Just days after headlining the giant celebration of indie music that was London’s “Community Festival 2023”, pioneers and long-time legends of the scene Two Door Cinema Club headed up north to Manchester to play the iconic outdoor Castlefield Bowl Venue to close out the week-long stretch of gigs as part of the Sounds Of The City event. The band original formed in Northern Ireland way back in 2007 and consists of longtime friends Alex Trimble, Sam Halliday and Kevin Baird. Ever since their debut album in 2010 “Tourist History” was released and nominated for the Choice Music Prize in Ireland, the band have seen success which within time grew globally. The band are somewhat of a staple in the indie music scene, having more bangers in their repertoire than I could go on to list. They have become a frequent sight at UK summer festivals like Reading and Leeds festival thanks to their energetic live performances and their outstanding ability to put on a show like no other.
This Manchester show was already set to be one for the ages with this in mind, however, a slight doubt was casted on this due to weather over the weekend. But it seems the band pulled some sort of magical strings as the sun came out just as doors opened and it cleared any of this doubt! It truly was a special night in the North and one that celebrated live music to the highest degree, from the support acts riling the crowd up from the get-go to the sheer feeling of togetherness in the crowd it was certainly one of the best I’ve been involved in in a long, long time. The setlist consisted of every fan favourite you can think of which had everyone in attendance singing back to Two Door Cinema Club in unison, even the guitar riffs that the band have become almost known for were being sang back to them at some point! It was truly hypnotic and definitely a show I won’t ever forget. Support for the night came from two incredible acts that are both on their own path to stardom in The Royston Club and Sundara Karma.
Setlist –
This Is the Life
I Can Talk
Are We Ready?
Undercover Martyn
Eat That Up, It’s Good for You
Wonderful Life
Come Back Home
Talk
Changing of the Seasons
Next Year
Do You Want It All?
Lucky
What You Know
Costume Party
Someday
Cigarettes in the Theatre
Sun
Sleep Alone
Something Good Can Work
TWO DOOR CINEMA CLUB
THE ROYSTON CLUB
SUNDARA KARMA
Photos + Review by Lewis Roberts | Exclusively for Music, Why Not!
