State Champs, YONAKA & Magnolia Park Join Don Broco for Huge Manchester Shows
Manchester’s Aviva Studios was already running hot by the time Don Broco took the stage on Saturday night, the kind of shoulder-to-shoulder chaos that signals a big night ahead. Magnolia Park lit the room first with their punchy hooks and restless energy; YONAKA followed with darker intensity, commanding the crowd with sharp focus and State Champs tore through their set with a reminder of why they remain pop-punk heavyweights. By the time the lights dimmed for the headliners, the air felt thick with anticipation, the sense that Don Broco weren’t just stepping into a show, but into a moment the whole room was ready to explode alongside them.
Magnolia Park wasted no time proving why they’re one of the rising bands in alt-rock right now. Crashing into ‘Misfits’, they had Manchester bouncing before the first chorus. ‘Cult’ and ‘Omen’ kept the pace, blending emo-rap cadences with tight riffs built for a rowdy room. ‘Shallow’ and ‘Chasing Shadows’ showed their knack for pairing big hooks with punk energy, while the surprise ‘I2I’ cover turned the crowd into an early sing-along. The band closed with ‘Animal’, a burst of pure adrenaline that left everyone buzzing and fully aware Magnolia Park were far more than a warm-up act.
YONAKA stormed into Aviva Studios next. Opening with the snarling intensity of ‘PREDATOR’, they immediately snapped the venue to attention, Theresa Jarvis commanding the stage with a mix of precision and wild-eyed charisma. ‘Hit Me When I’m Sore’ and ‘Call Me a Saint’ throbbed with bruised emotion, while ‘Problems’ and ‘Cruel’ landed like punches to the gut. But it was ‘Hands Off My Money’ that truly ignited the room, the chant swelling into a full-throated roar, the crowd practically vibrating under the weight of its collective fury. By the time ‘Punch Bag’ and ‘Clique’ crashed through the speakers, Aviva Studios felt entirely under YONAKA’s command, culminating in a blistering ‘Seize the Power’ that proved not even technical issues could dull their explosive momentum.
State Champs delivered a hit of instant serotonin, and as a long-time fan it was hard not to feel that surge when ‘Silver Cloud’ opened. They played like they had everything to prove, ‘Mine Is Gold’ and ‘Outta My Head’ landing with their trademark mix of melody and drive. ‘Light Blue’ and ‘Fake It’ turned the room into a pop-punk bounce, while ‘Hell of It’ and ‘Act Like That’ showed their tight chemistry. New tracks ‘The Constant’ and ‘Common Sense’ hit just as hard, before the whole place erupted as they reached back for ‘Elevated’. It felt less like a support slot and more like a reminder that State Champs remain one of pop-punk’s strongest forces.
Don Broco wasted no time turning Aviva Studios into their playground, launching into ‘Cellophane’, a sharp new track that lit the room instantly. Then came ‘Come Out to LA’ and ‘Gumshield’, a one-two hit of pop-metal chaos that sent the crowd spinning. Rob Damiani paused only to stir the room by claiming Manchester should be their “official home”, a line the crowd loved — fittingly followed by a roaring “Manchester Super Reds No.1 Fan.”
From there, Don Broco pushed things further into full-tilt spectacle: lasers, huge visuals and constant mosh pits. Mid-set they dropped ‘True Believers’, an unreleased track that landed with confidence. Then came a surprise acoustic ‘You Wanna Know’, performed from within the crowd, the room singing every word. Theresa Jarvis returned to help blast through a huge version of ‘Further’, her vocals cutting cleanly through the chaos. They closed the main set with a euphoric ‘Everybody’ before returning for two final hits: the loud, communal release of ‘T-Shirt Song’, shirts waving in the air and the explosive closer ‘Hype Man’.
When ‘Hype Man’ faded and the lights rose, it was clear this wasn’t just another tour stop but a celebration of what makes modern alternative music exciting — and this was only night one of their two-night Manchester takeover. Magnolia Park brought youthful fire; YONAKA delivered attitude and catharsis; State Champs offered pop-punk precision; and Don Broco showed once again they’re operating on their own level. Aviva Studios pulsed from the first support riff to the last encore chant, every band feeding off the crowd until the night felt like a culmination — a reminder of how electric and communal live music can be. If Manchester wasn’t already Don Broco’s adopted home, this show made a strong case for it.
