Bruce Springsteen & The E-Street Band - 2025-05-14 Co-Op Live, Manchester, GB (2025)

Bruce Springsteen ‘The Boss” and The E Street Band delivered a politically charged, electrifying performance in Manchester, as they kicked off their Land of Hope and Dreams Tour. A performance that was as politically resonant as it was musically superb. With 23,500 fans packed into the arena, the show fused iconic rock ‘n’ roll with impassioned calls for justice, unity, and resistance.
Before launching into the song, Land of Hope and Dreams, Springsteen welcomes the crowd warmly: “It’s wonderful to be in Manchester and back in the UK. Welcome to the Land of Hope and Dreams Tour.” He speaks of America, once a beacon of liberty and hope, now facing a critical crossroads under what he describes as a “corrupt and incompetent leadership.”

Urging the crowd to join him in standing up for democracy, Bruce declares: “We ask all who believe in democracy to rise with us, raise your voices against authoritarianism, and let freedom ring”.

The setlist is nothing short of epic. Explosive renditions of Death to My Hometown, Lonesome Day, My Love Will Not Let You Down, Rainmaker, Darkness on the Edge of Town from the 1978 fourth studio album, and The Promised Land sets the tone, mixing political urgency with rock anthems that have stood the test of time.

The E Street Band, whom Bruce affectionately calls a “booty-shaking, lovemaking, Viagra-taking, history-making” force, live up to their legendary status. Jake Clemons carries the torch on saxophone with soulful power, honouring the legacy of his uncle Clarence “The Big Man” Clemons. Backing vocalists and a diverse group of eighteen musicians, including violinists, percussionists, and a grand piano, which elevates the performance to orchestral heights.

Veteran bandmates Nils Lofgren and Steve Van Zandt bring fierce energy, dancing and weaving across the enormous stage. Bruce, now 75, looks sharp in his classic jeans, shirt, tie, and waistcoat, showing no signs of slowing down. Swapping guitars nearly every song, he moves with tireless charisma and, at one point walks through the crowd to the delight of fans.

Highlights include heartfelt versions of Hungry Heart, My Hometown, Youngstown, Murder Incorporated and Long Walk Home. The electric atmosphere peaks when Bruce hands a harmonica to a lucky fan, a moment of connection emblematic of the night’s spirit.

Before My City of Ruins, Springsteen delivers a powerful monologue; Disturbing and dangerous events are unfolding. Free speech is under attack. The richest individuals ignore the suffering of the world’s poorest children. Civil rights are being stripped away. Our allies are abandoned, and American workers are treated with cruelty. Yet, despite all this, America is a great country, because of its people. We will endure.

From here, the momentum only grows, with emotional and high-energy performances of Letter to You, Because the Night (Patti Smith classic), Human Touch, Wrecking Ball, The Rising, Badlands and a euphoric Thunder Road, with fans dancing, cheering and raising their arms in unity.

The encore was a masterclass in fan service, with Born in the U.S.A. Born to Run, Bobby Jean, Dancing in the Dark, and Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out brought the house down. Closing with Bob Dylan’s Chimes of Freedom, Bruce left the crowd with one final rallying cry: “It’s in the union of people around a common set of values, now that’s all that stands between democracy and authoritarianism. At the end of the day, all we’ve got is each other.”

This was far more than a rock concert. It was a gathering of souls, bound by music spanning five decades and a shared belief in something greater; a night where hope roared louder than fear. He didn’t just remind us why he’s the boss, he made it impossible to forget.