From Liverpool With Love The Wombats Light Up Pier Head in Glorious Homecoming
- Desh Kapur
- 14 hours ago
- 3 min read
On The Waterfront - The Pier Head, 19th June 2025
IMAGES / WORDS DESH KAPUR
A true Scouse Homecoming
On a golden June evening by the River Mersey, The Wombats made a glorious return to their hometown, headlining a packed Pier Head as part of Liverpool’s On the Waterfront series.
Framed by the towering Three Graces and bathed in evening light, the waterfront venue offered a breathtaking backdrop. The open-air stage felt both intimate and grand—its riverside setting lending the whole night a sense of occasion and magic rarely matched by city venues.
The atmosphere was electric. A truly mixed crowd—teenagers, longtime fans, and families—gathered in celebration, creating a buzz that built steadily as the sun began to dip behind the Mersey.
With the Liver Building standing proudly behind the stage, the golden-hour glow created a cinematic moment. It was a perfect summer evening, and the city turned out in full force to welcome one of its most beloved indie exports home.
Though I arrived a little later than planned, my evening began with Pale Waves, Manchester’s indie-pop torchbearers. They launched into their set with spiky riffs and glossy, synth-tinged swagger. Under the softening sun, frontwoman Heather Baron-Gracie commanded the stage with ease—her vocals, sharp and emotive, echoing with a haunting energy reminiscent of Dolores O’Riordan. Their performance struck the perfect balance between vulnerability and bravado, proving exactly why they’ve become festival staples.
Then came the main event. From the moment they walked onstage, The Wombats exuded a joyful, grounded confidence. “Liverpool, we’re back!” Murph beamed, and the crowd roared in response. This wasn’t just another tour stop—it was a homecoming. And you could feel it in every note.
Their setlist spanned the breadth of their career, delivered with tight musicianship and boundless energy. Early favorites like “Kill the Director” and “Moving to New York” sparked huge singalongs, while more recent offerings from Oh! The Ocean—including “Techno Fan”, “Method to the Madness”, and “If You Ever Leave, I’m Coming With You”—slotted in effortlessly, keeping momentum high and the crowd moving.
The sound was crisp throughout, with Murph’s voice cutting cleanly through the mix. Tord Øverland Knudsen’s bounding basslines and Dan Haggis’s tight, dynamic drumming gave the set real muscle. The stage glowed under the last of the evening light, adding a touch of warmth and magic as the crowd danced, sang, and cheered from beginning to end.
As the show reached its final act, The Wombats unleashed a trio of hits that sealed the night in euphoric fashion: “Turn,” “Greek Tragedy,” and the ever-ironic, endlessly joyful “Let’s Dance to Joy Division.” Arms flew up. Voices rang out. Smiles stretched across faces young and old.
The Wombats delivered more than just a performance—they delivered a celebration. A celebration of place, of time, and of a band whose connection to their hometown clearly still runs deep. If you’ve never seen them live, this was proof that you’re truly missing something special.
SET LIST
1/ Sorry I’m Late, I Didn’t Want to Come
2/ Moving to New York
3/ Cheetah Tongue
4/ Techno Fan
5/ Ready for the High
(Wombat playing the trombone)
6/ Can’t Say No
7/ 1996
8/ Pink Lemonade
9/ I Love America and She Hates Me
10/ Kill the Director
11/ My Head Is Not My Friend
12/ Lethal Combination
13/ Blood On the Hospital Floor
14/ Tokyo (Vampires & Wolves)
15/ Method to the Madness
16/ Lemon to a Knife Fight
17/ If You Ever Leave, I'm Coming With You
18/ Turn
19/ Greek Tragedy
20/ Let's Dance to Joy Division
FOLLOW THE WOMBATS
Comments