04 November 2025
Marco Gandolfi
Radio X celebrated a decade of broadcasting the biggest names in rock and indie with a spectacular, sold-out gig at the O2 Apollo Manchester on Monday, November 3rd. The star-studded event, Radio X Is Ten Live with Škoda, featured performances from giants of the indie scene, including Blossoms, Hard-Fi, Jake Bugg, and Circa Waves.
However, the electric atmosphere reached a fever pitch with the unexpected arrival of a true Manchester icon: Courteeners frontman Liam Fray. Walking onto the stage to booming chants of "Liam, Liam!", Fray played a triumphant surprise acoustic set that thrilled the excited, jam-packed crowd. His heartfelt performance included tracks like "No You Didn’t, No You Don't" and, fittingly for a night celebrating the genre, the indie classic "Not Nineteen Forever!"
The show was headlined by Stockport's own Blossoms, who brought the house down with a mammoth set featuring hits such as "Charlemagne," "The Honeymoon," and "Your Girlfriend." Adding a nostalgic layer to the celebration, Hard-Fi also took to the stage, marking the 20th anniversary of their seminal 2005 debut album, Stars of CCTV, with an energetic performance. Jake Bugg got the venue bouncing with tracks like "Zombieland" and "Lightning Bolt," while Circa Waves opened the show with hits like "T-Shirt Weather."
The choice of Manchester as the host city was no accident. The event brought Radio X listeners to a location renowned for its profound influence on modern rock and indie culture. For decades, the city has shaped British music, producing iconic bands like Oasis, The Smiths, Joy Division, and The Stone Roses—artists whose legacies Radio X proudly keeps alive today, making the 10th-anniversary celebration a perfectly fitting tribute to a decade of great music.
