I knew The Hoosiers biggest hits, but arrived at Manchester’s O2 Ritz with little idea of just how extensive their catalogue was or quite how accomplished they would be live. What followed was an evening of wonderful surprises.
The Hoosiers brought an infectious mixture of musical brilliance, theatrical flair and good humour to a wonderfully lively Thursday night in Manchester. Even before they appeared, the friendly crowd was chanting Hoo! Hoo! Hoo!, creating a terrific atmosphere of anticipation.
Opening with ‘Sleeping With the Light On’ and ‘Lonely Together', the band immediately demonstrated that there was far more to them than the handful of hits I knew. Frontman Irwin Sparkes was a revelation, his powerful voice soaring into an extraordinary falsetto that occasionally brought Kate Bush to mind. His charismatic stage presence was matched by an easy connection with the audience, even venturing down onto the Ritz’s famous sprung dance floor to join them.
The quirky 'Making a Monster' and ‘Choices’ maintained the momentum before ‘Worried About Ray’ produced one of the night’s first enormous reactions. Sparkes barely needed to sing at times, happily allowing the audience to take over while the sprung floor bounced beneath hundreds of dancing feet. The crowd was clearly having the time of its life.
What really surprised me, however, was the sheer standard of musicianship. The band’s hugely talented multi-instrumentalist moved effortlessly between keyboards, keytar and cornet, the latter becoming an additional voice we didn’t know we needed. Its distinctive sound brought warmth, colour and unexpected flourishes to the arrangements, culminating in a sensational brass solo during 'Jigsaw Heart.' It was one of several moments that made me appreciate just how musically versatile this band is.
‘Run Rabbit Run' continued the playful energy, while a wonderfully reimagined cover of Chappell Roan’s 'Pink Pony Club' proved another huge crowd-pleaser. Bathed in glorious pink lighting, it featured an unexpected vocal contribution from the keyboardist and was delivered with the band’s characteristic sense of fun.
The lighting throughout was excellent, with dramatic red strobes, criss-crossing spotlights and vibrant colours enhancing the atmosphere without overwhelming the performances. Together with the band’s inventive arrangements, it made the evening feel like a proper show rather than simply a succession of songs.
The newer material was equally impressive. 'Automatic Glow' demonstrated their contemporary sound, while 'A Sadness Runs Through Him’ provided a striking contrast, beginning with a stark, stripped-back acoustic arrangement that allowed the song’s emotion to shine through. Then came ‘Multiply,’ bursting into life with a gloriously funky instrumental jam driven by punchy slap bass. The changes of pace were handled effortlessly.
A thrilling rendition of Gnarls Barkley’s ‘Crazy’ gave Sparkes another opportunity to showcase those remarkable soaring vocals before ‘Cops and Robbers’ sent the Ritz absolutely wild. With its punchy brass interlude and seemingly everyone dancing, it was a joyous explosion of energy. There was something wonderfully infectious about the sight of a packed Thursday-night crowd abandoning themselves so completely to the music. ‘Altitude’ continued the fun, while ‘Permission to Rest', from ‘Compassion', brought a more thoughtful moment. Dedicated to the audience with a heartfelt message about self-love and being kinder to ourselves, it offered a touching reminder that The Hoosiers can balance exuberant entertainment with genuine warmth and sincerity. Jigsaw Heart then provided another showcase for the band’s exceptional instrumental talents.
The main set concluded with a spectacular rearrangement of Billy Joel’s ‘We Didn’t Start the Fire’. Its beautifully layered vocal harmonies owed more to Queen’s theatrical grandeur than Billy Joel’s original recording, transforming a familiar song into something wonderfully distinctive. It was bold, ambitious and brilliantly executed.
Unsurprisingly, the audience weren’t ready to let them go. Their demands for an encore were rewarded with a theatrical medley that began in beautifully stripped-back fashion, moved into ‘Worst Case Scenario’ and finally exploded into the glorious 'Goodbye Mr A'. It was a thrilling, uplifting finale, and the perfect reward for a crowd that had given the band so much energy throughout the evening.
What struck me most was that this was no nostalgic run through a few familiar hits. The sheer breadth of the catalogue, extraordinary musicianship, beautiful harmonies and consistently imaginative arrangements were a genuine revelation.
I arrived as a Hoosiers virgin and left a fully-fledged fan. What a fantastic Thursday night in Manchester!
The Hoosiers are currently touring the UK promoting their new album, ‘Compassion.’
Reviewer: Kathryn Gorton
On: 8th October 2026
No comments:
Post a Comment