atmosphere with fan favourite Glagow resulting in a huge sing-along.
Taking to the stage as the main support act, Australian band DMA’s seize their moment in the soaring Manchester sun. Having previously played the same venue before the 2019 gig, the band possesses a more polished sound on the back of their four studio albums. The melodic charm of The Glow, an anthemic Silver and set closer Everybody’s Saying Thursday’s The Weekend unleashes an irresistible wave of summer vibes around the park.
There’s an electric buzz in the Heaton Park air and the atmosphere reaches a fever pitch as Oasis’ Morning Glory blares out from the speakers, signalling the arrival of the local heroes from just down the road. The crowd erupts into a deafening roar as the unmistakable pandemonium synonymous with these ‘Teeners nights take hold. Blue, red and yellow flares illuminate the Heaton Park sky as confetti showers the euphoric Manchester crowd.
Opener Aftershow ignites the St Jude party, captivating the audience with its infectious guitar riffs and thunderous drums. It’s followed straight into Kimberley setting the tone for an evening brimming with unadulterated joy.
From there, it’s a non-stop voyage through the seminal album’s tracklist, each song greeted with 40,000 people losing their collective minds (and voices). Fan favourites Cavorting and Acrylic transport the audience back to their youth, igniting a surge of nostalgic sentiment.
Flawless versions of Bide Your Time and No You Didn’t, No You Don’t are welcomed as if it’s April 2008 all over again. A truly memorable version of the non-album track That Kiss follows before well-loved Fallowfield Hillbilly concludes the first part of the set as every Manc in attendance sings back the hometown lyrics.
A short break ensues before Fray’s vocal talents take the spotlight with an acoustic section providing some brief respite for the audience. A stunning version of How Come is followed by the heartfelt Yesterday, Today & Probably Tomorrow, enchanting the local crowd, before fan favourite B-side Smiths Disco. Fray’s cover of It Must Be Love brings about a huge sing-along as the crowd joins in with every word of the timeless Madness classic.
Usual raucous set opener Are You In Love With A Notion returns the night to a frantic pace as flares paint the sky again with the full band back on stage. The always brilliant Lose Control is followed by a joyous Summer before a special version of Small Bones, dedicated to massive local Courteeners fan Mille Bristow who passed away recently.
The 17th unleashes a wave of feel-good energy that washes over the crowd soon followed by the unwavering passion of Modern Love as the chorus echoes throughout the park. There's no doubt this is a night that loyal fans of the band will remember for a long time.
No Courteeners show is complete without the inevitable rowdy finale. Before Not Nineteen Forever sends the crowd into more joyous chaos Liam reveals that St Jude went platinum today explaining “We’re nothing without everyone standing in this field”. Every word of the iconic track is chanted back with fervour, fuelling a collective surge of jumping bodies, evoking a sense of nostalgia that sweeps the crowd as confetti rains down again.
As the latest unforgettable Heaton Park night draws to a close and the final ‘Woah, oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh ooh' of an extended What Took You So Long sounds out across the vast park, it’s clear that the band has delivered yet another triumphant Manchester homecoming.
See you all in a few years to do it again. God Bless the Band.
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