WORDS MATTY BEZ / IMAGES DESH KAPUR
PJ Harvey’s two sold-out nights at Manchester’s Albert Hall were nothing short of mesmerizing. This historic cathedral-like venue, drenched in rain outside, provided the perfect backdrop for an unforgettable evening of music and mystique. As the crowd filled every nook and cranny of the hall, anticipation hung in the air like a thick fog, and when Polly Jean Harvey herself took the stage, it was as if we had stepped into a fairy tale.
Polly appeared on stage in a flowing white dress and she glided across the stage with an ethereal grace that immediately transported us into her magical realm. Between songs, the sounds of birds tweeting and wildlife filled the air, further immersing us in this musical journey.
The concert was divided into two sets, each a chapter in this musical tale. The first set, featuring songs like “Inside The Old Year Dying” and “All Souls,” was a mystical exploration of introspection and emotion. Polly’s hauntingly beautiful voice echoed through the hall, creating an otherworldly atmosphere.
After a brief interlude, the second set took us on a different path, with powerful tracks like “The Glorious Land” and “Down by the Water” shaking the hall with their raw intensity. Polly’s stage presence was magnetic, and the audience was entranced by her every move.
As the night drew to a close, the encore featuring “C’mon Billy” and “White Chalk” left us in a state of euphoria. PJ Harvey had not just performed; she had transported us to a realm of her own making, a place where music, nature, and emotion intertwined in a spellbinding tapestry.
Leaving the Albert Hall that night, it was clear that PJ Harvey’s performance was a step into her fairy tale, and for those magical hours, we were all part of her enchanting world.
SET LIST 1 INSIDE THE OLD YEAR DYING
1/ PRAYER AT THE GAT
2/ AUTUMN TERM
3/ LWONESOME TONIGHT
4/ SEEM AN I
5/ THE NETHER-EDGE
6/ I INSIDE THE OLD YEAR DYING
7/ ALL SOULS
8/ A CHILDS QUESTION AUGUST
9/ I INSIDE THE OLD I DYING
10/ AUGUST
11/ A CHILDS QUESTION, JULY
12/ A NOISELESS INTERLUDE
13/ THE COLOUR OF THE EARTH
SET 2
14/ THE GLORIOUS LAND
15/ THE WORDS THAT MAKETH MURDER
16/ ANGELENE
17/ SEND HIS LOVE TO ME
18/ THE GARDEN
19/ THE DESPERATE KINGDOM OF LOVE
20/ MAN-SIZE
21/ DRESS
22/ DOWN BY THE WATER
23/ TO BRING YOU MY LOVE
ENCORE
24/ C’MON BILLY
25/ WHITE CHALK
FOLLOW P J HARVEY
My life is a soundtrack, i track my life through music, photography is my passion, my escape, my expression. Without both i have pieces missing, thankfully i’m blessed and get to combine both.
Born in Manchester, lived in Australia for 22 years where i was heavily involved in the Australian Music Industry, firstly in bands (Singer) and then managing bands (all original), I moved back to the UK, Wales specifically 10 years ago
