WORDS AND IMAGES MICHAEL BOND
The scene for the evening had already been set en route to the O2 Victoria Warehouse in Manchester, with bootleggers flogging Happy Monday’s bucket hats and T’s ahead of the Madchester legends homecoming show as part of their “Been There Done That” UK tour.
This vibe continues through into the venue with the soundtrack for the evening being heavily influenced by the rich musical history of this fair city. First up to the stage is the Stereo MC’s, who suitably warm up the crowd with a 30-minute set containing classics like Connected and Elevate your Mind, with their set culminating with Step it Up, which by this point had the crowd singing along and warming up nicely for the night ahead.
Next up on this nostalgia laced Thursday night is the Inspiral Carpets, with original members Stephen Holt on vocals and Graham Lambert on lead guitar, along with local legend Clint Boon on keys, who introduces the band to the cheering crowd “we are the Inspiral carpets from Oldham” as the room responds with the not uncommon chant in these parts, of “Booooooon Army”.
The Inspiral’s 10 song set list containing classic tracks, This Is How It Feels and Dragging Me Down, But there is only one way to end a night with the Inspiral Carpets thats with the unmistakable piano riff and driving drums of Saturn 5, this song is baggy, its Madchester and basically just brilliant.
The inspirals leave the stage, the same way they entered it, to a room full of love and leaving the crowd mooing for more
SET LIST:
1/ JOE
2/ BUTTERFLY
3/ WEAKNESS
4/ TWO WORLDS COLLIDE
5/ I WANT YOU
6/ COMMERCIAL RAIN
7/ SHE COMES IN THE FALL
8/ THIS IS HOW IT FEELS
9/ DRAGGING ME DOWN
10/ SATURN 5
To round the night off its now time for the main event. Kicking off proceedings with Kinky Afro, Bez, Rowetta and the rest of the band take to the stage. Rowetta looking as glamorous as ever, walking up and down the stage windmilling and spinning her tastles and Bez bounding round with his trademark maracas. Next up is Shaun, swaggering on to the stage in his Adidas Spezial jacket ready to bring the vocals to their 1990 classic. Next up is God’s Cop, also taken from their album Pills ‘n’ Thrills and Bellyaches album which was released the same year.
Now a grandad, Bez’s energy is still relentless as he dances and marches up and down the stage hyping the crowd. This along with some instantly recognisable riffs and Rowetta’s outstanding vocals which have helped define a generation & shape the musical landscape in these parts, forever. Their 13 track set list weaves it way through the 80’s & 90’s with classics like Loose Fit, Hallelujah, 24 Hour Party People and Step On, at which point Shaun invites his daughters onto the stage, turning the night into a familay afair, as they proceed to dance with Bez & Rowetta. The night is rounded off with Wrote for Luck, as people head off into the night to rejoin their current lives back in 2024, after enjoying a night of celebrating in some local musical history.
SET LIST:
1/ KINKY AFRO
2/ GOD’S COP
3/ DONOVAN
4/ DENNIS AND LOIS
5/ LOOSE FIT
6/ PERFORMANCE
7/ MAD CYRIL
8/ TART TART
9/ RAVE ON
10/ HALLELUJAH
11/ 24 HOUR PARTY PEOPLE
12/ STEP ON
ENCORE
13/ WROTE FOR LUCK
FOLLOW HAPPY MONDAYS
FOLLOW INSPIRAL CARPETS
FOLLOW STEREO MC’S
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
