Arctic Monkeys opened the UK leg of their 2023 tour in Bristol last night to a sell-out crowd. After support from The Mysterines and the Hives, the Sheffield rockers took to the stage at Ashton Gate just before 9pm and launched their set with a huge surprise.
The tens of thousands of fans filling the stadium erupted with screams of excitement as the unmistakeable first few bars of Mardy Bum rang out into the open air. Despite the iconic track having stood the test of time as a fan favourite, it was the first time the band had played it live since 2013.
Although they're touring to promote their new album The Car, there were a few other throwbacks that made it onto the setlist last night - potentially giving a taste of what's to come for other fans heading to their UK gigs this summer, although they're likely to mix things up from place to place.
Read more: 'Shock, gasps and pure joy' as Arctic Monkeys open set with a surprise
They're also playing in Coventry, Manchester, Middlesbrough, Norwich, Sheffield, Swansea, Southampton, London, Dublin and Glasgow - and on June 23, they'll be back in the West Country headlining Glastonbury.
Some of the tour dates still have tickets available via Ticketmaster, including tomorrow's date in Coventry (May 31) starting at £52.25. Others had sold out but now have tickets available via resale.
You can read our full review of the Bristol gig or look back at the photo gallery to properly relive last night. But if you just want a quick summary of what was played, setlist.fm has released the full track list packed with 18 songs and another three in the encore:
- Mardy Bum
- Don't Sit Down 'Cause I've Moved Your Chair
- Brianstorm
- Snap Out of It
- Crying Lightning
- Teddy Picker
- The View From the Afternoon
- Four Out of Five
- Why'd You Only Call Me When You're High?
- Arabella (With Pretty Visitors instrumental interlude)
- My Propeller (First time live since 2014)
- Fluorescent Adolescent
- Suck It and See
- Do I Wanna Know?
- There'd Better Be a Mirrorball
- I Wanna Be Yours (John Cooper Clarke cover)
- 505
- Body Paint
Encore:
- Sculptures of Anything Goes
- I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor
- R U Mine?
Reflecting on the moment Mardy Bum began, Bristol Live reporter Tristan Cork wrote in his review: "There was audible shock and gasps from the crowd, then pure joy as such a familiar tune engulfed them.
"From there on in, the Sheffield lads could be forgiven anything. Even the newer, more mellow stuff was welcomed if for nothing else than a collective breather. Then they were at it again, after Crying Lightning and Why'd You Only Call Me When You're High? raising the roof, the band dropped in My Propeller, from the Humbug album - it was the first time the band played that one for nine years.
"There was no rambling monologues between songs, no quirky covers, no catwalk strolls or acoustic interludes. They strode out and played the songs they wanted to play, and there were a lot of oldies and goodies, with just a sprinkling of songs from the latest album.
"There was time for one or two more from deep into the back catalogue, including a fast and furious I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor, followed by a glorious climax of R U Mine? and the crowd left happy, exhausted, blessed and sweaty, but happy."
Read next:
- Glastonbury 2023: Sell-out stadium rock band hint at festival slot
- The nightclubs of Bristol from days gone by and what happened
- Bristol Beacon reveals plans for grand opening weekend including free party
- Glastonbury travel: All you need to know about arriving by car, train coach and more
- St Pauls Carnival 2023 announces fringe events including huge cricket ground celebration
