John Denton | Harry Fazakerley | Isolation
The Yard, Manchester
June 26th 2026
It’s hard not to say or write, ‘young’ John Denton, when talking about the talented singer/songwriter from Salford who has been making waves in the music scene before even reaching his teens. As well as a ‘homecoming’, tonight follows a prime spot at the Warrington Neighbourhood Weekend and support slot with Irish artist Weston Loney at London’s Courtyard Theatre earlier this month and is a celebration of finishing exams, recently turning 16, and also the official launch event for his debut EP, Someone Else’s Game, which was released in May via Modern Sky.
The four track EP isn’t John’s first release of course. His first band, The Height who released 7 singles between 2023 and 2024, a number of which were compiled as EPs by Manchester’s own Vinyl Revival record store/label before going solo aged 14. Someone Else’s Game, along with the title track features the tracks Waiting Til It All Works Out, Reality and You Still Stayed The Same, all displaying talent beyond his years with lyrics reflecting the impatience of youth, such as, ‘I don’t know where I belong, but neither do you’, reflecting a generation that feel unheard and displaced in modern society, not unlike Weller’s sentiments on early releases from The Jam.
The Yard is a multi-purpose space in Cheetham Hill which opened in 2019. Coming at the end of the week, when the record for the highest temperature has been broken on multiple occasions, it’s a relief to find it’s fully air-conditioned. (Perhaps a sign that I’m now showing my age after spending many hours in sweatboxes such as the International and Roadhouse in my youth!). Age wise, the crowd is mixed, although the average would be mid to late 20’s at most, with John’s friends and their families out in force to celebrate the occasion. Unfortunately, I miss the local opening band, Isolation, who, from what I heard, were great and will be checking out as soon as able.
I do see a second act, Harry Fazakerley, however, who hails from the other end of the East Lancs, whom I’ve heard of as he’s supporting Jamie Webster in the coming week at a trio of events at Liverpool’s Blackstone Street Warehouse. It may be cliched to say, but the influence of Norris Green’s favourite son and The La’s are clear from the off. The second track, Anchored being a case in point with its soaring chorus and catchy hooks. The short set mixes ballads with more up-tempo tub thumping numbers, which go down well with the crowd. Another new artist to keep an eye out for.
John Denton takes to the stage at 9pm, flanked by Billy Piggott and Harry Shallaker on bass and drums respectively. The floor is full, and there’s a lot of love and support directed at the stage. The set kicks off with the first solo single released in early 2025, Not The Same which leads into a breakneck and spirited rendition of Mersey Paradise which gets a great response. Waiting ’Till It All Works Out is next and is followed by a new song My Own Way, which takes me back to my early Weller comparison, specifically the All Mod Cons era.
Piggott and Shallaker take a short break as Denton does a short solo acoustic slot. A faithful rendition of Donovan’s Catch The Wind, which is one of his favourite songs, and also his mum’s, who has been instrumental in his musical education. Then there’s a sing-along take on The Smiths’ There Is A Light.
The band returns to the stage and kicks into another track from the EP, Reality and another new song, Don’t Know Why. Fittingly, whilst tonight’s gig is just 10 mins walk from the centre of Manchester, the Salford-born teen dedicates Dirty Old Town to all the Salfordians in the room, of which there are many. Denton’s take on the “love song” to his city sits somewhere between Ewan MacColl’s original and The Pogues interpretation and again receives a great deal of audience participation.
We’re in the home straight as the most recently released track from the EP, You Still Stayed The Same is played. There’s a gentle swagger to it, which reminds me of Aztec Camera’s Small World, which was used as the theme for the Manchester based series Early Doors. A take on There She’s Goes is the penultimate track of the night, a number which Denton confesses is one of his favourites, but the band have only recently started rehearsing it. You wouldn’t notice. The evening finishes with EP’s title track, the coming-of-age gem Someone Else’s Game that captures the quiet pressure, confusion and contradiction of growing up in a world that constantly tells you who you’re supposed to be.
On tonight’s form, I think we can be assured that Denton knows exactly who and where he’s supposed to be. To witness a 16 year old commanding a stage and confidently delivering a mix of his own material and inspired covers, such as Catch The Wind, is something special. As well as the launch of the EP, tonight felt like a marker in his career to date. On the strength of this release and the new songs featured, I’m looking forward to Denton wowing audiences with more of his own material, possibly even revisiting some of the earlier tracks written for The Height, which still stand up.
Whilst John Denton will be playing at the Neighbourhood Festival in Manchester in October, I’m sure he’ll be popping up over the coming months and would recommend you check him out should you get the chance.
~
Photo courtesy of Daisy Allen photography_with_daisy
All words by Iain Key. See his author profile here or find him via his LinkTree
A Plea From Louder Than War
Louder Than War is run by a small but dedicated independent team, and we rely on the small amount of money we generate to keep the site running smoothly. Any money we do get is not lining the pockets of oligarchs or mad-cap billionaires dictating what our journalists are allowed to think and write, or hungry shareholders. We know times are tough, and we want to continue bringing you news on the most interesting releases, the latest gigs and anything else that tickles our fancy. We are not driven by profit, just pure enthusiasm for a scene that each and every one of us is passionate about.
To us, music and culture are eveything, without them, our very souls shrivel and die. We do not charge artists for the exposure we give them and to many, what we do is absolutely vital. Subscribing to one of our paid tiers takes just a minute, and each sign-up makes a huge impact, helping to keep the flame of independent music burning! Please click the button below to help.
John Robb – Editor in Chief