‘A NIGHT OF LOVE, JOY AND AN OVERHWELMING SENSE OF UNITY’ : THE LATHUMS IN LIVERPOOL
The Lathums (Rebecca Kilpatrick/Northern Exposure)
LIVE REVIEW | THE LATHUMS, OLYMPIA, LIVERPOOL | 28th November 2025 by Keira Knox
For a small town nestled between two bustling cities, Wigan has produced its fair share of musical greats from Richard Ashcroft to Starsailor and many more. The Lathums are the brightest stars to shine out from the region in recent years and Friday night saw the majority of Wigan’s population travel to Liverpool’s Olympia for a night of celebration.
A night full of joy, love and an overwhelming sense of unity. Kicking off the night was Sheffield’s Tom Rowley, blending niche rock’n’roll with the core sound of British Indie. Rowley was backed by an equally impressive band that included Arctic Monkeys Nick O’Malley.
Textured velvet backdrops and low-lit lighting adorned the stage as the band positioned themselves and commenced their final UK performances for 2025 with ‘Stellar Cast’. Incorporating ‘Say My Name’ ensured their dominance in the venue. The Lathums have quickly established themselves as the pinnacle of what British indie is about.
Their set seamlessly integrated classic favourites with new songs from their latest album, ‘Matter Does Not Define’, creating a celebration not only of the band but also of the region that has evolved alongside them from the very beginning. A magnificent run of songs from ‘How Beautiful Life Can Be’ was smoothly transitioned into by the band. alternating from ‘Struggle’s’ poignant melodies to ‘All My Life’s’ acoustic tones. The most intimate moments of a set can be some of the most powerful and these tracks are evidence of that.
‘Heartbreaker’ was the star of the show. A mass sing-along broke out as soon as the song began, demonstrating why northern crowds are among the best in the world. Fans surged to the front and lifted each other up on to shoulders, dancing in pure excitement.
It was evident that this was one of the band’s most popular tunes by the time ‘Fight On’ roared through the crowd. Everyone in the audience banded together in solidarity, putting their arms around one another as they leaped along to every beat, demonstrating that The Lathums had indeed had the crowd in the palm of their hands.
The legendary bassline of ‘Sad Face Baby,’ which ended the night on a high note, sent waves through the famous Olympia, causing the whole arena to tremble as the crowd leaped along to the powerful drum rhythms. Every expectation was met on Friday night, and The Lathums have undoubtedly raised the bar.
