Pixies Ignite Aviva Studios with a Blistering Manchester Performance
- Toni Slater
- May 27
- 3 min read
Aviva Studios, Manchester 25th May 2026
WORDS AND IMAGES TONI SLATER
It was still 29 degrees Celsius when I entered Aviva Studios. The venue was filling up fast with both Pixies and GANS fans. It was my first visit to this venue as a music space. Aviva Studios is a relatively new concert venue on the border of Manchester and Safford, it has a cavernous feel with a vast standing area and a steep tiered seating giving a capacity of over 3,500.
The Pixies are in the midst of their global tour “Pixies P40” which celebrates the bands formation back in 1996. Tonight was the second date at the Manchester venue.
GANS are joining them as support on the UK dates and they set the night off in style. They first came on the scene in 2023, signed to Pete Doherty’s label, Strap Originals. I discovered them in October 2025 supporting Pop Will Eat Itself and they have really kicked on. The two-piece are made up of childhood friends Euan and Thomas.
Euan is the drummer and main vocalist with a big personality and a huge stage presence. His partnership with Thomas works with a high energy chaos of post punk, industrial and heavy rock techno. Featuring crowd pleasers “I think I like you” and “In Time” they are a band that I expect to be high on radio playlists for a while to come.
A quick break to try and cool down in the stifling heat before The Pixies took over.
A show was billed as a sell out but the space didn’t seem uncomfortably full despite the heat.
Lead singer Black Francis isn’t known for his mid song banter but he came on smiling and chatting with the crowd “I am going to play a little game and see how many happy songs we can play”
A very different setlist from the night before, a jam packed set of almost 30 songs, nearly 2 hours of classics, a few less known numbers and a couple of cover versions to keep the crowd guessing. There were a few expected classics missing but given their expensive back catalogue this was more than forgiven by the audience. “Here Comes Your Man” “Debaser” and “Monkey Gone to Heaven” all instantly recognisable from the first few notes got the energy of the crowd bouncing. “Hang Wire” and “Down to the Well” both off the 1990 album Bossanova are rarely played in their sets, and tonight is the first time both songs have featured in any of the recent tour dates, but are still very well received by loyal fanbase.
Debaser is dedicated by Francis to their former tour manager Chas Banks, and as the songs begins, the place ignites, such a recognisable, rule breaking classic, it hits all the right spots. All ages, arms around each other, singing along, dancing to the beats and loving the nostalgic journey the masters of surf punk, art and noise rock are taking them on. Francis’ voice is strong, the band are tight and it’s plain to see that they are still enjoying performing together.
Three of the original band are here, joined permanently in 2024 by former Band of Skulls bassist Emma Richardson, she takes the space of the departed Kim Deal (who left in 2013) impeccably, in fact, all members have their own unique stage presence.
The night was a exceptional showcase of signature loud-quiet-loud no nonsense music from a band that is loved by so many and will stay in the memories of fans for a long time.
Yes it was hot, but it was worth it.
SETLIST
1. River Euphrates
2. Crackity Jones
3. The Sad Punk
4. I’ve Been Tired
5. Hang Wire
6. Down to the Well
7. No. 13 Baby
8. Kings of the Parade
9. Ernest Evans
10. Jane (The Night the Zombies Came)
11. Bone Machine
12. Debaser
13. Head On (The Jesus and Mary Chain cover)
14. Isla de Encanta
15. Subbacultcha
16. Cactus
17. Monkey Gone to Heaven
18. Hey
19. In Heaven (Lady in the Radiator Song) (Peter Ivers and David Lynch cover)
20. Here Comes Your Man
21. Vamos
22. Greens and Blues
23. Break my Body
24. Ed Is Dead
25. Wave of Mutilation (Uk surf)
26. Motorway to Roswell
27. Where is My Mind
28. Into the White
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