By Jack Walsh
It was a beautiful Thursday evening in the heart of Castlefield; the beers were flowing, the indie tunes were blasting, and everyone was smiling. The setting couldn’t have been more perfect.
As I sat, Guinness in hand, in the bar next door to the Castlefield Bowl, a sea of people flocked the streets, all chanting and dancing to the tune of The Charlatans, the band everyone was here to see.
Originally forming in 1988 in Birmingham, they took the world by storm and released over thirteen studio albums since their debut – all of which have made the top 40 in the UK album charts. It’s no wonder so many made the trip to see their favourite band.
Everyone was there for one single purpose: to party like it was 1988.
Kicking off the night, we had the indie giants hailing from Merseyside, The Coral.
Diving into their hits from the offbeat, they took on their assignment of starting the party with full commitment, as the crowd were on their feet chanting to their heart’s content. There wasn’t a single voice not raised to eleven! This crowd was out in force and wanted to make sure every moment was heard. A perfect first act.
Putting their stamp on the night next was British rock band, Embrace. Walking on with thunderous applause from the crowd, their goal was clear: to continue to raise this roof left by The Coral just moments prior.
As guitars roared, hands rose, and chants echoed throughout the ground, it was obvious that they had this crowd in the palm of their hands. Everyone was living in the moment. Dancing had taken over, and we were all for it. Smiles were plastered on everyone’s faces.
As the lights faded, anticipation grew for The Charlatans.
Before taking the stage, I interviewed fellow fans on their excitement for the rest of the evening.
‘This is the 68th time I’ve seen them,’ one fan stated. Now that is dedication. I thought seeing my favourite band six times was a lot!
Another family had travelled from America just for the gig – amazing stuff.
Then it was time. The lights dimmed, the crowd cheered, and the party had officially started. ‘We’re so glad to be back,’ yelled frontman Tim Burgess as his slick dance moves dominated the stage. Every eye was on him, and for good reason.
As the tracks triumphed on, the energy swiftly rose, and Castlefield Bowl turned into one giant dance floor. Each audience member danced to their own beat, yet all sang in unison.
Another fan came up to me, pint in hand, giant smile on his face, and asked, ‘Are you enjoying the gig?’, and obviously I replied with a yes, to which he again smiled and said, ‘Good! Enjoy every moment.’
That’s one thing I saw last night, just how great these fans were. No arguments, no fights, just beer, banter between friends, and giant dance pits where people were having their own dance competitions. That’s something I’ve not seen at a gig before now, but they seemed to love it!
As the sky began to darken and the night progressed, there were clear signs that this particular night was in no rush to slow down. ‘This is the greatest night of your life,’ shouted Tim Burgess as he glanced into the crowd with a giant, beaming smile. A statement that probably ran true to so many fans that night. Especially for the fan whose 68th gig this was – I still can’t believe it – yet I highly admire her dedication. From die-hard fans to newcomers, last night was a spectacle to witness. ‘Arms in the air’, every arm was raised, and beer rained down; sweet, beautiful chaos.
For my first viewing of The Charlatans, I certainly had an experience that will stick with me for a long while, not just because of the band but the fans.
The ones with whom I had the pleasure of speaking made me feel so welcome for my first gig. At one point, I had my arm wrapped around someone’s shoulder, singing the lyrics to The Only One I Know and How High. I didn’t expect this to happen at the start of the night, but the energy and passion of both the fans and the band made this night easily one of the best gigs I’ve been to so far this year.
I hope to see these guys live again soon. They were a revelation.
Unless otherwise stated, Photography & Text Copyright 2025 © Jack Walsh/ADRENALINE Magazine.
Richard Hedley 
Charlie Wright 
Alisha Lawton