IDLES at the O2 Apollo, Manchester.

By Nic Howells.

British punk band IDLES took over Manchester's iconic Apollo for a three day legacy to remember.

The five-piece are insanely popular, with all ages, with listeners of all different tastes. Their 2024 tour has to be one of the most anticipated of the year, and they kept us waiting all the way to December. The tour was following the release of their newest studio album Tangk, their second to reach the number 1 spot. The huge 23 song setlist kicked off with "IDEA 01" and "Colossus". The band are known for their experimental lyrics and themes, which are showcased start to finish in every song.

Singer Joe Talbot draws the eye as an enigmatic frontman and source of energy on stage, and the band play through "I'm Scum" and "Roy". IDLES are a fantastic example of modern punk. Their spirit and lyrics reflect traditional punk values with a new sound that is completely their own. In many ways they are leading the way for other modern punk and hardcore bands coming into the scene. And it's always a massive compliment to a punk band is the older punks and fans of the genre can appreciate the music and follow their journey. It's no easy feat, and IDLES have done it seemingly with ease.

Living up to every ounce of their reputation, we thoroughly enjoyed our time with IDLES, and highly recommend their live shows. A brilliant band making waves in modern music, IDLES are set to have a successful career for quite some time yet.