Dexys at Manchester Opera House: From Intimate Confessions to a Soul-Stirring Geno
Manchester Opera House – 25th October 2026
WORDS STEVE GLEAVE / IMAGES PAUL DIXON
Unusually for Dexys…there was a support band! In the form of a duo called “The Folk Drama”. Despite a very limited set of just 3 songs it was plain to see why Dexys had given them a stage. A musical signature relying totally on a blend of bright acoustic arrangements and beautiful vocal harmonies. What was so pleasing to see tonight was the respect a true music loving crowd gave Aaron and Violeta. Their lyrics often feel like overheard, intimate conversations and the audience wilfully gave them room to share and explore that space.
In a city where, particularly recently, football has dominated the headlines; Dexys more than produced the goods in a performance of two halves.
The first set of songs were dominated by tracks from the latest album ‘Love’. This new release finds Dexys main creator Kevin Rowland looking back on different types of love from the perspective of a man that has lived through most of them. Particularly striking is the track concerning parental love titled ‘Once a Man, Twice a Child’. The raw honesty and vocal performance showcased in the tale of looking after a dying parent with dementia, hits home with an audience who judging from their age range (not many under 40) may be more than familiar with the emotions expressed .
This recognition possibly added to an element within the first set of the audience almost being cordially invited to private conversations but only as observers. Kevin with either co vocalist Sean Read but mainly the superb voice of Janelle Martin, sang directly to each other rather than facing the crowd, particularly on the outstanding ‘You’ve Got the Love’. What seemed to result from this was an appreciative audience fully engaged in the songs but perhaps not as connected to the band, outside of the classic ‘Because of You’, the Brush Strokes tv theme tune.
The first set ended with another track from the ‘Love’ album, ‘My Life in England Part 2’. A great song with a passionate cry of ‘rise up’ that found the audience turning a corner in this first half with some getting out of their seats to dance. It was at that point unfortunately, that the half time whistle came. The adrenaline rush however, did not drop when the second half began and actually ignited with the third song in ‘Burn It Down’. As Mr Rowland advised it was a song written in 1979 about the treatment of Irish people and saw a host of renowned Irish writers being shown on the bands background. By the time the line ‘Shut your f**king mouth, ‘til you know the truth’, came everyone in the Opera House was up on their feet exultant.
The classics all followed; ‘There, There My Dear’, ‘Breakin’ Down the Walls of Heartache’, ‘Geno’, ‘Jackie Wilson Said’ and ‘Come on Eileen’. There were photos of Kevin and various band members over the years with the various styles he’s loved shown on the background. For those older fans there was also a projected photo of Darts legend Jocky Wilson, reminder of the Top of the Pops gaffe mistaking soul singer Jackie Wilson with Jocky.
The band returned to the stage to encore ‘This is What She’s Like’, the standout track from the underrated ‘Don’t Stand Me Down’ album. Absolutely no complaints from the audience whatsoever who knew they had witnessed a fantastic band playing great songs, new or old. They had also been superbly serenaded by a pioneering icon whose permanent scowl may now have been replaced by a smile but who remains an honest and passionate maverick.
SET LIST
2. I’ll Always Love You
3. Once A Man, Twice A Child
4. She Got A Wiggle
5. You’ve Got The Love
6. Because of You
7. Liars A to E
8. It’s Over Now
9. The Teams That Meet In The Caffs
10. My Life In England Part 2
SET 2
12. Curragh Of Kildare
13. Old Love
14. Burn It Down
15. There, There, My Dear
16. Breakin’ Down The Walls Of Heartache
17. Geno
18. Jackie Wilson Said
19. Come On Eileen
ENCORE
21. This Is What She’s Like
CONNECT WITH DEXY'S
Comments