Johnny Marr Joins Franz Ferdinand for The Smiths’ Bigmouth Strikes Again in Manchester

Indie music fans in Manchester were treated to an unforgettable night on Saturday (January 18), as Franz Ferdinand shared the stage with Johnny Marr for a trio of electrifying songs, including The Smiths’ iconic “Bigmouth Strikes Again.” The performance took place at Aviva Studios as part of Amazon Music’s City Sessions series, streamed live on Prime Video and Amazon Music’s Twitch channel.

The Scottish band’s set was a celebration of their career, with a strong focus on their latest album, The Human Fear, released earlier this month. The collaboration with Marr began with “Build It Up,” a track from the new record, followed by the fan-favorite “Do You Want To” from their 2005 album You Could Have It So Much Better. The highlight of the night came with the closing cover of The Smiths’ 1986 classic “Bigmouth Strikes Again,” a nod to Marr’s legendary roots.

Marr, whose guitar work defined The Smiths’ sound, took to Instagram after the show, writing, “Love and best to my friends @franz_ferdinand for a great time and great show.” Franz Ferdinand frontman Alex Kapranos also shared a heartfelt post, featuring backstage moments with Marr set to the mandolin-driven Smiths track “Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want.”

The setlist spanned Franz Ferdinand’s two-decade career, kicking off with “The Doctor” and weaving through hits like “No You Girls,” “The Dark of the Matinee,” and “Take Me Out,” alongside newer tracks such as “Night Or Day” and “Audacious.” The band’s energy was palpable, blending their signature post-punk sound with the unmistakable flair of Marr’s guitar.

Produced by Mark Ralph, The Human Fear marks the band’s first studio album since 2018’s Always Ascending. Described as “Franz-y as fuck” by critics, the record combines their trademark wit and danceable rhythms with fresh sonic experiments. Speaking about the album, Kapranos said, “I don’t think there’s a single song that you’ll hear on the album and won’t think, ‘Oh, is that Franz Ferdinand?’ At the same time, there will be thinking, ‘Oh, did they really do that?’”

The Manchester show was a testament to the enduring power of collaboration and the shared language of music, uniting generations of indie fans in a night of celebration.