LIVE REVIEW: The Summer Set – Gorilla, Manchester – 14/11/2025

Manchester basked in a rare burst of pop-punk sunshine as The Summer Set returned to the city with a show that felt less like a tour stop and more like a celebration. Packing out Gorilla with a crowd already buzzing from the electric one-two punch of rising stars Fountain Island and US emotional-rock outfit Senses, the band walked into a room primed with anticipation and crackling energy. From the moment the lights dipped, there was a palpable sense that this wasn’t going to be a standard Friday night gig but a communal exhale, a gathering of fans who grew up on these songs and newcomers discovering them in real time. It was the kind of night where guitars felt sharper, voices louder, and every chorus seemed to lift the ceiling a little higher, setting the stage for a performance drenched in nostalgia, heart, and unfiltered joy.

Fountain Island wasted no time in lighting the fuse on the evening, exploding onto the stage with a burst of charisma that instantly pulled the room into their world. Their energy was sharp but unforced, the kind of natural stage presence that comes from a band both confident in their material and visibly thrilled to be playing it. Guitars shimmered with sunlit pop-punk brightness, drums punched through the room with crisp precision, and their choruses, instantly memorable, almost cheekily hook-laden, had the crowd mouthing along long before they knew the words. Between songs, the trio’s genuine gratitude for the turnout added another layer of warmth, and you could feel the audience leaning in, recognising a band on the rise. By the time they hit their standout track, Girl You Got Me, a buoyant rush of melody that sent ripples of movement through the floor, Fountain Island had fully shifted the room’s energy: the crowd wasn’t just warmed up, they were energised, smiling, and fully tuned to the frequency of a night built on joy, momentum, and the thrill of live music.

Next up were Senses, who stepped onto the stage with a mix of wide-eyed disbelief and electric purpose, their stunning vocals and immaculate energy instantly shifting the atmosphere from warm to euphoric. For a band playing their very first show not just in Manchester but on a first ever run in the UK, their set carried a sense of occasion, a feeling shared equally by the crowd, who welcomed them as though they’d been waiting years for this moment. They tore through their set with effortless pace, each track delivered with tight musicianship and a vocal performance so clear and emotionally charged it cut cleanly through the room. The audience responded in kind, dancing, shouting back lyrics, and embracing the band with an enthusiasm usually reserved for long-established favourites. Midway through, they paused to shout out their crew member Eric, whose name quickly turned into a full-venue chant, much to the band’s delight. And when they launched into a surprise cover of Chappell Roan’s Good Luck, Babe!, the room erupted, recognition sparking instantly, even among those unfamiliar with Senses themselves, and the entire crowd bursting into a joyous, unified singalong. Their set felt like a breakthrough in real time: a first Manchester show that already felt like a homecoming.

Then The Summer Set burst onto the stage, immediately detonating the room by kicking things off with For The First Time. The reaction was instant and overwhelming, the entire venue erupted into motion, dancing, screaming every word, and throwing themselves into the music with the kind of unrestrained joy that only a band with this much history can summon. Riding that energy, they delivered a perfectly balanced setlist that blended beloved classics with fresh tracks from their new album Meet Me At The Record Store, each received with the same feverish enthusiasm. Their chemistry was undeniable, tight and electric, and Brian Logan Dales’ charismatic presence tied everything together.

Between songs, Brian’s banter became its own highlight. He addressed why they weren’t playing fan favourite Back Together, explaining with a grin that the band is back together, and thriving, which led him into a run of breakup jokes that earned playful protests from the crowd. One of the night’s standout moments came with Miserable, when they invited Senses’ lead singer Madison Taylor to take on Jax’s feature verse. The collaboration hit like a spark, pulling cheers that felt like the walls might flex under the sound.

As the show rolled toward its finale, the band checked in to see who was experiencing their first The Summer Set gig. Promising to play something even those “dragged here by friends, partners…or enemies” would know, they launched into a euphoric cover of ABBA’s Mamma Mia, unleashing a full-venue singalong that transcended fanbases entirely. Later, they joked about skipping the usual “peek-a-boo” encore routine, only for the crowd to chant “one more song!” regardless. And in one last unforgettable moment during Chelsea, they brought a male fan onstage, cheekily renaming him Chelsea for the song, giving him (and everyone watching) a memory that will likely outlive the ringing in their ears.

By the end of the night, it was clear that this show was more than a stacked lineup, it was a celebration of connection, chemistry, and the kind of atmosphere only live music can summon. Fountain Island set the foundation with their bright, infectious energy, proving exactly why they are recognised as one of the most exciting new acts. Senses elevated the room further, turning their first-ever Manchester show into something genuinely special, their emotion-soaked vocals and radiant presence winning over the crowd in minutes. And The Summer Set tied it all together with a performance that felt both nostalgic and newly charged, feeding off a room that met them with open arms, raised voices. The atmosphere never dipped, it swelled, shifted, and intensified with each band, leaving the venue buzzing long after the final note. It was the kind of night that reminds you exactly why we gather in rooms like this: to feel something, to share it, and to walk out lighter than we walked in.

Words by Ell Bradbury