Photo: WENN/Rick Caughey
Today, Arctic Monkeys announced their biggest non-festival UK headline shows to date with two nights at London's massive Finsbury Park next May. After a show-stopping and pretty historic headline set at Glastonbury this summer, one can't help but wonder where Alex Turner and co go from here?
With over 80,000 people to entertain over two nights, this is definitely one of the biggest challenges of their career. From four spotty lads from Yorkshire to indie rock's most dominant force, Arctic Monkeys have come a long way, but still have much to prove.
As Monkeys' fans around the country gear up to battle for tickets to the hottest event of 2014 so far, we take a look at what we should expect from Arctic Monkeys at Finsbury Park.
1. An epic (but modest) stage show
Arctic Monkeys are famed for having a 'no tricks' approach to music and playing live. There are no dubstep electro breakdowns, no dancing robots or daft lazer special effects. They just let the music do the talking without using props as a crutch. It's just pure rock n' roll entertainment. However with a capacity of over 40,000, Finsbury Park is going to demand something a little more grand than just a massive 'AM' in lights. Expect the Monkeys to use this occasion to put on something pretty epic, without being too extravagant.
2. Alex Turner: Rock God
There has been much speculation as to whether Yannis from Foals' dig at bands with 'Elvis impersonations' at the Q Awards last month was aimed at Alex Turner or not. Either way, as Turner steps up to the plate for the biggest non-festival headline gig of their career expect a lot of furled-lips, hip-shaking and hip-shaking. It's fair to say that Turner's newfound swagger and bravado will feed off the electricity of the Finsbury Park thousands. After all, the biggest band in the world need to be fronted by the biggest rock star in the world. Are we right?
3. All sides of the Monkeys embraced
Third album Humbug split opinion upon its release, due to the departure from scratchy disco indie to psychedelic desert rock. However, the band's evolution into an almighty rock n' roll beast since them has put the tracks into new context. Expect 'Cornerstone', 'Crying Lightning' and 'Pretty Visitors' to sound bigger and better than ever as the 40,000-strong Finsbury massive holler them back, while 'I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor' and 'When The Sun Goes Goes Down' sit perfectly in the context of a cannon of classics. They've surpassed trends to a fully-formed well-rounded rock phenomenon. The Monkeys' evolution is now complete, without compromise. 
4. Special guests and collaborations
Alex Turner's Last Shadow Puppets partner Miles Kane popping up to guest on the brilliant set-closer of '505' has become somewhat of a tradition. With Kane supporting, it would be more than a little bit rude for it to not happen at Finsbury Park. Fingers crossed that they repeat their Glastonbury duet of 'Standing Next To Me' too. Also, it seems pretty likely that Bill Ryder-Jones will make an appearance as he has throughout the AM tour. Guest spots from fellow Steel City hero Richard Hawley and desert-botherer Josh Homme are less likely, but one can dream...
5. History is made
We recently interviewed DJ Zane Lowe and asked who our generation's Nirvana were - you know, that band whose sound defined a generation. His answer: Arctic Monkeys. AM is already a classic and marks the band's biggest and most ambitious assault on the music world - expect this tour to cement them as not only the biggest, but truly the best band in Britain. After their career-defining headlining spot at Glastonbury last year, expect Finsbury Park to be the moment that Arctic Monkeys rule the day and seize the throne as Britain's biggest band.
Arctic Monkeys plus special guests Tame Impala, Miles Kane and Royal Blood will play London's Finsbury Park on Friday 23 and Saturday 24 May, 2013.
Tickets go on sale at 10am on Friday 22 November, 2013. For more information visit Gigwise gig tickets.
Below: Exclusive photos of Arctic Monkeys live in Manchester, 2013
