Happy Mondays and The Farm bring the Madchester vibes back to the city for which they helped craft the musical DNA.

A SPECIAL VIBE

There is a particular kind of vibe running through O2 Victoria Warehouse. Before Happy Mondays and even The Farm take to stage, the room is filled with excitement and anticipation and a deep love for a pair of bands that have helped shape the city’s musical DNA.

THE FARM

The Farm start the night with a set that has an aura of something bigger than usual. With a room already buzzing, The Farm walk on stage and within minutes the room is moving with them. Their music is catchy and you could see people who have not listened to them before dancing along. It fills the whole warehouse with a good feeling. 

Peter Hooton from The Farm talks about how they have been friends with the Happy Mondays and have been friends with them from the early days. You can tell that their friendship is real and has been going on for a long time. It is nice to see bands and people sticking with one another and supporting one another.

The Happy Mondays and The Farm are bands that both came from the music scene in the late 1980s. Both bands have been close since the day they met, and you could tell. It is nice seeing bands supporting one another and having each other backs in the way The Farm and Happy Mondays did. Whilst The Farm were performing it felt like we were stepping back in time, they were the perfect opener for the night that was about to unfold. All Together Now closes the set; its as big a hit as any from those Madchester years.

HAPPY MONDAYS

When the Happy Mondays finally arrive on stage the crowd goes wild. The crowd roar with excitement as the band coolly filter onstage one at a time. They allow the audience anticipation to grow more and more as the opener progresses waiting for all the members to come on stage. Naturally, the last two to take to the stage are Shaun Ryder and Bez; and what a reaction they receive.

Everyone onstage has such a strong presence and they’re really powerful individuals on stage. However, there is something beyond powerful watching them on stage together. It all feels so effortless. You can feel the chemistry and connection they have with one another, but that is probably from spending decades with one another. Bez steals the show onstage. He is phenomenal, and dances around with his maracas hyping up the audience; he has them eating out of his hands.

Pills ‘n’ Thrills and Bellyaches is arguably one of the most iconic British albums of all time. Celebrating 35 years of the album, every massive tune hits; Step On, Kinky Afro, Loose Fit, God’s Cop…then throw in other huge songs like the euphoric tones of Hallelujah and Wrote For Luck, and you have a an undeniably classic setlist.

MANCUNIAN COMMUNITY

O2 Victoria Warehouse is a perfect venue for this show; the industrial building has as lot of character. Character that fits with the music and the history of Factory Records. The music sounded great in the space and the space allows room for the crowd to let loose and have fun. It was nice looking around the venue and seeing everyone singing, dancing and getting involved in the music.

Throughout the night there is a sense of community and shared history. The Farm and the Happy Mondays are able to transport the crowd back in time to those heady Madchester days. To see people who have been listening to their music for years, singing, dancing and celebrating the music and a band they love is pure joy. Tonight is a celebration of the power of music to bring people together and create lasting memories.

There are moments in the night that really stand out, where the crowd is so loud they drown out the band. Where Bez maracas and dancing moves got audiences hooked in, Firouzeh’s vocals are breath taking and were one of the best vocals I have heard live. Sean Ryder is his usual enigmatic self, with a band that still show why they are so revered. This was a special night that will be remembered for a long time for everyone in that room.

Happy Mondays: Website 

The Farm: Website

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