Valley (Manchester Academy 3)
I had been waiting years for this moment. Valley, a band I’ve had on repeat since 2020, were finally in the UK for the first time ever. And not just anywhere—Manchester, my hometown. The anticipation was high, the playlist section of my website is filled with their tracks, and I was finally seeing them live. Plus, I was going with my friend Erin, who I hadn’t seen in ages, so the night already had the makings of something special.
First up—Manchester Academy 3. I’d never been before and was curious to see if it lived up to the high standards set by Academy, Academy 2, and Club Academy. Walking in, I immediately loved the space. A small, intimate venue, but still big enough to hold a good crowd. Almost like a mini Manchester Academy (which, I know, is literally what it is—but still, Academy 2 is completely different, so let me have this). Drinks were reasonably priced for a music venue, meaning still extortionate but not "sell-a-kidney" expensive. We all know the drill at this point—venues need our money to stay open, so I’ll continue to hand over my cash for a double vodka Coke like the devoted gig-goer I am.
The night kicked off with Beaux, an emerging UK artist who was an absolute vibe. His voice? Fantastic. His band? Cool as hell. His songs? Definitely adding some to my rotation. I was such a huge fan of his sound, especially Suddenly, I’m Fine and Our House, and his personality and stage presence was great. He set the mood perfectly—a great opener that I’ll be delving into more.
Then came Valley. And my god, did they deliver. 21 songs. A setlist spanning their entire journey as a band. Every era represented, from old gems to brand-new anthems. The crowd? Absolutely in the moment. No pointless chatting, no half-hearted swaying—just pure energy.
Valley had us in the palm of their hands, and somehow, between bouncing indie pop hooks and emotional singalongs, they found time to ramble about periods, jet lag, and their long-overdue UK debut—and we all hung on every word.
I had spent the entire week leading up to the show obsessively listening to Break For You, crossing my fingers that it would make the setlist. I like to avoid looking up setlists in advance, keeping that element of surprise, and sure enough—they played it. And it was everything I hoped for. Another unexpected standout was Have a Good Summer (Without Me), which I now cannot stop listening to. Of course, there were a couple of heartbreakers—no Namedropper (my absolute fave), no Loop Love, and surprisingly, no Oh Shit…Are We in Love?—which is one of their biggest songs. But honestly? When a band plays 21 songs, you can’t really complain.
The way Valley swapped instruments mid-set—guitarists jumping on drums, drummers stepping up to the mic—just added to the energy. They were clearly having the time of their lives, and that feeling spread through the room.
This gig was the perfect way to kick off my 2025 gigs. One of my favorite bands, in my hometown, in a small, packed venue, with a massive setlist—what more could I ask for?
Valley, just one request—please don’t wait another eight years. I don’t think I could handle it.