By Jack Walsh
Manchester was alive on the first Saturday of September, with pubs and venues packed full, as people celebrated the weekend with a drink in hand and a smile on their faces. Outside SOUP, fans lined up for a night of great indie music, with Manchester band Gathering of Strangers and their mega talented support acts Tommy Ball and Oliver Pinder on the bill.
Up first was Blackburn musician Tommy Ball, who was joined by his bandmates Keith on bass, and Aidan on drums/backing vocals. “We’re playing all new songs”, Tommy stated as the audience cheered on. They had one purpose: to get this crowd moving – and moving they did. With hypnotic beats and expressive lyrics, they put their own stamp on Saturday evening. A mighty first act indeed. A highlight track from their set was American Diner. It’s been a week since, and it’s still stuck in my head.
Oliver Pinder and his band took to the stage next, delivering tracks packed full of emotion and a personality backed up in spades. Speaking to the crowd, he discussed a song he had written recently called Love of My Life. I won’t go into the meaning of the song; it’s better to hear the story for yourself. I will say this, though: it was a highlight of my evening, and I’m sure it was for others as well. Oliver ended his set with a taste of what was to come with the release of his new EP, due out in November. It’s definitely one to look out for when released.
During the interval before Gathering of Strangers took the stage, I had the chance to make my way through the crowd to talk to fellow fans about how they were enjoying their evening, and about their anticipation for the headline act. “We’ve seen them six times!” one couple said. “Three in Birmingham, two in Manchester, and one in London.” I asked them which one was their favourite, and they answered with legendary Manchester venue, The Deaf Institute. That’s definitely a personal favourite of mine too.
Suddenly, the lights went down, and the moment was here. Kicking things off with their 2023 track My Thunder, the band wasted no time, and had the crowd locked and loaded for a set full of indie pop anthems. Bodies moved and mini dance pits formed – the norm for the rest of the evening. “We’re so glad to be back in Manchester!” Conor Rabone stated before launching into the unreleased single My Love from their upcoming EP, Modern Beauty. That one drew some of the loudest cheers of the night.
And how do you get the crowd even more excited? By playing your first released song, all the way back from 2018. Nice Hair made its mark, and the crowd went wild. Trust me, I’ve got the video evidence to back up this claim – and it’s yet another track that’s been looping in my head ever since – a sign the band are doing their job right.
The band stayed humble: “We’re here because of you guys!” Conor said, which was a beautiful sentiment.
Another unheard single from their upcoming EP followed, alongside some fan favourites. This crowd didn’t know when to stop, and the band was loving every second. When Conor’s jacket came off, everyone cheered, and that’s when the party really began. At one point, I had to stop photographing just to take it all in. I hadn’t been to SOUP since 2018, but for the last couple of songs of the night, I made sure to make the most of it – dancing with everyone around me and forgetting life’s problems for 15 minutes. As Red & Gold closed and the crowd roared, I couldn’t help thinking, ‘I wish I were going to their afterparty at Night & Day.’ I’m sure whoever was there had a blast. I might have just been at their gig, but all three bands sure made it feel super special.
Unless otherwise stated, Photography & Text Copyright 2025 © Jack Walsh/ADRENALINE Magazine.
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