Post Malone finished up his second night at Manchester’s AO Arena on Wednesday evening, which The Manc had the pleasure of going along to, and believe us when we tell you we weren’t prepared to have sucha special time.
Austin Richard Post, as he casually introduced himself to the audience, has been on the scene for over a decade now, releasing his first-ever single ‘White Iverson’ back in 2015 — the track that launched his career and has seen fans falling deeper and deeper in love with him over the years.
Even from the start and his debut album, Stoney, Post Malone‘s extremely palatable brand of rap, pop and R&B has meant that he’s never been just one thing or the other and that became abundantly clear the second he walked out on stage.
His entrance alone proved that still had gears we didn’t expect, opening the show with an atmospheric and suspense-building arrangement of ‘Reputation’ as massive spiralling lights, smoke and phone torches filled the room, before exploding almost demonically into ‘Wow.’ and kicking the show into fifth.
Just two songs in and we were already pretty mesmerised — the set design by creative director, Lewis James, alone a seriously impressive spectacle — then came what felt like the most relentless barrage of bangers, playing ‘Better Now’, ‘Psycho’, ‘Candy Paint’ and ‘I Fall Apart’ all back-to-back.
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We even got to hear him do ‘I Like You (A Happier Song)’ minus Doja Cat’s part, mind, but thankfully with the bonus of that wholesome little dance you might have seen him do on TikTok. If you know you know.
And ‘happier’ couldn’t have summed up the show any better: with each song, every single person in the room seemed twice as stoked as they were on the previous one, with the screams as he dropped the next track only getting louder as then show went on.
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Even when he slowed things down and got out his guitar to do acoustics like ‘Lemon Tree’ and ‘Stay’, it felt like one big sing-song around a campfire — you know, if the fire had 20,000 round it and was spitting out of pyros on stage. Then, of course, he swiftly reminded us he was a literal ‘rockstar’ and smashed up his guitar, something that always kind of frustrates but looks undeniably fun.
It was at this point we realised this guy isn’t just a rapper most people have heard on the radio anymore — he hasn’t been that for a long time: he’s a generational, genre-bending talent and an absolute god to his die-hards and we almost felt stupid for not realising just how good he was earlier.
Chants of ‘Posty, Posty!’ began ringing around the AO Arena between songs and the 27-year-old would simply soak it in and do another chuffed little dance every time. Everyone in there was enjoying themselves and so was he — him even more than us, to be fair.
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One of the lasting things we took away from the show, however, was just sincere and positive Post Malone comes across not just as an artist but as a bloke in general. We say it like we know him personally but that was kind of how the whole thing felt, like he was just up there being himself and we happened to be watching.
He stopped to savour the moment and tell the crowd how much he loved them at regular intervals, how much he’d missed being over in the UK and urging people to appreciate and look after each other. Then there was his speech about fatherhood, which had both him and most people watching on in tears.
So yeah, Post Malone at AO Arena Manchester night two was pretty ace.
The whole thing experience wasn’t just “the best party in the world” that night, to quote support act Rae Sremmurd (one the best and most enthusiastic we’ve seen in a long time, by the way), but it was just so positive — even Sremmurd’s Swae Lee was telling fans to grab their best mate and enjoy every second.
His time on stage with Posty for ‘Sunflower’ was a great moment too, one that pretty much encapsulated the entire night: a bunch of people singing and dancing their heads off to so many hits that you almost didn’t realise just how much quality music the man has put out.
As the show drew towards a close we got his latest single ‘Chemical’ — a lovely poppy little number which gives an idea of what his newly announced album, Austin, might sound like — as well as firm-favourite ‘Congratulations’, which feels like a lifetime ago but is still the perfect self-affirmation all these years later.
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That being said, it was only fitting that he ended with the track that started it all off, serenading the Arena with ‘White Iverson’ as they held aloft their drinks and swayed back and forth to what remains one of the most chill tunes he’s ever made. The song might be but we left with none.
Post Malone in Manchester night two confirmed one thing: we are now Posty stans for life.
Featured Image — Post Malone (via Instagram)/The Manc Group
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Manchester nightclub clamps down on no-phones policy after ‘disappointing’ rule breakers
Daisy Jackson
Amber’s, a nightclub in Manchester with a strict no-filming policy inside, has shared a strict new set of rules to prevent people using their phones.
The venue says it’s seen an ‘increased amount of phones on the dance floor’ despite its very clear policy against such a thing.
