Few bands can command a room quite like The Hoosiers, and their performance at Manchester’s O2 Ritz proved exactly why they remain such a beloved live act almost two decades into their career.
Before the main event, support band Honey Buzz did an admirable job of warming up the crowd. The indie-rock outfit brought plenty of energy and charm to the stage, delivering a confident set packed with infectious hooks and bright melodies. By the time they left the stage, the audience was more than ready for what was to come.
The Hoosiers opened with a crackling radio soundbite before bursting onto the stage with an energy that set the bar for what was to continue for the rest of the evening.
Frontman Irwin Sparkes wasted no time diving into the crowd. Wandering through the audience as fans sang every word back to him, he soaked up the atmosphere while grinning from ear to ear. Leaning against the barrier at the end of the song, he cheekily called up to the rest of the band to ask what came next.
When drummer Alan Sharland asked what it was like down in the crowd, Sparkes replied that he loved it and had already received plenty of hugs. He went on to declare Manchester his favourite crowd of the tour, quickly adding that it didn’t mean the other audiences had been shit.
Huge cheers greeted the announcement that the band have now been together for 19 years. Even louder was the reaction when they promised they’d be back next year to celebrate 20 years of The Hoosiers.
New material sat comfortably alongside old favourites, while a handful of unexpected covers kept the set fresh. A joyful rendition of Chappell Roan’s Pink Pony Club, dedicated to everyone in the spirit of inclusivity, was a particular highlight. Elsewhere, part of Gnarls Barkley’s Crazy blended seamlessly into Cops and Robbers, while a harmony-rich, stripped-back take on Billy Joel’s We Didn’t Start the Fire showcased the band’s musical versatility.
The encore was greeted with deafening cheers and demands for more. Returning to the stage, the band dipped into a couple of tracks from new album Compassion before launching into Worst Case Scenario. The night reached its peak with a huge singalong to Goodbye Mr A, the entire room seemingly united in one voice.
Even then, the band didn’t appear ready to leave. As fans slowly began filtering out into the rain-soaked Manchester night, the four musicians stayed on stage for an impromptu dance party to Lionel Richie’s All Night Long, bringing an end to proceedings with the same warmth and playfulness that had defined the evening.
For a band often associated with sunshine-pop hooks, The Hoosiers remain a remarkably dynamic live proposition. Their set balanced disco-infused anthems with more thoughtful, reflective moments, all delivered with infectious enthusiasm. Nineteen years on, they still make it look effortless.
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Photography and Review by Kristy Eighteen
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