LIVE FROM THE PIT: Wolf Alice, Sunflower Bean and Bria Salmena

Kicking off the UK leg of their world tour with a bang, Wolf Alice took to Manchester’s AO Arena last week for their biggest headline show yet. For years the band have been a staple of any British festival lineup or summer playlist, immortalising experiences of love, friendship and rage with their diverse catalogue of indie-rock anthems. And with latest album ‘The Clearing’ revealing some of the band’s most compelling and critically-acclaimed songwriting to date, it seemed not only inevitable but imperative that these rising stars bring their magic to some of the UK’s largest stages for a monumental headline tour. 

Bria Salmena set the tone for the night with a dark, simmering performance. Wrapped in a shadowy haze of delicate instrumentals, the Canadian’s voice reached out through the dusk with haunting resonance, casting an entrancing gloom over the arena. Her performance glistened with a kind of delicate intensity that bubbles quietly under the surface, tension building but never quite resolved, magnetism that holds tight with no sign of release.

Another opener from across the pond, Brooklyn’s Sunflower Bean were next to take to the stage, who offered their signature soundscape of sharp indie-rock with cutting basslines, intricate drum patterns and striking vocals. No stranger to a Wolf Alice crowd having supported them on tour back in 2018, Sunflower Bean marked their welcome return with a wild, infectious energy that quickly brought the audience onto their feet. From the heavier tones of ‘Nothing Romantic’ to the light nostalgia of ‘Moment In The Sun’, their set was dynamic and compelling, leaving behind a vibrant buzz as their final notes trailed off and their performance drew to a close.

Both supporting artists alluded to different facets of Wolf Alice’s sonic arsenal - Bria Salmena reflecting the band’s quieter, more introspective and sultry moments while Sunflower Bean encompassed their bold, energetic side as well as their rich, timeless instrumentation. In that sense, no two acts would have been a better complement to this tour, each giving the crowd an enticing taste of what was to come from the main act. 

Lights dimmed. Suspense rose to suffocating heights. Conversations instantly fizzled out. It was the moment we had all been waiting for. 

Against a striking backdrop of shimmering silver streamers, Wolf Alice took to the stage with an instant ownership and magnetism. After cascading piano keys led us into the ballad-like ‘Thorns’, the band released everything they had with the album’s lead single ‘Bloom, Baby Bloom’, its dynamic showcase between light, playful verses, guttural cacophony of a prechorus and transcendent chorus making it an instant highlight of their setlist. Frontwoman Ellie Rowsell commanded the attention of every single person as her vocals danced effortlessly between wild, gritty growls, delicate, breathy moments and angelic richness.

‘White Horses’ saw Rowsell share the spotlight with drummer Joel Amey, whose warm, deep vocals led the way through the song’s captivating and intricate soundscape, before winding the clock back slightly for ‘Formidable Cool’, which oozed grunge-y swagger as the first demonstration of Wolf Alice’s more rough side. Without a chance to settle down into this genre switch, ‘Just Two Girls’ offered a playful, airy release. 

The next hour and a half rushed past in a whirlwind as the band led us through their discography, showcasing their mastery of seemingly countless genres, eras and moods. Slower, more stripped back songs like ‘The Sofa’ and ‘Play It Out’ provided poignant moments of introspection, during which a constellation of phone torches illuminated the gently swaying crowd while Rowsell sang gently under the spotlight.  Police sirens and red and blue strobes evoked chaos in the crowd for the punk-fueled ‘Yuk Foo’, unstifled rage channelled through a megaphone and bounced off of every wall. Without time to catch your breath, ‘Play The Greatest Hits’ came in fast and unapologetic with its raucous power and energy, ensuring not a single vocal chord left intact by the end of the show. 

If the whole night could be captured by a single moment though, it would be ‘Bros’ - youthful, timeless, universal. Wrapped in the warm embrace of the song’s joyful, cozy guitar arrangement, the crowd was transformed into a tapestry of pure human connection, revealing thousands of special moments between loved ones as they held hands, bounced and sang to each other with euphoric sincerity. 

‘Don’t Delete The Kisses’ marked the end of their set with nostalgia, romance and youth straight out of a coming-of-age film, as the band and their fans sang together one last time to the song that arguably started it all.

As the lights came back on and ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ began to play out across the speakers, the sea of Wolf Alice fans could be heard long before they were seen as they carried the tune with them as they left the venue, while a collection of stragglers filled the emptying arena floor with infectious joy and dancing, immortalising the energy of the show long after the band left the stage. 

A career-defining night for the band, and an unforgettable journey for each person in that room.

Words: Heather Swift

Photos: Jack Walsh