Unbreakable spirit is star of the show

THE world’s biggest music stars focused the eyes of the world on the One Love Manchester concert, but it was the city’s unbreakable spirit that ultimately stole the show.

Manchester was centre stage for all the right reasons as Ariana Grande made her emotional return to the city just two weeks after the bombing at her Manchester Arena gig.

Ariana was determined to return, assembling some of the world’s biggest music stars in the process, to help begin healing the wounds of the atrocity with her One Love Manchester benefit gig.

After the London terror attack on Saturday night many questioned whether this huge concert, filled with 50,000 fans, could or should go ahead. But there was never a doubt in the musicians’ minds that the show would go on - and prove that ‘hatred and fear will never win.’

While the likes of Katy Perry, Miley Cyrus, Justin Bieber and Black Eyed Peas may have grabbed the headlines in the leadup to this gig, it was the wonderfully Manc moments that stole our hearts.

The impromptu ring-ofroses in the crowd that grew so huge it became more knees-up-motherbrown and the joyful ladies leading police officers a merry dance.

And you can’t get much more Manc than Liam Gallagher turning up in his ●●Ariana Grande, above and below left, performs to a huge crowd during the One Love Manchester benefit concert at Emirates Old Trafford. Below right, Liam Gallagher and Chris Martin parka and belting out Live Forever at a surprise finale... although there was to be no reunion with brother Noel this time.

Instead Coldplay’s Chris Martin lifted spirits and got the crowds singing every word to Oasis’ Don’t Look Back in Anger, now something of an anthem to the resilience of the city after the attack.

He even managed a blast of James’ Sit Down just to push his honorary Manc credentials before a poignant rendition of Fix You.

A global audience of millions tuned in and the 50,000 of us lucky enough to be inside danced, laughed, sang and shed more than the odd tear along the way.

The show, fittingly enough, had begun with the words: “Let’s not be afraid” uttered by surprise opening act Marcus Mumford.

After the terrible events in London on Saturday night there was of course a sense of anxiety for many heading along.

Particularly those 14,000 who had attended Ariana’s original gig on May 22 – and who were offered a free ticket to return to this Emirates Old Trafford gig.

Those fans were given priority access at the front of the stage in another classy touch from Ms Grande who has shown strength and courage far beyond her 23 years.

On the way into the ground, fans spoke of their mixed emotions attending such a packed concert, just as the arena had been that fateful night on May 22.

But there was a steely defiance even among the youngest of fans who pulled on their Ariana T-shirts and gleefully donned their flashing bunny ears.

As Ariana’s manager, Scooter Braun, so beautifully put it on stage: “Manchester, your bravery is our hope.”