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.
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