Himalayas are quickly taking the scene by storm, recently hitting the road with rock giants like Foo Fighters and Welsh favourites Kids In Glass Houses. Hot on the heels of their explosive new album Bad Star, a headline tour felt not just inevitable—it was essential. I had the chance to catch them at the iconic Bread Shed in Manchester, a venue known for its gritty charm and intimate atmosphere. The moment the band hit the stage, the energy in the room was electric. Himalayas have always delivered an unmistakable vibe—raw, powerful, and undeniably tight. Their bold, crunching riffs filled every corner of the room, while their commanding presence turned the night into something far bigger than the venue itself. It was loud, it was intense, and it was exactly what live rock should feel like.
Before Himalayas took to the stage, the night kicked off with two incredible support acts—starting with Manchester-based duo Body Water, made up of Cerys and Eli. The self-described horror rock duo wasted no time grabbing the crowd’s attention, launching straight into fan favourite Taste. With a sound that’s equal parts catchy and theatrical, Body Water have truly cracked the code for live performance. Their music channels the spirit of ’80s rock while still sounding fresh and fiercely current, layered with horror-inspired themes and storytelling that bring to mind The Rocky Horror Picture Show—but in the best, most authentic way. The pair encouraged crowd participation, rallying the room into a chant for their track Will You Be My Frankenstein. While the crowd response wasn’t the loudest, that certainly wasn’t down to Body Water—their immersive, high-energy performance made a strong impression and firmly established them as a band to watch. They were a perfect, powerful opener for the night ahead.
Following Body Water, PAVÉ took to the stage and brought a completely different kind of energy—sharp, moody, and irresistibly magnetic. Hailing from Manchester, the band exudes a quiet confidence that instantly draws you in. Their set blended gritty post-punk textures with emotionally charged vocals, creating an atmosphere that felt both raw and refined. Tracks like Whatever The Cost and Crowded Isolation showcased their ability to balance intensity with introspection, and their tight musicianship didn’t go unnoticed. There’s a darkness to PAVÉ’s sound, but it’s delivered with such precision and purpose that it becomes completely absorbing. A captivating performance that left the room buzzing and perfectly set the stage for the chaos to come.
Then came what we had all been waiting for when Welsh rockers Himalayas brought the firepower to the stage. Touring in support of their latest record Bad Star, the band wasted no time asserting their place as one of the UK’s most formidable rising forces in modern rock, they launched straight into Beneath The Barrel—a ferocious opener that felt more like a statement of intent than a song. From the first blast of guitar, it was clear: the band came to dominate.
One of the biggest moments of the night came when the band played Leave This Place” an older tune from their early days. The crowd’s reaction was immediate and electric—cheers erupted, fans at the front screamed every word like muscle memory, and the pit surged forward in pure nostalgia-fueled euphoria. You could feel the emotional connection in that moment. Leave This Place might not be on the latest record, but live, it proved timeless. That ability to shift gears from present-day fury to legacy-building memory shows how far Himalayas have come.
New material from Bad Star hit hard live. Surrender, a clear standout, carried extra weight in person—its driving riff anchoring a searing vocal performance that dared the room not to sing along. Tracks like Hung Up and What If…? pulsed with urgency, blending political unrest with personal frustration in the best tradition of British rock. Older crowd-pleasers weren’t forgotten either. When they launched into Thank God I’m Not You, the room erupted. Phones were ditched, fists raised. It’s moments like that when you realise the band isn’t just cultivating hype—they’re building loyalty. The Bread Shed crowd, around 400 strong, gave it back just as hard. This wasn’t a passive audience—they were locked in, mouthing lyrics, jumping on cue, and feeding off every decibel. Himalayas didn’t just play to them; they connected, grinned at the madness, leaned into it. There’s something about seeing a band on the cusp, still sweating it out in a small venue, that makes you believe in rock and roll all over again.
And of course lets not forget the encore anytime soon, they kicked it off with Twisted Reflections, a dark, spiraling track that showcased their more brooding side, before launching into the thunderous From Hell To Here—a towering anthem that felt like it could blow the roof clean off. The entire room felt like one big moshpit at this point, the vibes perfect. But the real curveball came last: a feral, riff-heavy remix of Coolio’s Gangsta’s Paradise. It was unexpected, bold, and somehow completely perfect, the crowd exploded one last time. It was the kind of encore that sends you home buzzing—shocked, grinning, and fully converted.
By the end of the night, there was no doubt: Himalayas aren’t just building momentum, they’re igniting it. This wasn’t a band going through the motions; it was a band grabbing their moment with both hands and refusing to let go. From the opening roar to the wild, genre-bending encore, their Manchester set was tight, fearless, and unforgettable. If they keep delivering like this, venues like The Bread Shed won’t be able to hold them for long. Catch them now while you can still feel the floor shake beneath your feet, Himalayas are truly made for bigger stages and i have a feeling we will see them there very soon.
Words by Ell Bradbury
Photos by Dean Cavanagh (Instagram)
