WORDS AND IMAGES ISOBEL EVE SCOTT
As part of their UK tour, the Massachusetts Celtic punk legends Dropkick Murphys stopped off in Manchester Academy at the exact halfway point of the run, and the venue was buzzing with excitement long before the band even took the stage.
It’s rare to see Manchester Academy this packed. Fans spilled out into the foyer, and it was almost impossible to move more than a few centimeters inside the main hall. The audience was overwhelmingly made up of dedicated fans, many of whom have followed the band for years, skewing slightly toward an older, male crowd. Everywhere you looked, people were decked out in Dropkick Murphys merch, and a noticeable number of them bore tattoos dedicated to the band—this was a crowd that wasn’t playing around. From the energy in the room, you could tell these fans were here for one reason: to be part of something special, something they’d been waiting for!
Before the headliners even hit the stage, the crowd was treated to an electrifying performance by Manhattan-based punk-folk band Gogol Bordello. Approaching their 30th anniversary as a band, Gogol Bordello proved they’re still a force to be reckoned with. Known for their high-octane performances and a unique blend of punk, dub, Romani, and Ukrainian influences, they delivered a set that was nothing short of spectacular. Eugene Hütz, their frontman, moved between several wooden blocks scattered across the stage, leaping from one to the next as if choreographing chaos. His energy was infectious, and alongside Erica Mancini on accordion and Sergey Ryabtsev’s furious violin playing, the band created a musical frenzy that was both overwhelming and deeply captivating.
A highlight of their set was their 2010 anthem “Immigraniada (We Comin’ Rougher)”, a song that tackled the hardships faced by immigrants in America. Though written over a decade ago, the track’s message felt just as relevant, if not more so, today. Gogol Bordello’s performance was a cultural overload in the best way possible, and by the end of their set, the crowd was primed and ready for what was to come.
SETLIST
1/ I Would Never Wanna Be Young Again
2/ Not a Crime
3/ Wonderlust King
4/ My Companjera
5/ Fire on Ice Floe
6/ From Boyarka To Boyaca
7/ Immigraniada (We Comin’ Rougher)
8/ We Mean It Man
9/ Start Wearing Purple
10/ Pala Tute
As the lights dimmed and the Dropkick Murphys took the stage, the excitement in the room reached a fever pitch. With twelve albums under their belt and nearly three decades of experience together, the band didn’t waste any time getting into the fan favorites. They kicked things off with “Captain Kelly’s Kitchen,” instantly setting the tone for the night—raucous, rebellious, and unapologetically fun. The energy was infectious, and the crowd was immediately swept up in the storm of Celtic punk glory.
Frontman Ken Casey was a commanding presence from the very start. A small platform had been set up at the front of the stage, which he used to get up close and personal with the audience, leaning over the barricades to give fistbumps and offer fans the chance to scream into his mic. His interaction with the crowd was nonstop, moving from one side of the stage to the other with seemingly boundless energy. Even when he wasn’t on the platform, Casey was constantly engaging with the audience, and his enthusiasm only seemed to grow as the night progressed. Songs like “Bastards on Parade” and “Middle Finger” had the crowd singing every word, and Casey fed off that energy, giving back even more to the fans.
As a live band, Dropkick Murphys proved once again why they’re one of the most enduring and beloved acts in the Celtic punk scene. Jerry’s guitar riffs cut through the air with precision, Al’s pounding bass was relentless, and drummer Matt Kelly’s beats were nothing short of thunderous, driving the band’s sound forward like a freight train. The energy in the room was electric, and it was hard to tell who was having more fun—the band or the audience.
After a relentless set filled with classics, the band took a brief break before returning to the stage for the encore. As soon as the opening chords of “I’m Shipping Up To Boston” rang out, the crowd exploded into chaos. Easily their most recognizable and successful track, the song turned the already animated audience into a sea of pogoing bodies, with more than a few people losing their voices as they screamed along. It’s a track that perfectly encapsulates the spirit of Dropkick Murphys—playful, rebellious, and full of life—and it brought the house down in a fitting conclusion to a night that was equal parts nostalgia and celebration.
The Dropkick Murphys at Manchester Academy was a gig for the ages. The crowd, packed to the rafters and decked out in band merch, was fully invested from the first note to the last, and the band more than delivered on the high expectations set by their years of success.
Ken Casey’s relentless energy, coupled with the band’s tight, powerful performance, made for an unforgettable night. And with a setlist packed full of crowd-pleasers, capped off by the explosive “I’m Shipping Up To Boston”, it’s safe to say that no one left the venue disappointed.
SETLIST
1/ Captain Kelly’s Kitchen
2/ The Boys Are Back
3/ Prisoner’s Song
4/ The Warrior’s Code
5/ Mick Jones Nicked My Pudding
6/ Going Out in Style
7/ Bastards on Parade
8/ James Connolly
9/ (F)lannigan’s Ball
10/ Which Side Are You On?
11/ Middle Finger
12/ Johnny, I Hardly Knew Ya
13/ The Hardest Mile
14/ Walk Away
15/ Curse of a Fallen Soul
16/ Forever
17/ It’s a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock and Roll)
18/ The State of Massachusetts
19/ Rose Tattoo
20/ Worker’s Song
ENCORE
21/ I’m Shipping Up to Boston
22/ Until the Next Time
FOLLOW DROPKICK MURPHYS
FOLLOW GOGOL BORDELLO
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
