Seafret – Manchester Academy 2 – 22nd May 2026

NATI DREDDD

Manchester Academy 3 filled slowly with the kind of crowd that arrives early because they care about the music – the ATB mantra of ‘always see the support band’ kicking in maybe along with a some prior knowledge. Nati Dreddd made that decision feel worthwhile within seconds of her performance. She opened the night with a set that felt both intimate and quietly commanding. Her voice carried this texture that cut through the room with ease and the kind of tone that makes people instinctively drawn towards the stage.

What made her performance memorable was not just her vocals, but how she carried herself on stage. You could feel how comfortable and confident she was, talking and joking to the audience as if we were all friends. She did not have to force the chemistry she had with the audience; she was calm with a grounded presence that made everyone in the room want to watch and listen to her performing. By the time she finished the room erupted with a round of applause and many cheers. The room felt warmed up and genuinely ready and excited for whatever came next.

SEAFRET

That energy made Seafret’s entrance feel even more intimate. The band stepped on stage with a small strings band into a room that was beaming with excitement, and from the first notes it was clear they intended to take the crowd somewhere. Jack Sedman’s voice was steady, filling the space with a warmth that felt both grounding and vulnerable. It was nice seeing Seafret come onto stage with a bigger band, the strings band really helped to add more of a emotional layer to the music really intensifying the emotions of the night.

What I really enjoyed about this show was how they focused mainly on their new music early on in the set. I know artists often do this but it was nice to mainly focus on the new album instead of jumping back and forth. It allowed the audience to experience and immerse themselves fully into this new chapter of Seafret. I can imagine a lot of the people in the room knowing all the lyrics to these songs. You could see people singing and dancing with their friends, families and partners, quietly enjoying the moment for themselves. And because Seafret had opened the night with their newer material, it meant that anyone who was not familiar with the album could finally enjoy it.

OLD SONGS

Towards the end of the night, they started playing their old songs like Atlantis and Oceans. You could feel the shift slightly in the room. These songs carried people through different stages of their lives, and hearing them again live allowed people to soak up into these emotions. You could see it in the way people were holding onto their loved ones in the room, the way they sang each song and the little looks it felt like the whole room was feeling the same.

Walking out back onto the street of Manchester, you could hear the buzz from the audience still lingering in the air. Many people in this room have been following Seafret for a long time. Their songs have gotten through life, breakups, moves and so many more life stages. That is the thing about their music, it stays with you long after you listen to them.

Seafret: Website

Nati Dredd: Facebook

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