Manchester’s Legends Return Home
Sometimes a gig does more than entertain—it rekindles a city’s soul. On August 24, 2024, New Order and Johnny Marr turned Wythenshawe Park into a pulsing tribute to Manchester’s deep musical roots. This wasn’t just another outdoor concert. It was a rare full-circle moment as New Order played their first headlining slot in nine months on home turf, and Johnny Marr—the guitarist whose riffs shaped generations—opened the night.
From the start, the energy felt different. The crowd, buzzing with anticipation, leaned in as Marr launched into solo numbers like ‘Easy Money’ and ‘Getting Away With It’. He wasn’t just running through the motions. He made time to connect, dedicating ‘There Is a Light That Never Goes Out’ to those in the crowd and to anyone who ever found solace in a song. The song, originally from The Smiths, landed with a punch, echoing through the park and uniting thousands in shared nostalgia and recognition.
Setlists of a Lifetime
If you thought Johnny Marr would play it safe as the support act, think again. He played each solo track like a headliner, and his guitar lines sounded as vital now as they did decades ago. When he closed out his set, it felt like a headline slot—leaving the audience visibly amped for what was to come.
Then New Order took the stage and reminded everyone just how colossal their influence is. Opening with ‘Academic’ from their 2015 album, Music Complete, they bridged the gap between past and present. The moment the first notes of ‘Crystal’ rang out, hands shot skyward. It was a reminder that some songs never lose their edge. The set ticked off essentials—‘Age of Consent’, ‘Regret’, and the iconic ‘Ceremony’. The band didn’t need fancy production or gimmicks; they let the music do the talking, highlighting how their synth-driven sound still dominates after all these years.
What really set the night apart wasn’t just the hits, but the history. There’s a deeper connection here—Marr and New Order’s Bernard Sumner once teamed up in Electronic, a supergroup that only dialed up their legend status. Moments like this blur boundaries; the crowd wasn’t just witnessing a concert but celebrating crossover legacies that shaped UK alternative music.
This show followed in the footsteps of other Manchester giants—Wythenshawe Park recently hosted Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, adding to its reputation as the city’s unofficial open-air hall of fame. From The Smiths and Oasis to James, Manchester has never stopped turning out icons, and nights like this make it crystal clear why.