‘This has been amazing’ exclaims Alex Moore, the frontman of The Lathums as Artificial Screens brings down the curtain on a memorable night at Castlefield Bowl.
The Wigan band has taken the rather wet but very happy sold-out audience on a spellbinding journey through their consecutive number-one studio albums as the Manchester rain pours down.
Friday night serves as another milestone in their musical journey, celebrating the remarkable ascent for the four-piece that emerged from a music project at TMP College in Pemberton back in 2018.
Starting from their humble beginnings, playing for a hen party in Lathom, a place that inspired their band name, they have now surpassed RnB superstar Drake in the album charts, achieving two number-one albums while also supporting the likes of The Killers and Kasabian.
Their performance at Glastonbury last weekend on the Other Stage in front of a huge crowd saw them win critical acclaim and tonight only adds to their already incredible week.
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Two years ago, the band supported Snow Patrol at the same venue following the release of their debut album, How Beautiful Life Can Be. Now, they return as the main act for their largest headline show to date, captivating a packed crowd of 8,000 fans.
The rather drenched evening starts with fellow Wigan band Merry Hell and Wirral act The Dream Machine, who set off the perfect atmosphere for a party filled with umbrellas and bucket hats.
The Lathums make their grand entrance, starting off the evening with their latest single Struggle from their second album From Nothing To A Little Bit More, accompanied by a string arrangement and harmonious voices of backing singers.
It sets the perfect tone for an unforgettable night filled with passion and love for the local band who are clearly very much on the up. Moore’s emotional vocals soar through the night sky, as they feed into the audience’s energy before early single Fight On causes another wave of emotion. Every song already feels like a classic, not bad for a band just a few years old.
Another new track Know Pt 1 is an early set highlight, showcasing the band's introspective songwriting and knack for crafting emotionally charged melodies. Moore concludes with his now standard 'thank you, very, very much'.
‘Wigan, Wigan, Wigan’ rings out for the opening chords of The Great Escape. The song, which propelled them into the spotlight nearly five years ago, has Moore belting out the lyrics as the crowd sings back every word.
They exhibit an exceptional musical cohesion throughout, their unwavering chemistry shining through, as they flawlessly transition into the heartfelt ballad How Beautiful Life Can Be. An anthem that resonates deeply with the crowd. Unfortunately, they have to stop for a short moment due to an issue in the crowd, however the ever-composed Moore steps in to diffuse the situation and restore the night's harmony.
Continuing their customary tradition at Lathums gigs, he then takes centre stage for a wonderful heartfelt segment, captivating the crowd with soul-stirring renditions of All My Life and I’ll Never Forget The Time I Spent With You as the air is filled with joy and unity.
Circles of Faith brings the full band back before the crowd-pleasing setlist continues on The Lathums journey with older tracks such as Foolish Parley and Knotted Bed of Roses igniting huge sing-a-longs.
Facets adds a raw and electrifying energy to the stage, with each band member pouring their heart and soul into their performance with guitarist Scott Concepcion already a master at his trade. The evening's emotional climax arrives with I See Your Ghost, a track that gets everyone bouncing.
After a short break, they return to the stage with a captivating encore, beginning with an emotional version of Turmoil as Concepcion skillfully plays the piano. They launch into athematic Sad Face Baby taking the energy of the crowd to new heights for the night as flares fill in the sky.
Say My Name follows as the passionate but wet audience dances along before Artificial Screens draws the memorable night to a close as Moore extends his thanks to the crowd once again.
As the final notes echo into the night, the crowd revels in The Lathums, fully aware that it won't be long before this ever-rising band graces even bigger stages in Manchester and beyond.
