I finally saw some live music

It’s been around 18 months since I saw live music.

Sat bang in the middle of Manchester Central awaiting Arlo’s headline performance at MIF, the opening drum beat made me jump out of my seat, such was the noise of it – I’d forgotten to bring my earplugs. 

Opening with ‘Hurt’, goosebumps rose in a cliched fashion, despite sweat pouring from my forehead due to the humidity inside the venue. Old cuts such as ‘Cola’, ‘Super Sad Generation’ and ‘Romantic Garbage’ were intertwined with album anthems ‘Portra 400’, ‘Euguene’ and ‘Black Dog’, every track met with a rapturous applause by a crowd whom for many it was their first concert in a long, long time.

Witnessing these songs live highlighted the clarity in which Arlo delivers her lyrics, and this enhances their meaning. The intelligence with which these songs were penned demonstrates why she has risen so quickly from a newcomer to one of the best artists Britain has to offer. Telling stories in such depth, accompanied with a catchy hook that gets your toes and head bobbing, is a talent very few possess – but at Manchester Central on Friday night, Arlo Parks proved she has it and more. 

Switching between signing, rapping and spoken-word , Arlo Parks used everything in her armoury throughout the show, even bringing out RNCM students to add a string section to several songs – at one point I counted approximately 17 people on stage.

It was during personal favourites ‘Caroline’ and ‘Hope’ where I was reminded why I love live music so dearly. Partly because, during the former, a woman behind me declared ‘Oh, I know this one!’, demonstrating the eclecticism you can find in any audience, ranging from the casual fan to the diehard. But these songs also demonstrated how concerts are a celebration: a celebration of great music, of Arlo Parks, of the LGBTQ+ community, of those suffering from mental health issues but continuing to battle through each day, finding happiness even if just for a moment.

Arlo Parks’ music helped me get through the darkest part of lockdown. Her lyrics allowed me to make sense of the bad days and reminded me that it’s normal to feel that way. 

On record, Arlo Parks turns lyrics about depression, anxiety and heartbreak into something euphoric, acknowledging how central these feelings are to our experiences as humans. On stage, she celebrates these imperfections with her seven-person strong band, all dancing along to every beat and pouring positivity onto the crowd.

Live music is a drug. The withdrawal has been intense, but I’m more than ready to relapse.

Listen to Arlo Parks on Spotify and Apple Music. Grab a copy of our print magazine HERE.