IT takes some doing to transform the hangar-like space that is the Manchester Arena into an intimate venue but Canadian superstars Arcade Fire did their utmost to connect to every member of a sold-out crowd.

The concert was performed 'in the round' with the stage sitting in the middle of the floor underneath giant video screens.

A slowly-revolving drum riser and a two-hour game of musical microphones meant that Win Butler and co were constantly changing positions giving all four sides of the arena an equal share.

Initially the square stage was decked out as a boxing ring, complete with ropes and turnbuckles.

With an instrumental version of Everything Now blasting out of the speakers, the band were introduced as 'the heavyweight champions of the world' and made a triumphal entrance through the crowd bathed in an array of spotlights.

All the pizazz is fine but you've still got to deliver - and Arcade Fire did in spades.

I have to confess, I'm not a diehard fan. I've heard some of their songs but didn't have the in-depth knowledge that clearly 99 per cent of the audience did. As a result, at times I felt like I'd gatecrashed the world's biggest family party as Butler led an ecstatic crowd in lifting the roof with massed choruses.

This was a full-blown show with spectacular lighting, aided by two giant glitter balls which created a magical effect over the arena.

At times the evening evolved into one giant rave with synths swirling, drums pounding and the vocals lifting the crowd to the heights.

Their most recent album, Everything Now was, as you'd expect well represented, but they threw in a few real treats for the fans including Vampire/Forest Fire from their debut EP first released back in 2003.

Win Butler took the main share of lead vocals and he is a genuinely charismatic performer. Adding quirkiness into the mix was 'better half' Regine Chassagne complete with bright blue jumpsuit and sparkling cloak - a version of Electric Blue proved powerfully hypnotic.

With nine musicians on stage, the rate at which instruments were exchanged was astonishing, with keyboards being swapped for drums and guitars for saxophones.

For me we could have done with more reflective songs like first encore We Don't Deserve Love which Butler sang back to the the back while standing in the middle of the audience - his second foray out into the masses of the night.

But this was a barnstorming show running to well over two hours.

For a final encore, support The Preservation Hall Jazz Band joined Arcade Fire for rousing versions of Everything Now and Wake up before leading them in a New Orleans-style procession through the crowds back to the dressing room.

Arcade Fire may be one of the biggest bands of the world but they have also managed to retain their own individual, uncompromising approach to making music their way - and last night, Manchester loved them for it.