The Cheap Thrills - Night & Day, Manchester — 22 Jan 2026

Three Liverpool Indie Acts Light Up a Packed Night in the Northern Quarter

Story by Beth Shubart

10/02/2026

The night belonged to three emerging Liverpool bands, bringing a bit of Merseyside energy across the M62. The Kowloons, Permanent Joy and The Cheap Thrills. Hosted by BBC's Chris Hawkins, the evening moved from synth-soaked intensity to guitar-pop singalongs, proving just how strong the Liverpool scene is right now.

Unfortunately we completely missed The Kowloons, which still stings considering the hype floating around the room. We’ll catch them doing their headline show soon though.

Permanent Joy kicked off their set around 8:50, bringing a heavy, bass-driven sound that immediately filled the venue. Their setup was classic indie chaos: multiple mics, Fender guitars everywhere, and a synth underpinning everything with an analogue warmth.

The crowd seemed especially into “Luck,” their latest single, and an older favorite “Airplane”.

There was a looseness to the performance, like the band was teetering right on the edge of losing control, but in the best way. The bass was massive, almost overwhelming at times, and the whole thing felt raw and real.

By the time The Cheap Thrills hit the stage at 9:45, the room was fully locked in. People around the room shouted lyrics back with total devotion.

Musically, they were tight, loud, and incredibly fun — short, punchy songs mostly under three minutes, no filler. The instrumentation was pure indie eye-candy: Jazzmasters, pink Fender bass, Roland keys, and a drummer who absolutely powered the whole thing forward.

Highlights included a new track that got a big reaction, plus slower moments like “There With You,” giving the set a bit of emotional breathing space before launching back into full party mode.

The closing stretch was pure joy. The crowd sang along to “We’re Not Going Home” like it was an anthem, before ending on “Codependence,” leaving the room sweaty, smiling, and wanting more.

Grassroots indie is alive, thriving, and loud — and Liverpool bands are very much leading the charge.