Riding high on their mid-week iTunes chart placement which saw their latest release ‘Fallen Skies’ reach number 5, (impressively sandwiched between Coldplay and Billy Eilish) Manchester’s Shade were in good spirits. Their eagerly anticipated headline show at Night and Day had attracted a lot of interest, and the band have clearly built up a strong and loyal fan base since they stormed onto the scene back in 2018.
Kicking off the evening after a last minute lineup change were four piece band Notion who have made an impact in a relatively short space of time, having sold out Manchester’s smaller venues in previous months. With a nod to early Courteeners, the lads performed a seamless set of anthemic guitar driven songs which certainly caught the attention of the indie mad crowd.
Second, on the bill were indie veterans Section 60. Hailing from Sheffield, the band impressed with a gritty guitar driven set which concluded with the beautiful song ‘FM’, most definitely a personal highlight of the evening. The lyrics were soulful and their frontman Chris clearly meant every word, with an impassioned performance drawing in the rapidly increasing crowd.
Tensions increased as did the audience as Shade made their way to the stage. Their personable relationship with their fans was endearing, roses were thrown onto the stage as the band entered to the song Octopus’s Garden and a hyped-up lead singer addressing us with a “How are we Manchester? Are we ready for a fucking good night?” They were.
Their set was tight, infused with melodic guitar solos and complex harmonies, Shade delivered. Frontman Luke was intense and clearly buzzing to be playing to a sold-out home crowd. The band absolutely bossed it and their chart release went down a storm.
It is clear why Shade are continuing to gain fans and build up a solid reputation within the indie scene. They are humble, driven, and determined and have a catalogue of catchy tunes that stir the crowd into a euphoric frenzy. This four piece are certainly heading in the right direction, with solid management from proud manager Georgina Robinson and very loyal fans.
Words and 📸 Credit Helen Millington
