Tuesday night saw thousands head towards the Etihad Campus for two massive events: one of them being Man City playing in the Champions League and the other one, arguably the biggest metal gig of the year as Sleep Token made their Co-op Live debut.
The alternative prog metal group have had an unreal 12 months or so and while the mysterious, masked rockers have actually been around since 2016, the past year has been truly seismic for their now global profile – hence why they were able to sell out Manchester’s biggest arena at the first time of asking.
Bands don’t just walk into places like the 23,500-capacity Co-op Live arena; anyone playing gigs of that size needs to have earned a rather massive audience in order to do and, in the case of this particular artist, that following feels a little bit more cult-like and fanatical.
We mean that in the nicest way possible, by the way, and we now well and truly have faith in the musical and slightly macabre church of Sleep Token. It all started with an unforgettable intro.
Actually, first off, we have to give a huge hand to warm-up act Bilmuri. We were admittedly almost just as excited to see these guys for the first time and they pulled an absolute blinder landing the support slot for this modern metal gig as, much like the main event, their music is just a bit different.
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In the same way that Sleep Token aren’t just straight-up heavy, thrash, death or any particular kind of metal for that matter, neither are Bilmuri. For one, they’re straight-up hilarious, with frontman Johnny Franck spending lots of time both cracking up and ‘cranking’ up the crowd by ‘the hog’ in between songs, amidst playing a mix of alternative metal, post-hardcore and pop-punk.
The various genres being fused on stage are truly wild. Growling and Kevin James at the Daytona 500 samples (yep) are followed by everything from catchy pop choruses to wonderful jazzy solos from their incredible saxophonist and backing singer Gabi Rose, and that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Point is, us fans in the crowd may have only been few, but it worked because their style is every bit as sprawling.
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Bilmuri will be back playing the Ritz here in Manchester in March of next year; we sincerely recommend you give them a listen and grab a ticket because they were just non-stop fun. We can only imagine how good value for money a full headline show in a smaller venue filled their listeners is. Now onto the ‘cult’.
We love these guys so much – give them a try. (Credit: The Manc Group)
Sleep Token took Manchester to mass
Although the London-formed five-piece has fully lent into this whole semi-religious angle – even labelling attendance to one of their gigs and singing along to the often celestial vocals of their once anonymous frontman as ‘worship’ – it’s a theme that’s sadly been used as a stick to beat metalheads with in the past.
There is undoubtedly a gothic and somewhat satanic element to their aesthetic, especially on the face of things with the painted black arms, Japanese-influenced masks covered in ritualistic markings and dripping with blood etc., but when you actually look beyond the surface it’s simply good world-building.
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Lead singer ‘Vessel’ (all of the band members go by specific monikers) had his identity figured out not too long ago, but the whole idea of his overall style, purpose and allure is that he’s supposed to be the physical embodiment of something bigger and a conduit within the wider Sleep Token lore.
Oh yeah, this stuff is super detailed.
Most notably, though, it was probably the visuals overall that really struck us the most. It wasn’t just in looking at the various slightly demonic-looking characters on stage and hooded figures that served as the most enchanting backing singers, it was the utterly stunning production levels.
When we say it was possibly the most impressive use of lighting and effects we’ve come across in our many years of gigging, we’re not exaggerating. From that incredible entrance and hanging LEDs dripping with colour throughout slow songs, to the smoke literally creeping along broad beams of light like some kind of ghostly presence, it felt like we were in a trance at several points throughout the gig.
Mesmerising (Credit: The Manc Group)
Metal isn’t just lots of aggressive guitar and drums – at least not any more
It was in moments like this that we were taken aback by just how wholesome the crowd had been all night – again, something that heavier rock gigs never get credit for. In fact, a current trend at metal shows is for people to hold up pictures of their cats and that was exactly what we walked into. Adorable.
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The point we’re getting at is that while this particular show had plenty of headbanging of course, especially with how insane some of the bass and drum work is in Sleep Token’s many breakdowns, Co-op Live wasn’t pure moshpits and carnage. Far from it, to be honest.
When those aforementioned lights were tracing around the massive arena, we constantly found ourselves looking around the room and staring up at the sky, before immediately noticing thousands of other people doing the same. There were just as many heart symbols in the air as there were devil horns.
