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СпутникиРНSpaceXРоскосмосNASAThe Smiths great Johnny Marr played his biggest headline solo show to date when he took to the stage at Castlefield Bowl on Thursday
08:55, 10 Jul 2026Updated 08:59, 10 Jul 2026
Johnny Marr treated Manchester to something rather special during his big homecoming party in the city. The Smiths legend performed to a sold out Castlefield Bowl on Thursday evening as part of the Sounds of the City summer series in the biggest solo headline show of his career.
His latest run of gigs, which kicked off in Leeds earlier this week, comes ahead of the release of Marr’s fifth studio album The Age of Everything - due to be released in October.
A golden sunshine, which is becoming somewhat typical Manchester weather, glistened down over the industrial structures around the bowl. Many, many devotees were waiting eagerly outside before gates opened at around 5pm to secure themselves a place on the steps, which regularly become makeshift seats on gig nights.
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Given their well-documented disputes, unsurprisingly, former bandmate Morrissey was not one of those desperate to catch the show.
The Clockworks and Manchester favourites Everything Everything opened proceedings. The latter performed Kemosabe, No Reptiles, Pizza Boy and Distant Past with lead Jonathan Higgs and the rest of his collective dressed in rather snazzy matching yellow ensembles.
Just before 9pm, with the crowd and the residents in the flats above Sapporo Teppanyaki all in position, the iconic Marr took to the stage. An airing of Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One Before, being the first of many Smiths singalongs, kicked things off before Marr’s dance number Armatopia impressed the packed crowd at the Manchester city centre venue.
Marr, 62, quickly dispensed with his denim jacket, declaring: “Hello Manchester, still Mancunian are we?” Sprinkled throughout the 20-song emphatic set were teasers of what’s to come from The Age of Everything. These included Spin, All in a Life and It’s Time which were well-received.
But, of course, for many, it was the Smiths classics, so synonymous with music in our city, which prompted the most glee from those in the bowl. This Charming Man, forever a dancefloor filler at the neighbouring 42s, was one of the evening’s highlights.
Such was the jubilant response, Marr, at the end of it, joked: “Thank you, good night.”
The always emotive Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want came as the night’s sky transitioned to darkness. Trains passing by caught a brief glimpse of the special night in Manchester, with Marr stating: “This is a nice spot for a concert.”
While there’s no denying Morrissey’s vocals helped make Smiths songs so distinctive, there’s something quite captivating in the new life Marr’s much softer and gentler style brings to them (perhaps, a fitting wider point buried in there somewhere).
Additionally, Marr is one of the most masterful guitarists of his generation, with a style which is instantly-recognisable and the Manchester City fan had lots of room to express himself during a pulsating rendition of Getting Away With It, the Electronic hit he put together with Bernard Sumner, of New Order, and Pet Shop Boys' Neil Tennant.
The song's lyrics ‘however I look, it’s clear to see, I love you more than you love me’ rumbled around Castlefield Bowl as a conveniently placed disco ball sparkled and Marr, who has worked with The Cribs and Modest Mouse among other bands, flexed his guitar off his shoulders as he strutted around the stage - before he raised it high above his body.
Fans were equally receptive - screaming ‘Johnny, Johnny! Johnny f**king Marr!’ in appreciation. The enthralling party feeling present all the way through to the conclusion of the gig’s main set thanks to a run of Bigmouth Strikes Again, Marr solo fave Easy Money and How Soon Is Now? closing.
Loud cheers echoed all around as the night’s star returned to the stage which had his name proudly emblazoned on it. Panic, a staple of Smiths discos at The Star and Garter for countless years, swiftly started the three-song encore off.
A dazzling cover of Iggy Pop’s The Passenger impressed while, the masses, came together as one, for the final Smiths singalong as There Is a Light That Never Goes Out brought the curtain down on a stunning homecoming from Johnny, Johnny f**king Marr.
Taking in the adulation, the appreciative great ended his set with an emotive message: “It means so much to me.”
Star rating: 4/5
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