The Lemonheads At The Albert Hall Manchester, return with clarity, grit, and a triumphant 22-song masterclass
ALBERT HALL, MANCHESTER – 7th OCTOBER 2026
WORDS / IMAGES BILLY SEAGRAVE
At The Albert Hall, The Lemonheads delivered an accomplished, polished, and genuinely heartening performance that proved why they remain indie-rock royalty.
The evening kicked off with Willy Mason, the American singer-songwriter whose warm, gravelly delivery and folk-leaning indie rock have long earned him a dedicated cult following on both sides of the Atlantic. Delivering a commanding full-hour set, Mason acted like a sonic magnet, drawing the crowd closer to the stage with every track. The undisputed pinnacle of his set was "Oxygen"—his 2004 breakthrough hit that still hits with the same raw, breathless urgency as it did over two decades ago.
When it comes to The Lemonheads, walking into a venue usually means bracing for the unpredictable. But tonight, in Manchester, fans were treated to the exact version of the band they had been praying for: a lineup in fine form, firing on all cylinders, and visibly relishing every second.
This tour marks a profoundly significant new chapter for the group. Before hitting the road, frontman Evan Dando spoke with striking candour, offering a heartfelt and honest statement that reframed expectations:
"I'm grateful for the time I've had to focus on getting healthy and making things right—the support from our fans and my family has been everything. I've spent the last few months reflecting on what's important, and I'm ready to return to the stage with a clear head and a lot of gratitude."
On stage tonight, those words carried an undeniable weight. Dando’s voice remains an unmistakable, singular instrument in alternative rock—fragile yet warm, vulnerable yet defiantly resolute. It is a texture nobody else can replicate. When he is truly locked in, Dando is a natural performer who wears his heart entirely on his sleeve, asserting himself as one of the era's most compelling frontmen.
The band wasted no time, tearing into the set with "The Great Big No", rapidly followed by the breathless punk-burst of "58 Second Song". From there, they tore into "Roky"—a poignant tribute to the late 13th Floor Elevators pioneer Roky Erickson—instantly locking the crowd into their orbit.
Then came the nostalgia. We might all be looking a little older these days, but these songs possess a rare time-travel quality, instantly transporting the room back to the simpler, sun-drenched days of the 1990s. A mid-set stretch into a bluesy jam showcased Dando’s enduring, instinctual brilliance as both a songwriter and a live force.
The momentum never wavered. "In the Margin" and the brilliant "If I Could Talk I'd Tell You" kept the energy high, but it was a raucous, flawlessly executed cover of The Ramones’ "Here Today, Gone Tomorrow" that sent a jolt of pure adrenaline from the stage through the crowd. It left the audience buzzing with hope that the wait for the next studio album won't mirror the decades of the past.
The Lemonheads have always thrived in the sweet spot between charm, vulnerability, and sheer unpredictability. Closing out a massive 22-song set with "Frank Mills", they brought down the curtain on a stellar evening. It was a memorable night—not just for the immaculate setlist, but because it was genuinely beautiful to see Evan Dando back where he belongs, healthy, happy, and thoroughly enjoying himself.
SET LIST
The Great Big No
58 Second Song
Roky
My Drug Buddy
Confetti
Bit Part
It's About Time
Big Gay Heart
The Turnpike Down
Down About It
Hospital
In the Margin
Rudderless
Stove
Your home is where you're happy
(Charles Manson cover)
The Outdoor Type
(Smudge cover)
Being Around
Deep End
If I Could Talk I'd Tell You
Here Today, Gone Tomorrow
(Ramones cover)
It's a Shame About Ray
Frank Mills
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