Bruce Springsteen Celebrates Christmas In May At Manchester Show

Last night Bruce Springsteen continued The River Tour with the E Street Band at Etihad Stadium in Manchester, England. The biggest surprise at the marathon, 32-song performance was the tour’s first rendition of the holiday classic “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town.”

The Boss and his band started the show with the unusual and appreciated sequence of “Atlantic City,” “Murder Incorporated” and “Badlands” ahead of the evening’s first song from The River, “The Ties That Bind.” By the end of the night Springsteen had played 10 tunes off The River which is well more than he had at the past few shows. He also worked in six songs from Born In The U.S.A. and four from Born To Run.

Eight songs into the concert, Bruce pointed out an audience member wearing a Santa Claus costume holding a sign asking the band to play “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town.” Springsteen welcomed the audience member to the stage and revealed Santa lives in Manchester during the off-season. The audience member even helped out by singing a line of the holiday classic.

Watch fan-shot footage of “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town” captured by Kevin Oakley: