Bruce Springsteen Opens “Land of Hope & Dreams” Tour in Manchester With Powerful Statements on the U.S. Political Climate
May 18, 2025 – Manchester, England — Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band kicked off their much-anticipated Land of Hope & Dreams Tour tonight at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, delivering not only a powerhouse performance but also a poignant message about the current state of the United States.
As the sold-out crowd erupted with excitement, Springsteen took the stage with signature energy. But before diving fully into the music, he paused to address the audience with three emotionally charged statements that framed the evening with both urgency and hope.
Opening the night with “Land of Hope and Dreams,” Springsteen prefaced the song by speaking about the growing political and cultural divisions back home in America. “We come to you tonight not just with guitars and songs, but with a message,” he said. “There is still hope — but it must be fought for, defended, and held onto with everything we have.”
The crowd listened in near silence, the weight of his words resonating deeply before the band launched into the soaring anthem, with Clarence Clemons’ nephew Jake Clemons delivering a soul-stirring sax solo that seemed to echo the gravity of the moment.
Later in the set, before performing “House of a Thousand Guitars,” Springsteen issued his second statement: “In every town, in every home, in every person, there lives the power to choose community over chaos, love over hate. This song is for the people holding the line — for the teachers, the voters, the dreamers.”
The moving ballad, which has become a modern staple in Springsteen’s live shows, transformed into a hymn of resilience as thousands of fans swayed together, lighting up the stadium with phone lights like candles.
But perhaps the most striking moment of the night came just before his third statement. As the familiar chords of an unannounced track rang out — later confirmed to be “American Skin (41 Shots)” — Springsteen addressed police violence, racial injustice, and the need for systemic change in the U.S.
“This song is about what happens when we forget each other’s humanity,” he said. “America is a dream that must include all of us — not just some of us.”
Visibly emotional, the performance of “American Skin” was met with standing ovations and chants of “Bruuuuce!” from the packed stadium, blending reverence with reflection.
The rest of the two-and-a-half-hour setlist included a blend of classics like “Born to Run,” “Dancing in the Dark,” and “Thunder Road,” as well as deeper cuts and selections from his recent albums. The E Street Band, as tight and fiery as ever, matched Springsteen’s intensity note for note.
As the night closed with a raucous encore of “Born in the U.S.A.” and “Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out,” Springsteen reminded fans: “We may be across the ocean, but your voices matter — and so does the fight back home.”
The Land of Hope & Dreams Tour will continue across Europe before heading to North America later this summer.