Courteeners closing the Big Top - Photo By Beth Stimpson
If Thursday was all about pop-rock dazzle, Friday was all heart and swagger — and Courteeners ruled the night. As the sun dipped behind Earlham Park, the Manchester indie icons stepped onto the Big Top stage to roaring cheers. Their opening track, Are You in Love with a Notion?, sparked immediate connection, Liam Fray’s gravelly delivery slicing straight through the warm air.
From there, the band launched into a set that spanned their catalogue with electric precision: the urgent Cavorting, the emotionally balanced Acrylic, and the synth-tinged punch of Modern Love. Hanging off Your Cloud and Pink Cactus Café added fresh texture, while the reflective “solo” moment with It Must Be Love (a Labi Siffre cover) showed their softer side.
The night crescendoed with festival favourites Not Nineteen Forever — delivered with singalong fervour — and closed in euphoric chaos with What Took You So Long?, leaving the Big Top ringing with chants and applause. Fray, visibly moved, turned to the crowd and said, “Norwich, you’ve made this feel like Manchester on a Saturday night” — and they meant every word.
The Lathums set the stage earlier with warm, melodic charm — How Beautiful Life Can Be echoed across the crowd with nostalgic glow. Reverend & The Makers flipped the vibe into high-energy Sheffield groove, with Heavyweight Champion of the World bringing the tent to its feet. The Lemonheads offered a nostalgic breather with a heartfelt Into Your Arms.
Emerging talent, Brooke Combe, The Rosadocs, and October Drift held the momentum all afternoon with brimming energy.
Norwich’s own rising stars more than held their own against the heavyweight names of the bill. Pleasure Inc. lit up the Big Top stage with disco-punk mischief – playing their biggest stage yet. Arthur Black delivered bluesy swagger steeped in hometown grit — even catching the eye of The Lemonheads’ frontman Evan Dando, who made his way to the barrier to dance and cheer along to every song — while Gabby Rivers stunned with a set full of razor-sharp pop hooks and indie edge. Together, they proved that the city’s next generation can stand shoulder to shoulder with the festival’s headliners.
On the Electric Carousel stage, the energy ran just as high. Emerging artists and local treasures alike lit up the space with discovery around every corner — a perfect flow of music for the curious festivalgoer.
By the time Courteeners left the stage, both band and audience were glowing — it wasn’t just a headline performance; it was a defining moment for the festival.
Pop Scoop founder and editor. Ex showbiz/tech editor at the Cyprus Mail. Former sub-editor at Archant. Former art director Sky TV. Co-founder of Kool Magazine and freelanced for the BBC, Channel 4, Warner Bros and the Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation.
