Photo Credit: Charlotte Ramsay

Friday night at Manchester’s The Deaf Institute saw Sheffield band Cruz take to the stage as part of their 2026 UK headline tour.

The four-piece indie rock outfit sold out one of the city’s most iconic grassroots venues, delivering an electrifying set packed with fan favourites alongside newer releases.

Formed in 2020, Cruz have steadily carved out a name for themselves on the indie scene, cementing their status as ones to watch thanks to their high-energy performances and undeniable stage presence.

The setlist featured standout tracks including ‘California’, ‘No’ and ‘Amsterdam’, alongside crowd-pleasing covers such as ‘This Love’ by Maroon 5 and ‘Half The World Away’ by Oasis; which is a guaranteed win with any Manchester crowd.

The energy in the room was undeniable. The crowd responded with full force, drinks in hand, lyrics shouted back word-for-word, and even a few fans lifted onto shoulders during key moments. It’s a rare sight in a venue of this size, but a testament to both the band’s growing following and the intensity of the performance.

With a sold-out crowd and a performance of this level, Cruz are quickly outgrowing venues like The Deaf Institute, and bigger stages surely aren’t far behind.