State Champs Headline a Night of Pop-Punk Fun at Manchester’s O2 Ritz [Photos]

It’s the end of February. The weather shows no signs of getting any better, even though Spring is literally just around the corner. So, you could say that the arrival of a three-band pop-punk bill headlined by New York crew State Champs is a welcome sight as their UK tour rolls into Manchester.

Touring in promotion of their self-titled 2024 album, longtime pop-punk faves Broadside and Washington quartet The Home Team.

It’s over to the Virginia outfit Broadside to kick off the night and, given their status within the scene, they’re greeted by a crowd who are here and primed to party. Sure, they are only afforded a short time on stage, but this is a band who, having been around since 2010, not only know how to maximize their time on stage but know how to work for a crowd with as many energetic pop-punk pleasers as possible.

Cranking up the energy levels next are Washington pop-punk faves, The Home Team, who certainly have no problems continuing from where Broadside left off, not that anybody really needs any encouragement. Described elsewhere as “a tonne of fun live,” the band bounce through their twelve songs on stage and, like Broadside, know how to make the most of their time on stage with no filler and plenty of bangers like “Move It Or Lose It,” and “Loud” to whip up the energy levels that little bit more.

The headliners, well, they bound onto the stage and any thoughts that this crowd were going to be flagging after two high-energy sets soon went out of the window the moment State Champs kicked off their set with “Silver Cloud” the second track from their self-titled 2024 album. Bouncing forward, the band continue to maintain the high energy with a healthy selection of choices from the album, including “Light Blue,” “Clueless,” and “Hell of It,” all packing out the earlier part of the night.

At twenty+ songs long, for anyone but hardened pop-punk bands, this could have seen energy levels drop, but the thing with a pop-punk crowd is that, like the music, the energy levels are almost limitless. What this means is that even on a crappy February night in Manchester, when three band bills like arrive into town, consisting of two quality supports and a headliner who packs their set with a perfect pop-punk mix of new bangers and old favourites, a room full of people party like there is no tomorrow.

Our photographer, Katie Probert Photography, joined the party in Manchester, and you can check out her photo gallery and the State Champs setlist here:

State Champs Setlist:

1. Silver Cloud
2. Losing Myself
3. Mine Is Gold
4. Outta My Head
5. Light Blue
6. Criminal
7. Clueless
8. Perfect Score / Frozen / Fake It
9. Hell of It
10. All You Are Is History
11. The Constant
12. Hard to Please
13. Tight Grip
14. Just Sound
15. Act Like That
16. Remedy
17. Elevated
18. Dead and Gone
19. Save Face Story
20. Everybody but You
21. Secrets

State Champs (w/ Home Team, Broadside) @ O2 Ritz (Manchester, UK) on February 22, 2025

37 photos