On Friday 6 November, Courteeners burst onto the stage at Leeds’ First Direct Arena.

By Alex Dunton

Photos by Kitty Holland-Kennett

The night marked the opening of their UK-wide tour, and for a band with its roots firmly planted in Greater Manchester, choosing Leeds as the starting destination felt like a fitting decision. The tour also gave them the opportunity to promote their best-of album, God Bless the Band, released in August this year. With doors opening at 6 pm, the arena was already heaving with a mixture of long-standing fans and a younger generation, perhaps introduced to the band through the Britpop and indie revival currently sweeping social media. For a band approaching twenty years together, their ability to sell out an arena of this size is certainly something worth noting.

At around 7 pm, the first support act, The Guest List, took to the stage, performing to an increasingly enthusiastic crowd. A relatively new band, formed in 2021 by lead vocalist Cai Alty and his school friends, they are an exciting example of the emerging talent coming out of the North. With their debut album, Something Real, released on 28 August 2026, it was genuinely heartwarming to see Courteeners give such a large platform to local talent, highlighting their Northern roots and refreshingly down-to-earth attitude.

The crowd, myself included, were particularly impressed by the song Weatherman. Exploring themes of climate change while drawing on the sounds of 1990s indie, the track offered an interesting combination of modern subject matter and vintage influences. With clear nods to bands such as Oasis and The Stone Roses, the mix of contemporary themes and familiar indie sounds made for an impressive performance. Their choruses were delivered with such authority that you could easily believe they had been captivating arenas their entire lives. It was a seriously strong start for such an up-and-coming band.

After a brief twenty-minute changeover, The Lathums’ frontman Alex Moore lit up the arena, which was still filling up with more and more fans. His charm and charisma, combined with the sweeping vocals of the band’s songs, immediately captured the audience’s attention. Their classic track Fight On was met with rapturous applause and plenty of singalongs from an already captivated crowd.

Alex Moore’s vocals were particularly impressive, ranging from an almost indie-folk, ballad-like performance to moments of real power, perfectly contrasting with the sheer energy of the indie-rock instrumentals played by the incredibly talented band. The Lathums delivered incredible singalong indie, with such a strong stage presence that they almost stole the show, but certainly stole the hearts of the crowd.

Coming on at 9 pm to raucous applause and a beautifully illuminated stage, Courteeners finally took their place in front of the Leeds crowd. Twenty years after their beginnings, the band showed exactly why they have maintained such a loyal following. Lead singer Liam Fray’s vocals were powerful enough to fill an arena twice the size, opening with Are You in Love With a Notion? and immediately setting the tone for the night.

The band played a variety of hits, ranging from their earliest releases to their more recent material, alongside a few deeper cuts. As a relatively recent fan, there were some songs I hadn’t heard before, but the amount of love they received from the crowd was unmistakable. The band has managed to cultivate a fanbase that remembers who they were twenty years ago, when they were just starting out with a handful of songs, while still keeping up with their more recent releases. Maintaining that level of connection with an audience over two decades is no easy feat.

My personal favourite moment of the night showcased a different side to the band’s talent. Amid the rip-roaring indie-rock hits, the acoustic section provided a welcome change of pace. In particular, Hanging Off Your Cloud beautifully displayed Liam Fray’s vocal abilities, which have clearly matured over the years but certainly haven’t weakened with age. It was a lovely reminder that, beyond the big choruses and energetic performances, there is a real musical depth to the band.

Courteeners are obviously a band that have thrived for twenty years partly because of their crowd. When it comes to interaction, energy and atmosphere, the audience was electric. People were dancing throughout, and even those in the seated sections were on their feet. There wasn’t a static moment for much of the evening.

However, this level of energy did lead to a few instances of rowdiness and medical issues within the crowd, which the frontman himself had to address. The show was stopped a number of times to allow medical assistance to reach those who needed it, alongside a few unfortunate instances of beer being thrown towards staff. While these moments were disappointing, they didn’t take away from the enthusiasm of the majority of the audience.

Regardless of this, the crowd was clearly having a fantastic time. Courteeners are, at heart, a crowd-pleasing band, and they know exactly how to deliver a performance that their fans want. Technical issues were laughed off, and any setbacks were taken in their stride. After all, God Bless the Band!

Closing the night with their most famous hit, Not Nineteen Forever, the band delivered the perfect ending. Whether you were a lifelong fan, someone dragged along by a family member, or simply there for the hell of it, it was impossible not to get caught up in the atmosphere. The song transformed the arena into something resembling a packed-out dancefloor or Northern pub, with a crowd full of energy singing along to every word.

If this performance is anything to go by, Courteeners’ latest UK tour has certainly started with a bang. Nearly twenty years into their career, they are still bringing generations of fans together through their love of indie music, proving that their appeal is far from fading. There is more than enough fuel left in the tank for the rest of the tour, and if Leeds was anything to go by, it will certainly finish with a bang too.

Courteeners played at First Direct Arena, Leeds on Friday 6 November 2026.