Manchester freaked out in a Moonage Daydream last night (thank you for the reference, Bowie) as four-piece indie-rock paragons, The Big Moon, took to the stage at Manchester Academy. The London band, formed in 2014, are the proud owners of two successful studio albums, with their third, Here Is Everything, to be released in mid-October. On the new album, we can expect to be taken on the rollercoaster of (prenatal and postnatal) emotions experienced by front woman, Juliette Jackson, with one track being described as ‘a snapshot of insane, blissed-out, hormonal joy.’  

The four women set in motion an evening of hauntingly euphoric disco-esque indie by taking to the stage with It’s Easy Then, a song from their second studio album, Walking Like We Do. The evocative intro, complete with echoing, melodic harmonies, shaped a subtle and serene start to the show, creating a melodious calmness, before a rugged, alternative-rock storm. After a ‘thanks for being here’, the band plunged into their hit, Take A Piece, inspired by the challenging lifestyle of being a famed pop figure. The crowd recited the chorus back to the band, illustrating the dedicated fan base The Big Moon have secured over the last eight years. 

Don’t Think was accompanied by red, atmospheric lights, as each band member seemed visibly engrossed in their fierce instrumentals, with Jackson and guitarist, Soph Nathan, assembling together in a rocking unison to nail the lyric-less segment, executed with some pretty impressive head-banging. The band humoured the audience shortly after, jesting and recalling the recent loss of their instruments in Spain, before ironically performing, Barcelona. We were graced with a mystic flute rendition by bassist, Celia Archer, and Jackson, before drummer, Fern Ford, initiated the punchy intro. 

            From an a cappella recital of Formidable, a song from their first studio album, Love in the 4th Dimension, to flute-prodigy, keyboard-mastermind, grungy-guitar goddesses, The Big Moon visibly verified their undeniable talent last night, with each track dosed in unblemished lamentation and unfiltered ferocity, through lyrical and musical genius. Within the cracks of reckless tempos and rock-star qualities, the band tend to incorporate (what could be described as) hauntingly beautiful spoken-word into their music, conjuring emotive reactions, before taking an unapologetic bulldozer to any pitiful lyrics in the form of sickeningly punchy instrumentals.   

The rise in female-formed bands is rejuvenating the music scene, with The Big Moon being a seemingly significant contribution; with their down-to-earth personas, that shine through their stage presence, and mournfully grungy sound, these women are seemingly a force to be reckoned with. The amalgamation of grief-stricken, sorrowful self-pity turned audaciously gutsy badass is a breath of all-girl indie fresh air for those who want to feel sentimentally miserable, but not miserable enough that it can’t be turned around by a rageful riff or two. The Big Moon have no plans to stay silent, and I’m confident that Here Is Everything will succeed expectations, despite the pressure of the two previous albums it has to live up to.