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Broken Social Scene: Albert Hall, Manchester

Dave Simpson, The Guardian, 24 May 2017

THE DAY AFTER THE ARENA BOMBING, Manchester city centre is almost deserted and police patrol the streets. Evening sunshine pours through stained glass windows into this beautiful old Wesleyan chapel, but the atmosphere is uneasy until Broken Social Scene stride on and introduce one of the city’s foremost musical sons. Ex-Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr joins them for 'Anthems for a Seventeen-year Old Girl' and 'Cause = Time', and his departing cry — "Manchester stands together" — sets the tone for an emotional celebration of the power of music.

Total word count of piece: 254

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