Music Is To Blame: Night of The Living Punk: Soft Play Takes Manchester Academy

Soft Play have had to rebuilt their reputation after a hiatus and a somewhat controversial name change from Slaves back in 2022.

Since then, the punk rock duo have surpassed their own standards, making their epic comeback with the release of their brand-new album ‘Heavy Jelly’. After countless festival appearances, they have embarked on their long-awaited UK tour, where they rule the roost. This night, in particular, marked their return to Manchester.

The atmosphere was electric as Panic Shack took the stage as the opening act, igniting it with energetic melodies and Meg Fretwell’s dynamic blend of singing and shouting. Her commanding vocals perfectly complemented the monologue-like lyrics, especially in tracks like ‘Jiu Jits You’ and ‘Meal Deal.’ The all femme-presenting band delivered an incredible stage presence, bringing a fierce, feminine punk energy to the performance.

Taking the stage at 9 o'clock sharp, Soft Play launched into their 19-song set with one of their latest tracks ‘All Things’ from ‘Heavy Jelly’. The duo from Tunbridge Wells ignited the crowd, with Laurie Vincent shredding on his guitar and Isaac Holman pounding on the drums, all while delivering powerful, gritty vocals. The audience’s excitement was electric, with cheers echoing throughout the room as fans enthusiastically shouted the lyrics back to the pair.

The second song of the night, ‘Mirror Muscles’, set the crowd in motion the moment it’s iconic chords hit, with fans pressing forward and half-full beers flying through the air. Soft Play’s raw energy fueled the crowd, intensifying the atmosphere as they poured every ounce of themselves into the performance, drenched in sweat as the room heated up. The audience chanted together, “I been working on mirror muscles!” while crowd surfers sailed over the barrier, feet in the air. True to the song's spirit, Isaac stepped away from the drums to strike a few poses, flexing his muscles which was met with enthusiastic cheers and wolf whistles.

The true crowd-pleasers of the night were ‘Act Violently’ and ‘Fuck the Hi-Hats’, both bursting with raw, aggressive energy that gave the audience an intense outlet. Fans roared every lyric back at the band, word for word, with full-throated passion. Flashing lights pulsed in sync with the music, creating a full sensory assault that amplified the intensity of both tracks.

With each performance, Soft Play pushed their energy, constantly surpassing expectations just when it seemed they’d hit their peak. Isaac’s knack for storytelling added to the experience, building up suspense with his endearing monologues, his thick accent adding to the charm. He playfully teased the audience, even diving into the crowd to greet ecstatic fans who couldn’t contain their excitement. This was excellently done during ‘Isaac is typing…’ and ‘Girl Fight’.

Punk’s Dead’ was one of the night’s most anticipated tracks, with Soft Play embracing the controversy surrounding their recent name change and using it to fuel their performance. Up until this point, the stage had been bare, with no Soft Play banner in sight. However, as the song progressed, colourful banner emerged, reading ‘Soft C*nts’— a bold response to the backlash.

‘Everything and Nothing’ was a change of pace where Isaac stood in the centre of the stage, singing with the crowd as Laurie played a lighter melody acting as a moment of reflection.

Soft Play prove themselves to be at the height of careers, delivering intense energy and cementing their place in the revitalised British punk scene.