Wet Leg delivered an explosive headline set at Manchester’s summer gig hotspot, Castlefield Bowl, proving exactly why they’re one of Britain’s most compelling live bands. From the opening moments to a euphoric finale, the Isle of Wight five-piece transformed the amphitheatre into one giant singalong, with the energy spilling far beyond the venue itself.
By the time the band took to the stage for the biggest headline show of the tour, anticipation had reached breaking point. Smoke billowed across the stage before Rhian Teasdale launched straight into ‘Catch These Fists’, sending Castlefield Bowl into raptures. Every lyric was shouted back with unwavering confidence. Fans arrived in homemade Wet Leg merch, the venue was packed to the brim, and even people watching from overlooking apartment blocks and passengers waving from passing trains became part of the night’s atmosphere. One of the evening’s most wholesome moments came as cheers were exchanged between the crowd and people aboard the trains overhead, a reminder that live music has a way of bringing complete strangers together.
Few bands command a live audience quite like Wet Leg. A run of ‘Catch These Fists’, ‘Oh No’ and ‘Wet Dream’ made it impossible to look away before the cathartic release of ‘Ur Mum’ prompted thousands of voices to scream every word in unison. Judging by the volume, Manchester had needed a good scream.
Rhian Teasdale is a mesmerising frontwoman. Whether dragging a microphone stand behind her during ‘CPR’, kneeling mid-song, singing upside down or sitting for the more intimate moments, every movement felt deliberate. Her now-iconic bicep flex drew huge cheers, while the band’s confidence came from how naturally they dominated the stage and played off one another.
Before Wet Leg took over Castlefield Bowl, the evening had already been set up perfectly by two excellent support acts. Leeds indie rock outfit English Teacher continued the momentum started by Theatre with ease (unlike any English class I’d ever been to, mind you). Lead singer Lily Fontaine immediately commanded attention. Opening with ‘The World’s Biggest Paving Slab’, the band balanced jagged guitars and punchy tambourines with quieter moments soundtracked by keyboards and cello. They shifted seamlessly between angsty intensity and quiet contemplation, demonstrating the confidence of a band continuing to evolve. Their willingness to experiment felt like a testament to their growth, and this performance showed exactly why they have become one of the UK’s most exciting live acts. The audience matched the band’s energy from start to finish, greeting every song with cheers, clapping and singalongs. They were also treated to a preview of new material, with subtle electronic influences and flashes of ABBA-esque pop hinting at an exciting new direction for English Teacher.
The first of the night, Theatre, took to the stage with lead singer Maeve O’Shea. As trains full of eager fans arrived into Deansgate, Theatre filled the air with heavy vocals, angst and anticipation. Fresh from releasing two singles and an EP this year, the band showed exactly why they deserved attention. Blending folk and grunge, Theatre echoed the sounds of The Cure, weaving deep-cut lyrics and raw emotion into a set that effortlessly warmed up the audience.
Across all three performances, the evening celebrated the breadth of modern alternative music and women-fronted bands. Wet Leg capped it all off with a headline performance that felt as joyful as it was commanding, leaving Manchester with plenty to shout about.