Maruja Live in Manchester: Politically charged jazz-punk

Rosie Long
Nov 17, 2025
2 min read

Words: Rosie Long

Images: Rosie Long

Manchester band, Maruja, buzzed the crowd with their 'Pain to Power' tour Friday the 14th at the O2 Ritz, supported by the perfect pick, Enola Gay.

Grateful to be back for their homecoming show to a sold-out crowd at Manchester's 02 Ritz this Friday, Maruja's 2025 album 'Pain to Power' has gained well-deserved traction on Spotify, with songs like Saoirse and Look Down On Us becoming two of their most streamed. Maruja's message of peace and collective action is juxtaposed by hardcore, politically-charged punk.

The angry music from the band is justified. Harry Wilkinson is evidently passionate about political injustices, and it is made clear by the lyrics and the concert experience that the band cares greatly about relevant issues. Multiple times during the concert the crowd began chanting "Free, free Palestine!", as well as a long held fist in the air while Wilkinson instructed a moment of silence in solidarity. This is something the band also did with the crowd in 2024, and felt like a consuming form of protest. It can be distracting from the enjoyment of the actual music and the art- yet, what is art without a message? In these times, it is important to have bands that acknowledge world issues and injustices, and for them to use their voices and music to spread this message.

*Maruja at the o2 Ritz, Manchester (Image: Rosie Long)*

All the band members work seamlessly together and create a powerful and punky symphony. Saxophonist Joe Carrol absolutely brings the band to life. He has a great ability to move and enchant the crowd. He is a master at his craft and the many techniques he uses add to the life of Maruja's music.

Enola Gay, on their 3rd night supporting Maruja on this tour, caught the attention of the crowd, and were, in my opinion, the perfect supporting act for Maruja - and not the first time they had supported the band on their tours. Enola Gay supported Maruja in YES Basement in Manchester 3 years ago to around 100 people. Now having the opportunity for both bands to play to a crowd of around 1,500 people, Enola Gay recognised the experience on their facebook. They wrote: "[it is] hard to put into words what that means".

*Supports Enola Gay (Image: Rosie Long)*

Enola Gay are a Belfast band, with similar music to Maruja. Their songs fit into a genre of Irish noise-punk combined seamlessly with aggressive political lyrics. Not knowing a supporting band is something we're all victims of, and when the band is able to rouse the crowd without them having to know the lyrics, or even any of the songs, that is true talent. Enola Gay was more than capable of that. Luke Beirne's drums were all-consuming, and got the whole room moving and moshing.

The band will go on to play in London on the 19th November, and then return to Belfast for Winter In The Sun alongside Gurriers and Makeshift Art Bar.