Phone torches were held high during ‘Euclid’ and the room lit up like a night sky. That’s nothing at gigs these days, we know, but it’s worth noting just to put things into perspective for those who may have long misunderstood the metal crowd, ‘moshers’ and ’emos’ – whatever meaningless word gets thrown around most these days.
Who wore it better?He truly was a godly figure up there on that stage at times.Cosplays and a Manc choir? There was nothing ‘devil-worshipping’ about this crowd, they were wholesome AF. (Credit: The Manc Group)
The highlights were as you would expect if you’re a fan: ‘The Offering’ got those grumbly distorted guitars in nice and early, ‘Granite’ had everyone from the goth girls to the middle-aged blokes doing their very best sexy dance; ‘Alkaline’ put literal chills on our spine – as did all of the vocals from start to finish.
It may have just been our ears playing tricks on us but Vessel’s voice and quivering hands were so full of emotion that we swear we could hear him crying through the lyrics on more than one occasion. Whether for the pageantry or not, there were plenty of very real people smiling up at him with teary eyes.
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You’ll never hear quite as much genre-bending as you do in ‘The Summoning’ and watching everyone change gears from just pure, no-nonsense heavy metal to grooving out to the sudden shift to funk rock was a real joy. It was probably the standout of the whole night, but it was a triumph all-round.
We’ve been enjoying Sleep Token from afar for a while now and always really appreciated how technically impressive and groundbreaking the music felt, even just on a pure sonic level, but it’s only now we’ve been to one of their shows that we think we ‘get‘ the obsession and why more and more followers are flocking to see them live in the flesh.
Call it unique, strange, disturbing — call it whatever you want, the fans couldn’t care less. It was a pseudo-religious experience for a lot of people in that room and while it may take us a while to fully convert, we’re very open to the concept. Even if just for that magical intro alone, to be honest.
Live music has always been like church to us, so we can always get behind hero-worshipping like this.
Nao at New Century, Manchester – A room full of 1,000 ‘Happy People’
Thomas Melia
Attending a Nao gig is worth waiting ‘Another Lifetime’ for… especially when she performs directly from the venue’s bar.
As someone who has followed this artist for quite a few years, finally getting to see her do what she does best on stage and not through a screen is immense.
Last time she stopped off in Manchester she graced Albert Hall,this time she’s opted for another historic venue, New Century.Nao clearly knows how to choose her venues wisely.
Recently, the Nottingham star released her album Jupiter. So recent in fact, that it only reached our ears two weeks ago. The Manchester crowd certainly did their homework, knowing every lyric off by heart.
The first taste of this LP skyrocketed into our ears in October when the singer-songwriter dropped ‘Wildflowers’, so it’s only fitting this marks the opening of this setlist.
This single’s accompanying music video saw her swarmed in a field of red-hue wild grass and it’s made its way to our vibrant city, decorating the Manchester stage.
Credit: The Manc Group
To follow this, she plays two tracks both taken from her other planetary project Saturn. ‘If You Ever’ is a great fire-starter ahead of a cracking night of live music.
It’s almost like someone flips a switch as the audience immediately understands the assignment, feeling every rhythm in their body, rapping The Lumineers name-dropping ‘Make It Out Alive’ verbatim.
Credit: The Manc Group
Four songs in and ‘Happy People’ gets a turn at exciting the crowd. This uplifting and guitar-plucking number is one you can’t help but move to and New Century proves just that.
Nao’s personality flutters over the wild grass adorning the stage and radiates into the flurry of fans. One of these fans has travelled all the way from Portugal and ‘Tommy’, the Manchester legend, who’s attended every city centre tour date, both of which Nao pointed out.
When the 37-year-old star sings her two Mura Masa produced bangers, that bouncy floor at New Century isn’t ready for what’s about to unfold.
Initiating the two-track ensemble the “Woa woa woa woa woa” filled, ‘Complicated’, excites and emits an electric energy, definitely helped by Nao’s necessary yet unexpected dance break.
Credit: The Manc Group
With the second anthemic instalment of the night ‘Firefly’, Nao sings, “Just say you’ll be my firefly” and with vocals this hypnotic, the crowd would do anything she asked of them.
An encore usually means giving a three minute rendition of your biggest hit. Well for Nao this isn’t enough. Instead she takes things one step further, climbing onto the venue’s bar for a stripped back version of ‘Another Lifetime’ and after those vocals my legs were liquid jelly.
