This is not the Harry Styles we left behind in 2023, and he seems quite keen for us all to notice that from the get-go.
The sequin two-pieces have been packed away, the hair’s been cut into a modern mullet, and he’s into synths now.
Harry Styles emerges onto an in-the-round stage at Co-op Live and promptly hunches over a sound desk to mix the intro of Aperture. For a horrible moment, I think it’s going to be like a Fred Again concert – but then he straightens up, picks up the mic, and starts to dance, and we collectively realise we’re about to witness something truly special.
The chance to see Harry Styles on a small (hahahahaha) stage like this isn’t likely to happen again, not when he’s selling out record-breaking runs at Wembley Stadium.
The chance to see him after such a long hiatus, performing brand new music in full, is even less likely.
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And the chance to have it all going on right here in Manchester, just days after our city also hosted the BRITs, is (and I don’t say this lightly) an honour.
Harry Styles One Night Only at Co-op Live. Credit: Netflix
For One Night Only, we hear every song off his fourth studio album (Kiss All The Time, Disco Occasionally) in full – with a few surprises thrown in at the end for good measure.
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The whole thing has been filmed for Netflix, with a handful of cameramen chasing around after Harry on stage.
And there are definitely moments where you are conscious you’re watching a Netflix special being made, like when he ventures down the catwalk for Ready, Steady, Go and no spotlight follows him, but a camera does.
That’s not a reflection on Harry though, who performs for the audience first and foremost. He seems taken aback at how thoroughly we’ve all studied the lyrics to his hours-old album already, welling up with emotion as he returns to the live stage for the first time in three years.
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Harry Styles on stage, in the round, in Manchester
“There’s so much danger in the world,” he says. “But love is powerful and kindness is powerful. The world could use a little extra peace right now.”
Unusually, too, the show had a strict phones-free policy, with the poor venue staff doing their level best to enforce Harry’s wishes to keep cameras in pockets for one night only.
I would love more gigs to be phone free. The crowd is DARK, and present, with both hands in the air, and it lets Harry shine. I don’t believe anyone could honestly say they had a worse night for not being able to film it.
As for those new songs which had their live debut last night, Season 2 Weight Loss makes a lot more sense live, with real thudding drums, than it does on the album (I ranked it my least-favourite of the record); Coming Up Roses translates beautifully with a live orchestra; and Pop is a certified bop that’ll have those stadiums boogying.
Harry Styles One Night Only. Credit: Netflix
If you listened to Dance No More and thought it was set up for a call and response, you were correct, even if we do all clumsily tiptoe around the lyrics a bit.
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Carla’s Song is a perfect closer in every setting, whether it’s in your headphones listening to the album or as one final collective moment in an arena.
It wasn’t just the new album we got at the One Night Only – Harry also dug into the archives to play a few extra treats for us all – From the Dining Table (live for the first time in almost a decade), Golden, Watermelon Sugar, As It Was, and Sign of the Times.
The show opens and closes with Aperture, the lead single from the album, and his one night only proves his point from the song – we really do belong together.
Neighbourhood’s city centre festival returns to Manchester with promising first wave
Danny Jones
Neighbourhood Festival’s city centre all-dayer is returning to Manchester for 2026 after a year off, and this first wave of the lineup is looking promising already.
Following teasers over the past month or so, it didn’t take long for us to figure out that NBHD Festival was coming back, especially with the Weekender in Warrington having taken a similar hiatus in 2024.
However, when festivals like these take time out, it can be easy to worry whether or not they’ll lose momentum or come back stronger.
Judging by this initial batch of acts alone, there’s no doubt NBHD Fest ’26 will be another cracker.
Neighbourhood Festival 2026! Manchester’s biggest multi-venue festival returns on Saturday 17 October. The first wave of acts just announced with many more brilliant artists to be revealed. Sign-up for exclusive pre-sale which goes live 10am Tue 10 Mar. https://t.co/Qq0c7Ibuxqpic.twitter.com/8CQoeqdpWm
As you can see, as well as the fast-rising grungey alternative and garage rock quartet, KEO, being announced as one of the first big hitters on the list, there are some other familiar names on the lineup.
Especially for us Mancs.
With both Bolton and Altrincham youngsters, Florentenes and The Guest List, both joining the roster, as well as the likes of Bury-born ‘rockabilly’ revivalist Elliot James Reay also featuring on there, there’s a good deal of local talent to be enjoyed as always.
That goes for the regional delegation in general, too, with the likes of Jos River heading back up this way from her base in London, and Leeds’ fittingly named indie four-piece, The North, also booking a slot.
We’ll admit there are plenty of bands and artists coming up from the capital for the all-day festival, but at least they know where the UK’s real home of music is.
