Foo Fighters give fans world premiere at Old Trafford gig

While Liverpool was basking in the golden light of Taylor Swift, we hit all the fan traffic and the grey skies trying to get to a very different stadium gig as the Foo Fighters opened the UK leg of their Everything or Nothing At All tour.

As a teen Breakout and All My Life were floor fillers at the former Krazyhouse club in Liverpool City Centre and still sound just as good today as they did 20 years ago. This is a testament to the post-grunge sound and punchy lyrics Dave Grohl injected into his songs and as he takes to the stage at the Emirates Old Trafford Cricket Ground in Manchester on June 13 it is clear he still "f***ing loves rock 'n' roll".

Ripping through some of the Foo Fighters' biggest hits of the past 30 years, they open with Monkey Wrench right into Learn to Fly and No Son Of Mine.

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This is the first of two nights in Manchester, the next being Saturday, June 15 before heading on to Glasgow, London, Cardiff and Birmingham. And it is their first time back in the northern city since 2015, which Grohl apologies for and says The Foos consider the UK a "home away from home" as the band continue to tear through their 11 studio albums with The Pretender, Times Like These and My Hero.

The rain holding back just long enough in the heavy clouds above the cricket ground, Grohl sings an acoustic version of Under You, the 55-year-old blown away that fans already know the words. Aurora is dedicated to Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins who died in 2022. Dave tells the crowd they tell stories of Taylor every day and this one is for him because it was his favourite.

There is also the world premiere performance of a new Foo Fighters song, Unconditional, perhaps a gift to the UK after Grohl says the UK is home to many of the band's firsts; the First time they played a festival, first time they headlined a festival and first time they played an arena.

Grohl, often known as the nicest man in rock, comes across as if this is still one of his firsts, in awe of the crowd singing their lyrics, endearing when his guitar has technical issues and completely relatable when he jokes he is in need of a haircut.

Best of You ends the set, but it is not long before they come back to play two more songs to their adoring crowd and the night really ends with Everlong, because it has to, right?

This is rock music for the masses, to be enjoyed with friends, sunshine (if you can get it) and beer and sung out loud when Dave Grohl asks you to help him out. Die-hard fans, new fans and casual listeners will love this nearly three-hour nonstop journey through the Foo Fighters' greatest hits.

Setlist

Monkey Wrench

Learn to Fly

No Son Of Mine

Rescued

The Pretender

Times Like These

Generator

Stacked Actors

Medicine at Midnight

Walk

Statues

Under You

My Hero

This Is the Call

The Sky Is a Neighbourhood

Arlandria

These Days

All My Life

Unconditional - (world premiere)

Aurora

Best of You

The Teacher

Everlong

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