Ending the night on even more of a high, Nao sings ‘Drive and Disconnect’ a standout in her discography and a much-loved track, proved by the fact she brings fans on stage to close the night with her.
Credit: The Manc Group
Don’t meet your idols, they say, but when your idol is even better live than on her studio recordings, it’s hard to stay away. Thank you Nao for blessing Manchester once again and me for the very first time.
Gracie Abrams at Co-op Live, Manchester – a night of raw emotion
Dec Kelly
Gracie Abrams’ ‘The Secret of Us’ tour is more than just a concert – it’s a raw, emotive journey through the heart of her music.
From the moment she steps onto the Co-op Live stage in Manchester, Gracie Abrams commands the room with an aura of vulnerability, wearing a shimmering silver sequined dress that mirrors her own luminous energy.
The simplicity of the stage setup – just her, her band, and a microphone – lets the music take centre stage, free from distractions.
The UK leg of the tour is a testament to Gracie’s growth as an artist. Each song feels like an intimate conversation, with Gracie sharing her innermost thoughts through poetic lyrics and hauntingly beautiful vocals.
In an era when pop music can feel superficial, Gracie’s authenticity stands out, making her more than just another pop star – she’s an artist with a story to tell.
As the crowd sings along, it’s impossible to ignore the sea of teenage girls, many of them wearing bows in their hair, all passionately shouting and singing along to lyrics about heartbreak and longing.
It’s as if the collective voice of the crowd is woven into Gracie’s own, amplifying the depth of each song’s emotion.
The connection between Gracie and her fans is palpable – her music serves as a soundtrack to their shared experiences, a bond that makes every lyric feel personal and every note resonate deep within.
Gracie’s candid performance style draws the audience in even further, as she opens up about her songwriting process and the emotions behind her music.
This transparency transforms the show from a performance into a shared experience. It feels less like you’re watching an artist perform and more like you’re navigating life’s highs and lows together.
Gracie Abrams at the Co-op Live in Manchester. Credit: The Manc Group
When she takes a seat at the piano for ‘I Gave You I Gave You’, the emotion in her voice is undeniable. The stripped-back setting only amplifies the intensity, making the moment feel incredibly intimate. The crowd is spellbound, feeling like they’re witnessing something deeply personal.
Gracie’s influences are clear, particularly from pop sensation Taylor Swift. Like Swift, Gracie has cultivated a deeply personal connection with her fans. During the show, she delighted the crowd by performing ‘Block Me Out’, a song she wrote years ago, offering a glimpse into her evolution as an artist.
Gracie also pays tribute to Taylor Swift by performing ‘Us’, a track on which Swift herself features.
This moment of homage sparks an intriguing question: has Taylor Swift become the “godmother” of this new wave of pop artists, like Gracie and Sabrina Carpenter? Whether by design or not, it’s undeniable that Taylor’s influence has shaped their artistry, leaving an indelible mark on the way they create and connect with their audiences.
One of the night’s highlights is Gracie’s connection with the audience. She FaceTimes a fan’s friend, Monica, during the show, adding a personal touch that makes the concert feel like an intimate gathering.
Her playful sense of humor shines through as she jokes with fans about bows, showcasing her warmth and relatability.
While the night is emotionally anchored by slower, melancholic tracks, a shift in tone could’ve provided a welcome break.
Nevertheless, Gracie’s ability to hold the audience’s attention with her heartfelt delivery is unmatched.
Her upbeat songs, like ‘That’s so true’ bring the crowd to life, but it’s the slower, introspective moments that truly define the night.
The tour had its challenges, with the cancellation of shows in Leeds and Nottingham, leaving some fans disappointed. However, Gracie and her team ensured the spirit of the tour remained intact.
In both cities, the opening act, Dora Jar, performed intimate gigs, giving fans a chance to experience something special. This thoughtful gesture reinforced the strong connection Gracie fosters with her audience.
Despite a few setbacks, it’s clear that Gracie Abrams and her team are fully dedicated to their craft.
Her authenticity, charm, and emotional depth make this tour an unforgettable experience – one that will resonate long after the final note fades.
With a passionate fan base and a future filled with promise, Gracie Abrams is an artist whose music will continue to speak to the soul for years to come.
Danny Jones -
27th November 2024 