You only have to look at the festival vibes up here to know that…
It’s worth reminding, once again, that since its inception in 2016 (yes, it really has been a decade now), Neighbourhood Fest has continued to serve as a proper launchpad for the next wave of superstars, not just here in the North West but across the country.
We still remember seeing the likes of Sam Fender, Holly Humberstone, Declan McKenna, Mahalia, The Lathums and more – some for the very first time – on these city centre stages, and it’s crazy to see how big some of them have gone on to become.
Set to take over some of Manchester’s most iconic venues along the Oxford Road Corridor once again, this is, without a doubt, one of the best dates for independents on the annual live music calendar.
Hosting a total of 11 stages on Saturday, 17 October for a full day of live music, tickets for this year’s Neighbourhood Festival go on sale HERE at 10am on Friday, 13 March – and remember, there’s still plenty more to be added to the 2026 lineup.
A (completely subjective) ranking of Harry Styles’ new album, based off one listen
Daisy Jackson
Kiss All The Time, Disco Occasionally is finally with us – HS4 really did drop at midnight this time.
We all expected the fourth album from pop megastar Harry Styles to be a disco album (… because of the title, and the disco ball on the cover), and it is, in places. But there’s a lot more going on here too.
You can tell he’s spent a lot of time in Berlin, which means the disco here is pretty modern, but it’s all still quite tame. This is a pop album at its core and it needs to be one that will fill stadiums (that are already sold out).
And long-time Harry Styles fans will be pleased to find a few stripped-back ballads alongside the heavily-produced bigger tracks.
He kept us waiting for this one, but was it worth the wait?
Here’s my (completely subjective) ranking of every track on the album, based off precisely one listen. I might end up eating my words after a second go-around…
Every song on Harry Styles’ Kiss All The Time, Disco Occasionally, ranked
I’m finding this one a bit annoying until it gets to about the 1.45 mark and builds. I’m all for experimenting with new sounds but it’s all a little disjointed and messy. ‘What drum effect would you like for this one, Harry’ – ‘All of them please’.
You know that feeling you get when you’re boiling the kettle and the extractor fan’s on and the microwave’s going and then your phone starts vibrating and it’s too much noise? Same energy.
11. Paint By Numbers (Track 11)
Bored. Have gone to make a cup of tea.
10. The Waiting Game (Track 6)
I know the girlies have been crying for a Harry ballad like Matilda, but you can’t really have one now because he’s been to Berghain and it’s changed him. He likes synths now.
This one is a close contender though. It’s nice enough but there’s not a whole lot of substance.
9. Are You Listening Yet? (Track 4)
Oh no, speak-singing, in his odd Cheshire-LA accent too (listen to the way he says ‘dancing’). Even with that crescendo with the choir near the end it’s a bit of a plodder. NEXT.
8. American Girls (Track 2)
Idk much about music terminology but whatever key he’s singing in here is scratching my brain just right. I feel like a dog when you scratch the part of their belly that makes their leg shake.
This is a really nice second track and I already know I’m going to regret ranking it so low after a few more listens. But that’s not the point of this ranking. Eighth place for you, American Girls.
7. Coming Up Roses (Track 8)
OH HANG ON, we have a string section! I’m awake again! YES HARRY STRIP IT BACK!! I take back what I said for The Waiting Game, the sad ballad girlies will lap this up. Can’t wait to hold my phone torch up in Co-op Live for this one.
6. Pop (Track 9)
The baseline on this has melted my spine (complimentary). I want to put my head inside the subwoofer. I much prefer the verses to the chorus but can imagine this one will go off in a live setting. To the dance floor!
5. Dance No More (Track 10)
Dance No More? Don’t tell me sh*t like that then hit me with a funky beat like this, Harry! I’m a sucker for a funky indie band (see: Parcels, Phoenix, Jungle, etc etc) so this was always going to work for me.
4. Aperture (Track 1)
Obviously this is not my first listen of this song. Now that we have the context of the rest of the album I can see why this was the lead single. I’ve liked it from the get-go and still do. But if you don’t like this song, you might not love what’s coming.
3. Ready, Steady, Go (Track 3)
More like OK Go, amirite?! Again, the harmonies in this are simply heavenly in the verses, I have been beamed right up. The megaphone vocals in the chorus might divide some people though. Funky little baseline may even tempt me off the couch even at this hour (it’s 7am).
2. Taste Back (Track 5)
This a bit more like old Harry. I can absolutely imagine myself walking to the tram in the morning with this in my ears feeling like the world’s not so shite after all. Might even frolic in a field to this one in summer. Very lovely.
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1. Carla’s Song (Track 12)
Talk about saving the best til last! This is really reminiscent of another song, can’t put my finger on it, but I feel transported and immersed and all other good things music should make you feel. His vocals are stunninggggg in this.
Daisy Jackson -
7th March 2026 
