By Jack Walsh
It was a quiet rainy evening as I headed to Manchester for a night of country-rock mayhem. American Country-core duo Lakeview, comprised of Jesse Denaro and Luke Healy, were about to take the stage at the Manchester Academy.
Sitting on my train, I bumped into a couple of fans who were excited for the night about to unfold, and as I chatted to them, one told me they couldn’t wait for Lakeview to perform their favourite track, Loser.
As we approached Manchester station, the clouds lifted, the rain cleared, and the sun shone through; a far cry from the start of my journey. Passengers departed, and more fans emerged; tonight was certain to be packed.
I arrived at the venue to a sea of fans, chatting and laughing, swapping stories, and forming friendships over their love for Lakeview. I headed inside to begin the night.
First up, British alt-rock four-piece Lacey burst onto the stage, full of life and energy. Diving straight into their first track, they had the crowd in the palm of their hands. Their sound filled the academy, bouncing off every wall in hard-hitting fashion. And let me tell you, their set was full of bangers.
“Let me hear it for your new favourite band… Lacey!” shouted their frontman, Graham Turner. They certainly made their mark.
Then Lakeview stormed the stage. Those who had seen them before knew what was about to happen. For myself and others, we had no idea of the chaos about to unfold before our eyes.
The lights flashed, and the crowd roared. One second, the stage was empty. The next, the overwhelming force of Lakeview had taken over, guitars ripping and vocals booming. This was an opening to remember.
“Thank you so much for being here,” yelled Jesse Denaro. We were all fully immersed. Hanging off every word and beat, Wrong Side Of The Track and Money Where Your Mouth Is providedus with our first-hand lesson in what country-core was: in-your-face, heavy as hell metal with a country flair that had the crowd flowing with middle fingers in the air, all chanting to their hearts’ content.
“If you’re one stubborn motherf*cker like everyone on this stage – this song is for you.” Enter See Me In A Suit. One of my personal favourites from the evening. A pure feast for the eardrums.
The crowd showed no signs of slowing down. So, what do you do with a crowd who wants more? Hit them with the powerhouse that was Neon Nightmare!
“When I say jump, I want you all to jump,” shouted Jesse, and just like that, the whole place was on their feet. Old, young, it didn’t matter; everyone was here to have the time of their lives.
“Do you want to sing along or what?” prompted Jesse, to which the crowd responded with a giant “HELL YEAH”. Cue Drink With My Friends.
As I stood on the sidelines watching this track unfold, I couldn’t help but smile. This track had resonated with fans in a big way this evening. Life is about enjoying carefree moments with friends and forgetting life’s challenges. To forget about our troubles, even just for a moment, is a great feeling. Lakeview were doing it for their entire set.
What’s better than chugging an entire beer on stage? How about two? That’s exactly what Luke Healy did, and the crowd loved him for it.
“We have two songs left!” That could only mean one thing: Son Of A and Home Team were about to make their appearance.
The crowd drew on what stamina and will they had left and let loose, and so did Lakeview. Both frontmen climbed the barrier, with Luke diving into the crowd. They wanted to end the night in style, and that’s certainly what they did.
For my first-time seeing Lakeview, I was blown away by their sheer talent, not just for their craft but also for their dedication to making the night special for the crowd.
While this was my first viewing of Lakeview, it certainly won’t be my last.
Unless otherwise stated, Photography & Text Copyright 2025 © Jack Walsh/ADRENALINE Magazine.
Chloe Morris 
Emeli Meagher