Joel Smith (vocals and guitar), Ben Henderson (bass and vocals), Jack Taylor (guitar), and James Fawcett (drums) walked on to an intro fit for an arena, and you couldn’t help but feel that one day soon, that’s exactly where they’ll be. Joel, unusually hidden behind sunglasses, took the stage with a quiet determination. His voice wasn’t as sharp as usual, the set revealed why, as he confessed midway through that he was fighting tonsillitis, but the crowd responded with even more noise, clapping and singing back with the kind of love reserved for bands who’ve truly earned it.

The first few songs found the audience warming up, perhaps new listeners unfamiliar with the Corella ritual of mosh-circle chaos that usually kicks off early in the set. But it didn’t take long. With a few of Joel’s trademark hand signals, the faithful led the way, and soon the room was bouncing, smiling, alive.

Tracks from Once Upon A Weekend (2024) formed the heartbeat of the night, interwoven with early favourites and new material, two unreleased songs that hint at a band expanding its palette. One felt understated and contemplative, the other a full-bodied banger destined for setlist permanence. “Hometown” was an absolute clincher on the night, Joel declaring Newcastle a home away from home, and louder, he said, than Manchester itself. We’ll take that one for sure!

Even through illness, Joel’s stagecraft was magnetic, showcasing some harmonica work in and amongst the guitar and lead tones. Ben Henderson’s harmonies shone more clearly than ever, a welcome layer of warmth that deserves to stay in the mix, and his basslines held that distinctive pulse that drives Corella’s signature sound, somewhere between the drive of Two Door Cinema Club and the emotional lift of classic Brit indie. Jack Taylor’s guitar shimmered and soared, his solos sharp but unshowy as always, while James Fawcett anchored it all, versatile, powerful, always in service of the song.

The setlist was a dream run for fans, kicking off with Do You Want It?, leading on to Drifting, Let On, Head Underwater, Monday, Bloom, Fever, Waterfall, plus the new tracks, and a perfectly pitched Oasis cover of “What’s The Story Morning Glory” that sent the room into joyful echoes of Manchester nostalgia. Lady Messiah, a tender ode “for all the mums out there”, and Puppets raised goosebumps and chants alike, before Come Around and Barcelona Girl closed the night in a riot of motion. Joel, shedding his guitar and in-ears, dived into the mosh pit for the final chorus, a Corella hallmark that somehow still feels spontaneous every time.

At the end of the gig, the band came out to meet fans, humble, grounded, genuinely interested in whether the bigger venue still felt personal (it did). There’s something rare about that, the balance of ambition and authenticity, confidence and care.

Supporting act Alex Spencer, at just eighteen, set the tone earlier with startling clarity and energy. His vocals were pure, his stage presence magnetic, and his fans, already lining up for merch and selfies, made it clear his trajectory is steep and deserved.

As the night closed, and the rain outside began again in earnest, it felt like Corella had done what they always do: bottled summer, optimism, and connection, and handed it to the crowd, one beat at a time. With a new record deal announced and more writing on the horizon, this is a band still on the rise, and still rooted in the joy that got them here.

One day, those arena intros won’t feel like wishful thinking.

2nd October 2025