Manchester was treated to a night of sharp hooks, high drama and polished modern alternative as Rain City Drive and Honey Revenge rolled into the city on their co-headline tour. With Belmont kicking things off in typically frenetic fashion, the stage was set for a show built on contrast, glossy melodies meeting chaotic energy, pop sensibility colliding with post-hardcore bite. From the outset, the atmosphere hinted at something special, a crowd equally ready to jump, scream and sing along as two bands at very different but equally compelling points in their rise took centre stage.
Belmont opened the night with the kind of chaotic energy that immediately shook the room awake, making it especially fun to finally see them live after having previously reviewed their latest release, 2025’s EP Last To Love. They wasted no time whipping the crowd into shape, boldly encouraging movement with the tongue-in-cheek ultimatum, “you either get hit in the pit or you go home a bitch,” a line that sparked laughter and, more importantly, immediate action. Their songs were clearly well-known too, met with loud recognition and eager movement from the floor, which is always a rare and satisfying sight for an opening band. Watching Belmont be met with that level of enthusiasm felt like a win, proof that their momentum is real, and that Manchester was more than ready to give them the reception they deserved.
Rain City Drive was the undeniable personal highlight of the night, taking the stage with the confidence and swagger of a band playing somewhere that genuinely feels like home. With their name itself tied to Manchester, there was an extra sense of familiarity and connection in the room, and they leaned into it, feeding off the crowd from the very first note. Their performance felt expansive and celebratory, pulling from every era of their catalogue and stitching together a set that honoured both their roots and their evolution. Older tracks were met with huge cheers and nostalgia-fuelled singalongs, while newer material landed just as powerfully, drawing in newer fans who were just as vocal and invested. The energy never dipped, instead it built, song after song, as the band and audience pushed each other higher. It was bold, charismatic and deeply satisfying to watch, the kind of set that doesn’t just entertain, but reinforces exactly why a band earns such fierce loyalty from its fanbase.
Honey Revenge took to the stage with a burst of colour, confidence and unstoppable energy, immediately shifting the mood of the room in a way that felt both intentional and refreshing. As the most pop-forward act of the night, their set traded the earlier grit and intensity for movement, melody and pure vibes and somehow, it worked flawlessly. The floor turned from pits to dance circles, voices rose in unison, and the room felt lighter without losing any momentum. Their stage presence was genuinely electric, every beat met with sharp choreography, knowing glances and an effortless command of the crowd. It quickly became obvious that a large portion of the audience was there for them specifically, and Manchester responded in kind, going completely feral from the first song to the last. Seeing the self-proclaimed “bee band” thrive in the bee city felt like a perfect full-circle moment: joyful, chaotic and incredibly satisfying, closing out the co-headline tour on an unforgettable high.
By the end of the night, the Rain City Drive and Honey Revenge co-headliner felt like a perfectly balanced showcase of modern alternative music at its most alive. Belmont set the tone with raw, high-octane chaos, Rain City Drive delivered the emotional and musical core with hometown swagger, and Honey Revenge capped things off with pure, unfiltered joy. Each band brought something distinct, yet the night never felt disjointed, instead, it flowed like a celebration of how broad and exciting the scene had become. Loud, sweaty, emotional and fun in equal measure, it was the kind of show that leaves you buzzing long after the lights come up, reminding exactly why live music still hits so hard.
Words by Ell Bradbury
