Punk Rock Factory 'We're Gunna Need A Bigger Boat' Concert Review Manchester Academy 6/3/2026
- sarah fisher
- 15 hours ago
- 5 min read
By Sarah Fisher ~ Sarah in the pit
The outrageously entertaining Punk Rock Factory brought a whole lot of fun with prizes to be won to Manchester Academy 1 on Friday night. Turning the venue into a real wacky place.o Manchester Academy 1 on Friday night. Turning the venue into a real wacky place.
Academy 1 was filled with families and big kids like me who collectively enjoy theme tunes to some of the best kids tv and pop/punk rock. There was never a dull moment as DJ Sean Smith had everyone entertained with some of the best punk rock classics like blink-182, Avril Levigne and Papa Roach in-between the bands. The whole crowd were singing along to the early 2000’s classics.
The merch stand was the best I have ever seen! With fun T-shirt designs in the style of some of the best tv shows, such at ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja turtles’ and patches that look like ‘Minecraft’ blocks. I wanted to shop like it was black Friday but limited it to one tee and a patch for both myself and my kid back home.
The Bottom Line were the supporting band on tour. Their sound and energy were a good fit for Punk Rock Factory and their shenanigans.
The Bottom Line were high energy and a crowd pleaser from the start. Their songs were catchy and uplifting like those pop punk classics we know and love.
The Guys from Punk Rock Factory joined them on stage for a song, not only to sing-a-long but to prank them. PRF brought out a cheese platter and red wine and started to feed The bottom line band members whilst they were trying to sing. It all ended in a cheese fight, with cheese being flung into the crowd. It was like watching an episode of ‘Wacaday’!
The Bottom Line were great at interacting with the audience. Their lead singer crowed-surfed to into the crowd to form a circle pit for one of their songs.
Punk Rock Factory took to the stage after another sing-a-long DJ set from Sean Smith, with the lively party classic ‘Livin La Vida Loca’. The whole crowd was in high spirits singing along and dancing from the get go.
The band then broke into a much loved Disney song of recent years ‘Shiny’. -Not a drab crab in sight. Kids and parents were enjoying the moment collectively singing at the top of their lungs. The last song in the pit for me was ‘Mamma Mia’ a high vibing disco classic turned punk!
I felt like a kid again with songs such as ‘Under The Sea’ from ‘The Little Mermaid’ and ‘Fun House’. Two songs I’ve been singing on the daily since I was a kid.
It was the perfect fun night for families to bond and share their love of tv, film and punk rock!
As a parent myself, I couldn’t help but feel my kids were missing out back home, but I still had the time of my life taking photos, making notes and new memories from the nostalgia of my own youth and parenthood.
The night wasn’t just about families though. It was also for us adults who still have those theme tunes rattling around in our heads and who love Disney, Punk Rock and good fun.
In the middle of their set, PRF brought out a bar for the touring crew and a giant 'connect four'.
Tonight saw two kids go head-to-head for the first time on the tour playing 'connect four'. The winner got to keep a dog poo trophy, but to keep it fair, like sports days of the 2020’s. Both kids were given the go-ahead to pick some free merch off the merch stand after the show.
Manchester was the last night on the tour, so with no further need for a giant connect four, the kids were encouraged to throw the giant tokens into the crowd.
The band played some more childhood bangers, before having a sentimental moment with the audience. Explaining just how much it means to them as a band, to play big venues like Manchester Academy 1. They had all been in various bands since the age of 13 and blew-up on social media in lockdown, as a group of friends in their 40’s playing silly punk rock versions of kids television theme tunes. The band has been on the rise over the last few years and this tour has been their biggest to date. To the band, it means the world to have the support of their audience.
For the last few songs, the crew threw an inflatable shark and pink flamingo pool ring into the audience, for them to fling around in a giant game of keepy uppy.
The night ended with a song that would remind us all to keep that childhood magic alive within us, ‘When You Wish Upon A Star’.
I knew Punk Rock factory were fun and talented musicians from watching their videos on social media, but tonight was more than I could have ever anticipated. The high energy, the jokes, the silliness, the pranks and the pure entertainment from both bands were phenomenal.Honestly I could go on and on, Punk Rock Factory are a phenomenon!
I for one will be getting tickets and taking my kids to their next tour. In fact, I hope to catch them at Slam Dunk in Leeds this summer!
Set List:
Livin La Vida Loca
Shiny
Mamma Mia
Under The Sea
Cest La Vie
You're Welcome
Just Can't Wait To Be King
Surface Pressure
Chucklevision
Fun House
Spongebob
Thundercats
Running Up That Hill
Animaniacs
Friend Like Me
Power Rangers
Pokemon
Bare Necessities
Life Is A Highway
How Far I'll Go
Encore:
Let It Go
When Yor Wish Upon A Star
Words and Photos By Sarah Fisher ~ Sarah in the pit
