THE ROLLING PEOPLE - 15/04/2026

Following the release of their most recent EP ‘Outlier’, Stockport’s The Rolling People began the closing stretch of their tour at The Hope & Ruin in Brighton, with a return to Manchester imminent for their biggest headline yet. The four-piece have spent the last few years steadily building their reputation as one of the North’s most exciting emerging acts, with each live show tightening their sound and amplifying the buzz surrounding them. From the moment they took to the stage, it was clear that the band were determined to make every remaining night of tour count, delivering a set that balanced raw energy with formidable confidence.

Two local artists - Portsmouth based Matt Hennessy and Brighton based five-piece Star Print Clad - were responsible for warming up the crowd, each bringing their own distinct energy to the early evening. Hennessy opened with a full-band set that immediately gave the room a sense of momentum. Having supported The Rolling People in Southampton a few nights earlier, his performance was commanding, with catchy guitar lines and earnest songwriting landing well with the early arrivals - having recently won 2026’s Road to Victorious competition, he has proven himself to be one to watch! After a quick changeover, Star Print Clad shifted things up a gear, and despite being a band member short, filled the room with driving rhythms and a confident stage presence. Their set blended a raw indie sound with moments of intensity, and quickly captured the attention of a now fuller crowd.

As the house lights dimmed, the band - comprised of Charlie McNichol, Elliot McGovern, Asa Knighton, and George Clark - weaved their way from the back of the room towards the small stage, instantly dissolving the barrier between artist and crowd. Looking immediately at home, they launched into ‘State of Things’, the opening track of their new EP, with a confidence that set the tone from the start. Throughout the 16-song set, The Rolling People moved fluidly through their back catalogue, threading together older fan favourites and newer material, which highlighted how much the band have evolved. The set ranged from early cuts off their 2023 debut EP ‘An Introduction’ through to newer material, including the unreleased ‘Tell Them Again’, which slotted in seamlessly alongside familiar tracks.

An engaging frontman, McNichol elaborated on inspirations behind some of the newer tracks, telling the crowd that ‘Another Day’ was written about losing loved ones through alcoholism, and encouraging them to really listen to the lyrics. He warned the crowd that the band were “gonna slow it down” for the last song off their new EP, ‘Coming Down’, which began with soft and slow vocals but swelled into a powerful and emotionally charged crescendo. It was a reminder of the band’s ability to pair vulnerability with intensity, and the room seemed momentarily suspended in the loaded atmosphere.

Closing the set with popular new single ‘Your Take’, after just over an hour of relentless momentum,The Rolling People exited the stage with a triumphant finish that left the room buzzing. It was incredibly special to see the band perform in such a small space, while they're already capable of commanding much bigger stages and will only continue to grow as time goes on. It was clear to see that smaller grassroots venues like The Hope & Ruin may not hold them for much longer, and catching them in a room this intimate felt like witnessing a band on the cusp of something far larger.