Super Furry Animals @ O2 Apollo, Manchester, UK, May 21, 2026

Super Furry Animals

Super Furry Animals @ O2 Apollo, Manchester, UK, May 21, 2026,

May 28, 2026 By Adam Houghton Photography by Adam Houghton

After a ten year hiatus, Super Furry Animals made an eagerly awaited return to Manchester on their sold out ‘Supacabra’ tour.

The tone was set from the start with the opening track, “Wherever I Lay My Phone (That’s My Home)” from the 1999 LP Guerilla, with its classic line, “SFA OK!” It warmed up the crowd, not that it needed any warming, such was the frenzy to see the Welsh five-piece back in action. What followed was a decade-in-the-making celebration of the weird and wonderful snapshot of Super Furry Animals greatest hits. After ten years away, a set list laden with surefire crowd pleasers is more than welcome, but Super Furry Animals went one better by appeasing the diehard fans with further flung song choices too, and Manchester was treated to “Let The Wolves Howl At The Moon”, played live for the first time since 2008. And when you have such an extensive back catalogue, there are bound to be disappointments of tracks not played - personally “The International Language Of Screaming” was mine - but “Slow Life” complete with Gruff donning the Power Rangers helmet more than made up for it.

No SFA set is complete with out the finale, “The Man Don’t Give A Fuck”, which cranks the energy levels in the crowd to off the scale. And just as you thought the house lights were going to be switched on, they re-emerge, now hidden underneath their iconic Yeti costumes, for a final colourful, outlandish blowout.

No one can say for sure whether Super Furry Animals will stick around, but if they don’t, they can ride off into the sunset, in their blue tank, knowing they crafted a near perfect send off that celebrates their talent and wit. But personally - and I’m sure I speak for the 3,500 fervent fans in the O2 Apollo this evening - I really hope they do.