Elbow, Cathedral, Manchester

A Mercury Award and two highly-successful albums means Elbow can do things on a grand scale these days. For so long the forgotten men of the Manchester music scene, the band are currently enjoying the kind of widespread acclaim they’d struggled to earn for many years. So much so, the five piece are able to perform this ‘homecoming gig’ in the majestic surrounds of Manchester Cathedral with the full support of the BBC, who broadcast it live on Radio 2 and TV.

Jo Whiley is on hand to offer as much praise as she can muster and a crowd of 1,000, who were lucky enough to secure the free tickets, pack inside the 15th century gothic venue. In the build up to the gig, lead singer Guy Garvey said it was an “honour” to the play in the building which made his “great city” a city. But the band seemed perfectly at ease in this grand setting, which he described as an “old meeting place”.

Garvey, known for his warm demeanour towards his audience, even attempts a bit of politics at one point by highlighting how such venues could bring people together despite “the media” trying to cause divisions in society. The cathedral is beautifully lit and despite it’s size the gig has intimate atmosphere, with the acoustics seeming to complement the band’s sound and the Halle Youth Choir accompanying them on several songs.

The set, perhaps inevitably, is dominated by songs from the triple-platinum ‘Seldom Seen Kid’ and latest album ‘Build A Rocket Boys’. Highlights include ‘Lippy Kids’, inspired by Garvey’s youth, and usual set-closer ‘One Day Like This’, which is included earlier due to the demands of the BBC’s broadcast times. The only disappointment was slightly down-tempo last half-hour, but old favourite ‘Station Approach’ was delivered with aplomb.

As Garvey points out, the band are currently celebrating 20 years in the business and have been enjoying “a year-long” party. Success has even led to a beer brewed in their honour. With triumphant performances like this, they’ll be enjoying many more big nights out.