It’s highly unlikely that Avril Lavigne ever imagined that 22 years after releasing her debut album, she would be in the middle of Manchester overlooking the train lines singing about Sk8r Boi’s to a crowd full of, if I’m any indication, 35-year-olds trying to reclaim their youth. But that’s exactly where she found herself on Wednesday night (July 3), yet she didn’t seem to mind it one bit. Hot on the heels of a fun Glastonbury set at the weekend , the Canadian singer headed to Castlefield Bowl to kick off this year’s Sounds of the City festival.
The show kicked off in rowdy fashion with support from Los Angeles-based rising star phem ("I love phlegm," one man next to me cheekily joked) and fellow Canadians Simple Plan. Despite the rain plummeting down before their set and threatening to put a damper on spirits, the 90s rock band gave a lively post-work wake-up full of their hits, including I'm Just a Kid and Perfect, alongside an utterly bizarre rendition of the What’s New Scooby Doo? theme tune. Whilst initially a bewildering choice, it really had no reason to pop off as hard as it did.
.. (One woman near me was literally screaming ‘Scooby Dooby Doo’ louder than I’ve ever heard anyone bellow before).
READ MORE: Castlefield Bowl Sounds of the City 2024 - everything you need to know One of the best parts of a gig at Castlefield Bowl is that no matter the type of show, or what kind of crowd is in attendance, there will always be joy in cheering and waving at.
