"What? Scunthorpe?" was the general reaction that rattled around Twitter when our favourite Canadians confirmed that they'd be performing right here in the northern town. I mean, it's quite possibly the least Arcade Fire-y settings you could think of. Tinie Tempah hasn't even been. Yet, hot off the heels of previous European comeback shows in more typically romantic venues - one being a sun-kissed, pop-up performance backed by the beautiful Barcelona skyline, the other a French amphitheatre set in a 2000-year-old stone formation - the Montreal machine have gone for a wet Wednesday night in Scunny to mark their UK return. Not really as exotic, is it? 

But who cares? It's a brilliant move, and you've got to give it to the band for acknowledging that anywhere outside the capital exists. Most artists going down the not-so-secret show route are often hesitant to even step one foot outside of Shoreditch or Camden Town. One crowd member tonight suggests the location choice is down to the band's immersive 360 degree stage set up, which most venues can't accommodate. It's always a unique experience; an event. Arcade Fire make sure of that. 

Kitted out in multicoloured satin sports jackets - embroidered with the 'Everything Now' single logo - the band emerge from one side of the hall, having to make their way through the crowd to the square stage slap bang in the centre of the room.

 A dazzling performance of 'Everything Now' kicks things off, and it already feels like a fan favourite - an impressive feat considering that it's been out for less than a week. When the crowd are chanting to a flute part this enthusiastically, you're surely on to a winner. A beaming Regine Chassagne swaps the sparkling 80s keytar she's been brandishing for the opening track to take lead vocals on the tropical Funeral cut 'Haiti'. Win Butler - on bass duties - steps back and saunters to every side of the stage. And it's no easy task.

 With nine musicians crammed on to the platform, it takes some serious ducking and diving. The band are continuously rotating to different corners and switching instruments, which are offered up to the platform as if from nowhere. Seriously, where are they all coming from? It's a hot mess of colour, reflective gear and near collisions. "Will Butler, please report to the stage," a confused older Butler announces at one point, after his drum-bashing brother is apparently swallowed by the crowd.

The set takes a turn as we're offered a trio of tracks from Neon Bible. "This song kinda seemed like science fiction when we wrote it," Butler says of 'Black Mirror', which is given its first live airing since 2008. With references to political unrest and violence being broadcast on television, themes of this ominous track seem to carry new-found relevance at this frightening time we're living in. Neon Bible's sinister title track follows, before 'Ready To Start' revs up the party atmosphere once again. We're ready.

Locking into a four-song-long groove, it's here Arcade Fire really shine - despite Chassangne demanding that the lights are cut during the shimmering disco track 'Spawl II'. She twirls rainbow ribbons with joy as the track draws to a close and merges with the opening groove of 'Reflektor'. Bulter prowls the stage with an old school camcorder in hand, lit only by hundreds of iPhone torches, before drum and conga rhythms flow seamlessly into the epic New Order-inspired anthem 'Afterlife'. Treading further down a lit up Billie Jean dancefloor, 'We Exist' builds to an electronic and orchestral climax. 

New track 'Create Comfort' allows darkness to enter once again. Butler wants our blood. He's angry and confrontational, shouting the lyrics, "Sister's suicide, she thinks about dying all the time." Butler continues looking for trouble during Funeral classic 'Power Out', followed by 'Rebellion (Lies)'. 

Finding peace with a special stripped-back version of 'Wake Up', the frontman plays acoustic guitar after asking for the PA to be turned off - it's just about audible over the crowd chants. It's a special moment, to be sure. 

"We were gonna do an encore but there's nowhere to go," Butler smirks. "We're gonna do a new song." Circling the stage perimeter one last time, he delivers an almost Blondie 'Rapture'-style rap over the electronic handclaps and synth of 'Signs Of Life', before each member leaves the stage one by one. And Scunthorpe will forever be the place it was played first. What a night. 

Check out our full photo gallery here. 

Arcade Fire played:

Everything Now
Haïti
Here Comes the Night Time
No Cars Go
Black Mirror
Neon Bible
Ready to Start
Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels)
Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)
('Damian Taylor Remix' intro)
Reflektor
Afterlife
We Exist
Creature Comfort
Neighborhood #3 (Power Out)
Rebellion (Lies)
Wake Up
(acoustic)

Encore:
Signs Of Life