Featured image and gallery: Rianna Ram
English Indie rock band The Rifles return to Manchester for the second night of their latest UK tour, celebrating their new album Love Your Neighbour. Joining them for a selection of shows are up-and-coming indie lads from Manchester, Rolla.
The crowd gather as Rolla kick-off with a bang. Each member of the band stares through a pair of sunglasses as they power through tracks like ‘Ease My Mind’ and ‘Hey You’.
As the anticipation grows, The Rifles emerge, greeted by a thunder of applause. From the first sound of the guitar, it’s clear this is going to be a night of indie bliss. The London-based Britpop band dive into their set, including tracks like ‘Local Boy’ and ‘Repeated Offender’, which bring about a sense of nostalgia throughout the room.
After seeing the band back in 2019 at Splendour Festival, I questioned whether they would be able to top that performance, but the energy in Academy 2 is infectious, with each member of the band feeding off the crowd’s enthusiasm. Frontman Joel Stoker takes over the stage with his effortless charm, displaying the chemistry between the members of the band.
As the night gradually comes to an end, the final chords of ‘Romeo & Juliet’ begin to play after a well-predicted encore, and it’s clear that The Rifles and Rolla have delivered an experience that will be remembered. As the concert draws to a final close, the band has proven once again why they’re one of the most beloved indie bands in the scene. They are definitely one to catch.
Featured image and gallery: Lucy Elson-Whittaker Sunday may signal the final day of Truck Festival 2026, but there’s still plenty to celebrate before the gates close for another year. From rising indie stars Keyside to the long-awaited return of Rizzle Kicks, festival favourites Circa Waves and headliners The Wombats, these are the performances that define…
Featured image and gallery: Lucy Elson-Whittaker It’s Saturday at Truck Festival 2026 and, somehow, the sunshine is still holding out. The weekend’s biggest day is packed with indie heavyweights as The Vaccines, Kaiser Chiefs and Two Door Cinema Club deliver the soundtrack to a generation. In between the nostalgia, Adult DVD provide the perfect excuse…
Featured image: Lucy Elson-Whittaker After CMAT’s unforgettable set on Thursday, you’d be forgiven for thinking that Truck Festival 2026 had already peaked. But with the weekend only just getting into its stride, there’s still plenty more to come. Friday is packed with a lot of artists worth catching, from The Love Buzz and My First…
Featured image: Press The gates have finally opened for Truck Festival 2026, and for the third-year running, the weather could not be more perfect. Beneath clear blue skies at Hill Farm, Oxfordshire, the iconic Ferris wheel is spinning once again, the Truck Monster is roaming the fields, and thousands of festival-goers waste no time filling…
Leave a reply