Pulp spark fears for future as Jarvis Cocker tells fans ‘you never know’ at final big gig

Lead singer Jarvis Cocker delighted the 30,000 strong crowd but left them concerned they may not play again

Britpop legends Pulp cemented their spectacular comeback on Friday night – then left 30,000 fans wondering if they’d just seen the end of an era.

Headlining Manchester’s Live From Wythenshawe Park, hip-swivelling frontman Jarvis Cocker told the crowd: “We’ve been touring for a while and this is our last big concert… not forever hopefully, but you never know do you!”

He teased fans about the band’s Manchester history and said: “The first time Pulp played in the Manchester area was Salford University, 28th May 1992… then it was the 13th of October 1992 at the Boardwalk in Manchester…. You weren’t there, you weren’t born!”

Introducing another one of his hits, he said: As I said this is the last big concert we’re gonna do for a while…. So instead of saying Do You Remember the First Time, I should say, will you remember the last time?”

Flanked by Candida Doyle, Nick Banks and Mark Webber, the Sheffield icons had the park bellowing every word of Common People and Disco 2000.

They then proved they’re no heritage act with the crowd favourite Spike Island, from More, their first album in 24 years.

Despite downpours during the week, even the weather behaved. Jarvis joked: “It’s Friday night, it’s stopped raining – that cost a lot of money actually!”

Introducing Got To Have Love, he turned philosopher and said: “I’ve discovered something more powerful than anger, do you know what it is? It’s not Nurofen, this isn’t an advert, this isn’t an item you can go out and buy it’s something you have to search for… love.”

And as the set closed, the clouds parted — leaving Jarvis gobsmacked. Pointing skywards, he added: “Just for a moment looking through the sky, at the end of that song a full moon came out, look everyone!”

Self Esteem’s Rebecca Lucy Taylor warmed up the park with a fearless pop set. The gig closed the 2026 Wythenshawe Park series — and proved Pulp still land like nobody else.

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