It’s no secret that there is great rivalry between Manchester and Liverpool: the shipping canal, Coronation Street versus Brookside, Manchester United against Liverpool F.C, Oasis and The Beatles. But tonight they united for a passion they share in dearly – music.

Manchester band The Courteeners took to stage giving the Liverpool academy a spiky, aggressive performance that rocked the main room.

The Middleton four piece had to be on top form as other young Manc’ band Twisted Wheel were strumming the other room but Liam Fray The Courteeners’ front man and co proved they are the top dogs of Mancunian music.

Typical stereotypes of comparisons to Oasis and The Stones Roses are apparent to The Courteeners and it seems the so called Manchester music juggernaut drove passed a few years ago but this band has defiantly caught the strip line.

Fans favourites Cavorting, Acrylic and Bide Your Time were bellowed out by Fray; met by screams and a karaoke session by frolicking fans.

New tracks such as Bojangles intrigued the crowd as well as popular b-side Kimberley. However it was album tracks Fallowfield Hillbilly and If It Wasn’t For Me that had the crowd bouncing and sweat dripping from the ceiling.

Each change over in songs was met by a chorus of ‘Manchester la la la’ by parts of the audience which was taken all in good humour by the locals. The fact people had travelled down the M62 expressed the admiration The Courteeners have back home.

Fray took to stage solo towards the end of the gig playing tracks How Come and No You Didn’t No You Don’t expressing that this man has the charisma and talent to dominate a crowd by himself.

The Guardian First British Album award winners finished with sing along tunes Not Nineteen Forever and What Took You So Long.

Where you came from did not matter this evening as Mancs and Scousers carried on singing together like ‘brothers in arms’ as they left the venue.