By Alisha Lawton
Lake Street Dive brought funk and soul to a wet, cold, Tuesday night in Manchester, for one night only, on their UK tour.
Excitement flowed through the packed New Century Hall venue in Manchester, as fans eagerly awaited for the start of the show.
The support act was Alisa Amador, who, after singing one song, took a moment to talk to the audience and introduce herself. She led the audience into a short meditation and pep talk, telling them how excited and grateful she was to be on tour with Lake Street Dive, all over the UK and Europe. She performed her original songs in a mix of English and Spanish – blending the two together to create a memorable experience for the audience.
It was then time for Lake Street Dive to enter the stage to a powerful cheer.
The jazz, funk, and pop-mixed band, who have been influenced by all of the major melody makers of the 60s, brought it all to the Manchester venue.
During their first song Good Together, lead singer, Rachael Price, and keys player, Akie Bermiss, took to centre stage with their vocals, while the rest of the band layered with beautiful harmonies.
Moments before they kicked into the next song, Far Gone, Rachael asked the audience how they were feeling, which gained a euphonious response from the audience.
After playing a few songs, she addressed the audience, and told them how long it had been since they had performed in the UK – a whole 8 years – at which a member of the audience stood up and shouted ‘too long’!
A few songs in, the band took a step back, and let keys player, Akie, have the spotlight, where he played a soul moving solo, transitioning to the next song, Baby Don’t Leave Me Alone With My Thoughts.
Throughout the venue, the audience embraced the rhythms, and it was clear the band were having just as good a time as the crowd, fully appreciating the music and the energy of the night.
Akie thanked drummer, Mike Calabrese, for being the main moving part of the band, and for being there whenever they needed him, which was such a sweet moment to witness.
It’s clear to see the band have a great appreciation for each other, especially considering how attentive each member of the band is to the soloist, allowing them to have their time to shine.
They truly enjoy being around each other, which rubbed off on the audience who were dancing along together.
During Party on the Roof, Rachael and bassist Bridget Kearney moved to the back of the stage, grinning, as they shared a lighthearted moment, encouraging the crowd to clap along to the beat.
After this, the band played an acoustic version of I Want You Back by The Jacksons, where they each sang harmonies into one mic at the centre of the stage.
This makes for a beautiful section within the show, allowing everyone to have a sing-a-long to a classic song, earning a massive cheer from the crowd.
Following this, the band asked the audience for a crowd suggestion, and went on to play a song called Side Pony, which the audience loved.
Overall, the show was carefully crafted, curating a setlist that both new fans, and old, will love. It was clear everyone in the audience had a great time and had the chance to hear some of their favourite music in a live setting.
Photography Copyright 2025 © Alisha Lawton/ADRENALINE Magazine. All rights reserved.
Chloe Morris 
Tyler Whiting