MANCHESTER ACADEMY 1 – FEEL THE VENUE
Manchester Academy 1 was sold out and buzzing on Thursday night as Feeder returned to the city. The atmosphere before they came on was electric, with a real mix of long-time fans and young faces ready for a night of big choruses and loud guitars. Super fan Vinny was there too and helped me put this one together, his enthusiasm as infectious as the music itself. We grabbed a spot just as the lights dimmed, that familiar rush running through the crowd as the first chords rang out.
AND WE ARE ON – COMFORT IN SOUND
Feeder had promised to play their much-loved album Comfort in Sound in full, a record that not only marked a turning point in their career but also helped them find a way forward through loss after the tragic passing of drummer Jon Lee. For me, and clearly for so many in the room, this was the album that meant the most. I remember listening to it when it first came out, those songs hitting harder because they felt real and honest. To hear it now, front to back, with thousands of others singing every word, gave it a whole new weight.
Just the Way I’m Feeling and Come Back Around arrived early, and it felt like the Academy was shaking. Vinny was straight in, arms in the air, and I caught him yelling the choruses louder than I thought possible. Then came Helium and Child in You, two tracks that softened the mood. Grant’s voice was clear and warm, cutting through the noise of the room until you could almost forget how big the crowd was.
As the set rolled on, Forget About Tomorrow and Summer’s Gone stirred that early-2000s nostalgia. I glanced around and saw people smiling at each other knowingly, as if those songs had soundtracked moments in their own lives too. The heavier blasts of Godzilla and Quick Fade took us out of that reverie and back into full-on rock mode, heads nodding and feet stamping across the floor. Find the Colour, Love Pollution and Moonshine closed the album in style, each note underlining just how much Comfort in Sound still resonates twenty years later. Sharing it with the band and everyone in that packed hall felt like a collective moment of strength.
ENCORE – THE FAN FAVOURITES
The encore made it unforgettable. Grant walked out alone for an acoustic High, and the place fell silent apart from thousands of voices joining in. It was a goosebump moment, the kind of thing you know you’ll remember long after. Then came the surprise — Mark Richardson, back behind the drums, greeted by a roar of cheers. With him, Feeling a Moment and Pushing the Senses sounded reborn, the energy in the room climbing higher with every beat.
Finally, the big hitters. Buck Rogers exploded and had the entire Academy bouncing, beer flying and grins everywhere. And then Just a Day — pure chaos. The floor seemed to lift under the weight of so many people losing themselves in the music. Vinny turned to me mid-song with the biggest smile, shouting, “This is what it’s all about!” and he was right.
Feeder gave us more than a gig. They gave Manchester a night to treasure. An album born out of difficult times was played with passion, hope and strength, and the encore reminded us all why these songs still matter so much. Walking out into the night, ears ringing and voices hoarse, I felt that familiar post-gig glow. Some shows fade quickly from memory, but this one is going to stay with me for a very long time.
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