Photo Gallery – CHVRCHES – Live – Manchester

Admittedly, when CHVRCHES first emerged back in 2011, it took me a while to appreciate just how f**king good they were. Perhaps I could make a case that the slow burn musical relationship can be more satisfying than an immediate infatuation? But we’ll leave that sort of metaphysical debate for another day, I mean, we’re not exactly the Quietus.

The truth is the Glaswegian trio of Lauren Mayberry, Iain Cook, Martin Doherty (and latterly Jonny Scott on drums) have been releasing increasingly epic music since their debut album The Bones of What You Believe first landed. Their latest album, Screen Violence, is their masterpiece and the title was originally mooted as a possible band name in their early days. The album has nods to horror movie tropes, but digs much deeper than that and has been described by the trio as being informed by violence “on screen, by screens and through screens – with songs addressing feelings of loneliness, disillusionment and fear, among other emotions.

It also features the incredible “How Not To Drown” which sees Cure legend Robert Smith joining the band. It was NME’s Song of 2021 and number 4 in Under The Radars magazines Songs 0f 2021 for whom I wrote a few words about the track HERE .

Sadly, Sir Bob didn’t join the band at the final show of the UK leg of their Screen Violence world tour at the Apollo in Manchester (as he did in London – Watch HERE ) but no matter, the band certainly know how to put on an epic show. And so here are some photos of that show (including opening band High School who are well worth checking out.)

All photos © Andy Von Pip Photography