Bloc Party, Warehouse Project, Manchester

Feeling like we’re about to go into the Big Brother house for the sheer amount of security and sniffer dogs that stood at the door, we approach The Warehouse Project, Manchester, with intrigue and anticipation waiting to see Bloc Party. As the warehouse name suggests, we’re surrounded by breeze blocks and scaffolding, something which seemed very fitting with the welcoming of Bloc Party.

Supported by the happy-go-lucky Theme Park, who bring sunshine and dancing with a skip in their step that lightens the party, and prior to this Plaitum, took the stage donning a Skrillex fringe. Shocked by how young they really were their sound is dark, ominous and mature that matched the warehouse setting - just a shame it wasn’t loud enough.

The venue’s gritty and dirty interior is then brightened by Kele Okereke’s blue and yellow Hawaiian themed shirt as they open their set with ‘Octopus’, the first single from their latest album Four. A reunion that many people were unsure would happen, they play through a catalogue of new and old songs with highlights including ‘Banquet’, ‘This Modern Love’, ‘The Prayer’ and latest single ‘Kettling’. Revelling in the Rihanna cover ‘We Found Love’ before delving into the electro party track ‘Flux’, the atmosphere is electric. It’s been suggested that they weren’t the best of friends after the band went on a three year hiatus and Kele soldiered on alone, but the music here is as solid as ever going back to their guitar-based roots. Jumping to the beat of a topless Matt Tong, rock is back on the agenda as an ambush of fans flooded in to see the foursome.

Advised to wear tatty shoes to the gig, everyone leaves the warehouse feet caked in mud but ears pounding with the sounds of anthems from days gone by and future tunes from the London lot. Playing well over an album’s worth of music it is like going down memory lane with the band, through their electronic stage and going full circle hammering out what they do best.