The Liverpool band performed on the Radio 1 Main Stage on Friday and recalled park ‘puberty moments’
15:50, 25 May 2025Updated 16:08, 25 May 2025
Matthew Murphy of The Wombats performing on the main stage during BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend at Sefton Park, Liverpool(Image: PA)
BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend is in its third day with the final headliners set to take over Sefton Park. Local band The Wombats had the pleasure of opening the festival to thousands of fans on the Radio 1 Main Stage on Friday .
The Wombats, made up of Matthew Murphy, Tord Overland Knudsen and Dan Haggis, formed in Liverpool in 2003 and have since sold more than one million albums worldwide. They met as teenagers whilst studying at Liverpool Institute of Performing Art and emerged as leading lights of the late ‘00s indie rock scene.
Their 2007 debut album, ‘A Guide to Love, Loss and Desperation’ featured hit singles ‘Let’s Dance to Joy Division’, ‘Moving to New York’ and ‘Kill the Director’. Their second album ‘This Modern Glitch’ was released in 2011 while ‘Greek Tragedy’ from 2015’s ‘Glitterbug’ became a viral hit.
Lead singer Matthew, opened the Radio 1 set by saying: “I used to come here a lot as a kid.” And speaking to the ECHO following the show he added: “I went to Liverpool College and Sefton Park was where we would do our PE and runs. I’m not sure if my first kiss was there but all the good puberty moments and a lot of university memories sprung to mind. It’s the perfect park to do something like this. I get really excited about the city.”
Matthew Murphy of The Wombats performs during day 1 of BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend at Sefton Park(Image: WireImage)
By 2018, with the release of ‘Beautiful People Will Ruin Your Life’, The Wombats were soon playing arenas and in 2022 scored their first Number 1 album ‘Fix Yourself, Not the World’. Despite the band’s rise to fame, they say they lead a rather humble life and only get spotted by fans occasionally.
Matthew said: “Now I’m off the juice I don’t go out that much. I can’t say my life has been full of getting spotted in the street moments which I’m thankful for. The odd thing will happen every now and again.”
The Wombat’s new album ‘Oh! The Ocean’ was released in February and went to number four in the Official Charts. Thrilled with the response from fans, Matthew said: “Yes – very happy. It was a tougher week than when put out our fifth album but the response has been great. I’m very proud of the album and we’ll see what damage it does.”
The Wombats swapped the Radio 1 Main Stage for Warrington’s Neighbourhood Weekender on Saturday. With festival season in full swing, Matthew admits the big shows are where he feels most at home.
“The intimate gigs turn me out because I feel like they’re too close and people aren’t enjoying it. I can see right into their eyes. I like festivals because everyone is one big body of energy and its easier for me to play to thousands.”