Clean Bandit @ Manchester Academy 2

Review: Clean Bandit @ Manchester Academy 2

Clean Bandit lit up the gloomy Manchester night sky on Tuesday with their technicolour performance at the Manchester academy 2.

Clean Bandit lit up the gloomy Manchester night sky on Tuesday with their technicolour performance at the Manchester academy 2, which despite the wintery weather outside saw the venue full to capacity with an audience of all ages.

After being left incredibly disappointed with their wash-out rather than sell-out performance at the mud bath that was YNOT! Festival- which turned out to be a DJ Set consisting of just four songs- I was desperate to see the electronic pop group again and give them the chance to redeem themselves. So when I saw that their 2017 Tour included a show at our very own Manchester Academy I couldn’t hide my excitement and knew I had to be there.

Performing all their best selling hits including “Tears” and “Rockabye”, Clean bandit definitely brought the party to what otherwise would have been a tedious Tuesday night. As the sixth and final show of their 2017 UK tour, the expressive nature and creativity of their music was reflected through the shows staging which used multi-coloured lights, smoke machines, pyrotechnics and confetti canons to ensure the atmosphere in the Manchester academy was nothing short of electric.

Band members include cellist and singer Grace Chatto, bassist Jack Patterson and drummer Luke Patterson who all took over the packed out venue accompanied by special guest vocalists Yasmin Green and Kristin Childs who gave the original collaboration artists such as Jess Glynn and Anne Marie a run for their money. 

Throughout their hour-long set, the band constantly expressed their exhilaration to be in Manchester, with Grace during the show taking to centre stage to introduce their next song, and saying:

 

“We always have an amazing time here in Manchester and we’ve actually all got family here tonight who live in Manchester and around so thank you guys for being here”

 

“Now the next song we’re gonna play for you is about music and love and how we appreciate music and art in general and how that can change depending on the person you’re in love with and its called symphony”

 

 A message which was met by a rush of excitement and screaming from the already enthusiastic crowd.

The talented trio first came together in 2008 whilst studying at Jesus College, University of Cambridge with former band mate Neil Amin-smith, who left the group in October last year.

Their unique blend of classical instruments and electronic melodies saw them quickly rise to fame with their first hit single in 2014 ‘Rather Be’; a fun mixture of upbeat sounds an catchy vocals from Jess Glynn, going on to win them a Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording in 2015.

Clean Bandit’s Manchester show brought the groups UK tour to a triumphant conclusion following previous shows at Cambridge Corn Exchange, 02 Academy Newcastle and the Eventim Apollo, Hammersmith, London. However, from what I experienced of the band in Manchester, its clear that it didn’t matter which venue you attended “There’s no place I’d ( or you’d) rather be” *drops mic*.