Defiant Mancunians came in droves to Manchester Arena to be the first to step through the gates since May’s terrorist attack at the Ariana Grande concert on 22 May.
The likes of Noel Gallagher, The Courteeners, Peter Kay and Greater Manchester’s mayor made appearances on a night that mixed in live music with speeches.
It was a night where ecstasy met with poignancy and one where the celebration of Manchester's culture and reaction to the tragedy were acknowledged.
In-between performing, Manc Grime MC Bugzy Malone said: "we're the bravest city in the world" while boxing superstar Ricky Hatton said the city's reaction to the attack "made him feel prouder to be from Manchester”.
Meanwhile, Peter Kay, who worked at the venue before becoming a hit writer and comedian and was introducing Noel, gave wise words of encouragement: “We must move forward with love, not hate”.
In true Kay fashion, the comedian lightened things up with digs at Noel, saying High-Flying Birds sound like “a crap puppet show” before going, “All the way from London, Noel Gallagher.” Liam will have laughed at that.
As for Noel Gallagher and the High-Flying Birds' headline set, it was studded with Oasis classics. It seemed Noel's personal taste and feeling about what song's he's into was put to one side and he gave people what they want to hear.
A visibly moved Noel dedicated 'Half A World Away' to the Manchester-based sitcom “and Manchester’s favourite family” The Royle Family, while one of his absolute best songs, ‘Champagne Supernova’, had the entire venue belting the words back at him.
Just when we were expecting some solo material, he keept it old school with 'Little by Little', which reduced big burly men to emotional wrecks. 'Wonderwall', meanwhile, saw the arena glisten as a vast number of smartphones captured the moment.
'Don't Look Back in Anger' – a track that’s now taken on a meaning as the city rebuilds itself after the attack - saw the crowd embrace whoever they were next to, even if it were stranger. Indeed, it was during a memorial that the city spontaneously broke out into it and subsequent mass sing-a-longs at gigs that have given it new found relevance.
Earlier in the evening, Courteeners – who played a huge role in pushing DLBIA forwards with their cover in Old Trafford Cricket Ground a week after the attack – took to the stage.
They delivered a set of a lifetime, with the pit floor staggeringly alive with energy. Their music seems to have caught the imagination post-attack: the need for something brash, loud, fun, full of attitude and quintessentially Manc.
With the breath-taking spectacle before him, singer Liam Fray said: “Manchester – what an honour and a privilege to be in a room with you tonight. We didn't prepare anything because we didn't need to but look at the person next to you... have a good time and love thy neighbour."
So much love on the pit floor tonight #courteeners #wearemanchester pic.twitter.com/t6AVbu4jtS
— Gigwise (@Gigwise) September 10, 2017
And love they did, especially on ‘Not Nineteen Forever’. Surely no-one has seen a reaction that incredible to the song before: seeing grown men crying whilst waving their shirts around was truly jaw-dropping.
Earlier in the evening, Blossoms had the honour of taking to the stage before indie royalty and the slot is testament to them finally becoming the biggest new British guitar band. They were greeted with a thunderous noise with people chanting “Stockport! Stockport! Stockport!"
Their short set's high point was seeing them bring out The Coral’s James Skelly – an early champion of their music and the first guy to sign them before they went to Virgin EMI. He came on to sing 'Dreaming of You’ and prove a Liverpudlian with pipes and tunes that good is perfectly welcome on a night like this.
The other big cover song was hearing 'Never Gonna Give You Up' star Rick Astley belt out a cover of 'Everlong' by Foo Fighters: something that took many by surprise.
With the Foos having invited Astley on stage with them recently, it was expected he'd make some nod – but picking their best song was a great choice.
Given the sensitivity of the event, the decision not to bounce immediately into the live part of the show was a good one. They brought out Tony Walsh, whose poem 'This is the Place' came to symbolise the city's close community and indomitable spirit. He led everyone into a minute's applause to the victims.
Before that, Lord Mayor of Manchester Eddy Newman and Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham came on-stage. Lord Mayor Newman announced that the money from tonight would go towards a lasting memorial for the victims, with chants of "Manchester! La! La! La!" soon following.
Andy Burnham then began to recall the names of those who died with everyone applauding, before recognising the emergency services and also arena staff - many of whom are working for the first time here since May.
Burnham only had the job of Greater Manchester Mayor for a few days before what happened and handled everything brilliantly, becoming something of a statesman for the city.
This combination of speeches, of poignancy and joy, came together brilliantly. Tonight, Manchester Arena is indeed the place where all things Manchester - the close community, its originality and its warmth - were on show.
The arena now begins to return as a place of excitement and pleasure – with this evening ensuring the lives lost by May’s attack will never be forgotten.
