MIRADOR Stepped Into the Spotlight
Monday night had that special, electric hush you only get when something big is about to happen. As the lights finally dropped and MIRADOR stepped into the spotlight, it became clear that this wasn’t just another rock show: it was a reckoning. From the opening riff, guitar hero Jake Kiszka and co-guitarist/vocalist Chris Turpin charged through an epic wall of sound, fusing bluesy moans with sky-high rock theatrics and some serious old-school swagger. The crowd, packed into the compact venue like coals under a forge, felt every twist and turn: the vocal interplay soared, the rhythm section locked in tight, and by the time the first surge of the chorus hit you, you knew you were in the midst of something rare and unrestrained.
Opening the night with undeniable charisma, Lady Of Mars set the tone perfectly for what was to come. The London based quartet stormed the stage with a burst of energy and confidence, diving straight into a set of sharp, hook-laden tracks that balanced grit with glamour. Their new single, ‘Girls Who Play Guitar’ was a standout, an infectious anthem that had the crowd swaying along. Midway through, they slipped into a blistering cover of a Blondie song and in that moment, something clicked between band and audience; the room became one pulsing, grinning mass of movement. It was clear Lady Of Mars weren’t just warming up the stage, they were claiming it, and the crowd loved every second.
When MIRADOR finally took the stage, they did so with a sense of drama that demanded attention. The haunting strains of Jim Ghedi’s ‘What Will Become of England’ played over the PA, casting a somber, almost cinematic mood before the band exploded into ‘Heels of the Hunt’. From that first eruption, it was clear MIRADOR were here to dominate. Their dual-guitar attack was both dazzling and relentless: intricate riff-offs and solos that danced the line between breathtaking and indulgent. At times, the sheer technicality felt like too much, yet that excess seems to be part of MIRADOR’s identity: a band unafraid to go big, to push their sound to the edge of control. It was a display of power, precision and passion that left the room buzzing.
They kept the momentum rolling with ‘Raider’ and ‘Feels Like Gold’ two tracks that showed off their knack for weaving melody through muscle. Between songs, frontman Chris Turpin took a moment to look out over the crowd as he said, “We see many familiar faces and so many new ones.” The line sparked a wave of cheers that rippled through the room, a moment of genuine connection amid the thunder of guitars. It was clear MIRADOR weren’t just playing to Manchester, they were playing with it, feeding off the energy of a crowd that knew exactly what kind of night they’d signed up for.
Midway through the set, MIRADOR surprised the room with a raw, soulful take on ‘Diving Duck Blues’ their blues influences coming to the fore in a way that felt both reverent and revitalised. From there, they powered through a few more of their own tracks, each one tightening the bond between band and audience, before closing the main set with a thunderous rendition of ‘Ashes to Earth’. The crowd’s response was immediate: cheers, chants and the kind of foot-stomping insistence that makes encores inevitable. Sure enough, MIRADOR returned to the stage, launching into ‘Skyway Drifter’ a final, soaring performance that sent Gorilla Manchester off in a haze of feedback, sweat and exhilaration.
By the end of the night, there was no question that MIRADOR know how to command a stage, their musicianship is undeniable and their chemistry electric. Still, a few of the longer numbers blurred together, their extended jams occasionally drifting past momentum and into indulgence. Yet even in those moments, the atmosphere never dipped; the crowd stayed locked in, riding the waves of sound rather than resisting them. It’s a testament to MIRADOR’s presence that they can stretch and sprawl without entirely losing their grip. For all its excesses, the set was immersive, ambitious and above all, an experience worth getting lost in.
