Punk’s Eternal Flame - Stiff Little Fingers Ignite Manchester Academy in a Night of Defiance and Nostalgia

ANDI CALLEN
9 minutes ago
3 min read

Academy Manchester 13th March 2026

WORDS. CHRIS BELLIS / IMAGES ANDI CALLEN

Punk’s Eternal Flame - Stiff Little Fingers Ignite Manchester Academy in a Night of Defiance and Nostalgia — Photo Credit Andi Callen

On a dry but bitterly cold April evening, the queue outside Manchester Academy is already curling down the street by the time I arrive. Leather jackets creak in the chill, patches fade proudly with age, and the occasional fluorescent mohawk cuts through the grey Mancunian dusk. It’s a proper cross-generational punk congregation: old-school lifers swapping gig stories while younger fans hover nearby, soaking up the atmosphere. Manchester Academy has long been one of the city’s most dependable live rooms — big enough for legends, small enough to keep the sweat, noise and electricity of a punk show alive. Tonight it feels less like a gig and more like a gathering of the faithful.

Few bands deserve that level of loyalty more than Stiff Little Fingers. Born in the chaos of late-’70s Belfast, their songs helped shape political punk on both sides of the Atlantic, turning frustration and street-level reality into something urgent and anthemic. More than four decades on, they’re still carrying that torch. Frontman Jake Burns remains the band’s beating heart, his voice weathered but powerful, delivering every lyric like it still matters — because it does. With recent touring alongside Ricky Warwick and major homecoming shows in Belfast, the band have shown they’re far from becoming a heritage act. If anything, the 2025 run only reinforces their reputation as one of punk’s most enduring forces.

First up tonight are The Meffs, and if there’s such a thing as stealing a room before the headliners arrive, they come dangerously close. Their set is a high-octane barrage of snarling punk riffs, sharp social commentary and raw attitude. But it’s not all rage — there’s enough humour and personality woven through the set to keep the crowd smiling between the sonic punches. What really stands out, though, is guitarist and vocalist Lily. Acting as the band’s focal point while handling vocal duties, she seems to cover every inch of the stage. At the same time she’s unleashing rapid-fire punk riffs and razor-sharp runs from her Telecaster, each one landing with bullet-like precision. Watching her rip through songs while striking effortlessly cool guitar-hero poses is half the show — the kind of front-person energy that makes you realise you might just be watching a future cult punk icon in the making.

By the time Stiff Little Fingers stride onstage, the Academy is packed and buzzing, and they immediately prove why they’re still one of the most compelling live bands in punk. There’s no sense of coasting here — the band play with a hunger that would put groups half their age to shame. Jake Burns sounds fantastic, delivering each line with that unmistakable Belfast bite and a visible fire in the belly. The setlist reads like a punk rock scripture: “Suspect Device,” “At The Edge,” and “Nobody’s Hero” ignite mass sing-alongs, while newer material like “Mary’s Boy Child” shows they’re still pushing forward rather than standing still. And when the unmistakable opening of “Alternative Ulster” crashes in as the closer, the entire room erupts. It’s loud, chaotic and joyous — the kind of moment that reminds you why punk gigs matter in the first place.

Sold out, sweat-drenched, Stiff Little Fingers aren’t just keeping the flame alive — they’re still throwing petrol on it. And judging by the roar inside Manchester Academy tonight, that flame isn’t going out anytime soon.