REVIEW: Happy Mondays, The Forum, 4th September 2026

When Happy Mondays released their critically acclaimed breakthrough album Pills N Thrills and Bellyaches through Factory Records in 1990, many younger fans in today’s audience had not yet been born. One benefit of music-streaming platforms, such as Spotify, is that they introduce new generations to the innovative music that older fans grew up with. This comes despite the controversy surrounding Spotify co-founder Daniel Ek’s investment of millions in military technology and AI-powered defence capabilities and the ensuing boycott of said platform by a number of musicians.

As the lights dim and Happy Mondays take to the stage, fans young and old erupt in cheers. Firouzeh Berry, who joined the band in 2025, showcases her vocal prowess, offering a striking foil to lead vocalist Shaun Ryder’s laid-back singing style. His voice sounds raspier tonight than it did in his heyday, yet he still retains his unmistakable presence.

Here to celebrate 35 years of their album Pills N Thrills and Bellyaches, the setlist is played in order of the track listing, with their crossover dance hit, “Kinky Afro”, opening their set. Mark (Bez) Berry is dancing towards the front of the stage with his signature maracas and interacting with audience members, with a big smile on his face. His energy and dance antics are infectious, and one cannot help but smile back. At one point in the set, he throws one maraca to a group of young fans (who are scream-singing), and they throw it back, but Bez throws it back again, and they shake it sporadically throughout the set.

Original guitarist Mark Day and drummer Gaz Whelan, alongside newer members Mikey Shine on bass and Dan Broad on keyboards and musical direction, do an excellent job recreating their signature Madchester sound. Spurred on by Bez’s antics, punters sing and dance with wild abandon. “Thirty-five years in thirty-five minutes,” Bez exclaims, though the band plays for considerably longer.

Highlights are many from the album: “Kinky Afro”, “God’s Cop”, “Loose Fit”, “Step On” and the hits “Hallelujah” and “24 Hour Party People”, featuring copious use of Day’s wah-wah effects pedal, and they save the best for last, “Wrote for Luck”, highlighting glorious off-kilter singing by Ryder.

Happy Mondays took punters on a nostalgic journey through late-1980s and 1990s indie dance, proving their music remains as relevant today as it was when rave culture reigned supreme.