That’s included a recent set from Fred Again, where videos of his show were all over social media the next day.
Amber’s has said it’s ‘disappointing’ to see people flouting the rules of the space, leading to the venue introducing a zero tolerance policy.
Fans who are caught filming on their phones will be asked to leave Amber’s on the spot – no second chances.
There’ll even be extra members of staff patrolling the venue, to protect the ‘vibe of the space’.
“If you are spotted at any point across the night using your phone to record, you will no longer be permitted inside Amber’s,” they shared.
Amber’s wrote in a statement today: “Since our launch back in December, we have made it very clear that we are a No Phones venue. We want to create an experience for everyone where they are present in the moment and not distracted by phones.
“While the majority of people that attend Amber’s keep their phones away, there are a select few that don’t.
“This is of course disappointing.
“Over the recent weeks and months, we have seen an increased amount of phones filming on the dancefloor and we are aware of numerous videos shot on phone appearing online.
“To those that come to Amber’s and respect our house rules, thank you, you are contributing to an incredible vibe in the room.
“For those that don’t, we ask that you think about the space and the people around you before removing your stickers.
“The rules previously have been that if you are seen filming on your phone, you are politely asked to stop, if you are seen again, you are asked to leave the venue.
“From now on, as a renewed pledge to our No Phones policy, if you are seen recording in the venue, you will be asked to leave, there will be no second chances.
“There will now be extra members of staff patrolling the venue, ensuring that the vibe of the space is protected and if you are spotted at any point across the night using your phone to record, you will no longer be permitted inside Amber’s.
“Open your mind. Honour the concept. Respect the space.”
Katy Perry at AO Arena, Manchester – stage times, setlist, tickets and more
Daisy Jackson
Katy Perry will be playing a huge arena show here in Manchester this week, with a sold-out night at the AO Arena imminent.
The popstar is bringing her The Lifetimes Tour, which features an extravaganza of props and pyrotechnics, to town on Wednesday 8 October.
The Roar singer will be heading to the AO Arena this week, alongside shows in Sheffield, Glasgow, Birmingham and London.
Whether you’re going to watch hits like ‘California Gurls’, ‘Hot ‘N’ Cold’ or excited for the newer tracks like ‘I’m His, He’s Mine’, it’s sure to be one of the biggest gigs to hit the legendary arena all year.
Perry has the second most Diamond-certified singles in for a female artist in the U.S, four guiness world records and five UK number one hits.
Her latest album ‘143’, which is a numeric synonym of ‘I love you’ and the singer’s angel number, came out last year and stormed straight into the top 10 on the UK album charts.
If you’re heading to Katy Perry at the AO Arena tonight, we’ve rounded up all your essential information.
Stage times for Katy Perry at the AO Arena
The AO Arena hasn’t yet confirmed exact stage times for tonight’s show, but we do have enough information to give you a good estimate.
Doors will open at 6pm, with a show start of 7.45pm.
That will mean the support act should wrap up around 8.15pm and Katy Perry is likely to take to the stage between 8.30pm and 8.45pm.
For her Manchester show, Katy Perry will be supported by singer-songwriter Goldie Boutilier.
Goldie, who has also performed under monikers Kay, My Name Is Kay, and Goldilox during her career, will be joining Katy on most of her UK dates, before handing over the reins to Au/Ra and then Becky Hill.
Tickets for Katy Perry at the AO Arena
Katy Perry has completely sold out the AO Arena with The Lifetimes Tour, with no general tickets left at all.
However, there are a few tickets remaining on Ticketmaster’s resale platform, which are priced between £78.73 and £131.18 each.
Expected setlist
Katy has split her show into sections she’s calling ‘Levels’, as a nod to the video game inspiration behind the tour.
Each one is absolutely packed with pop bangers, as you’d expect.
Here’s the latest setlist from her most recent show in Glasgow.
Level 1: Artificial
ARTIFICIAL
Chained to the Rhythm
Teary Eyes
Dark Horse
Level 2: Woman’s World
WOMAN’S WORLD
California Gurls
Teenage Dream
Hot n Cold
Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)
Peacock
I Kissed a Girl
Level 3: Nirvana
NIRVANA
CRUSH
I’M HIS, HE’S MINE
Wide Awake
Level 3.5: Choose Your Own Adventure (fan requests)
For those of you heading to AO Arena, luckily, it’s connected to Manchester Victoria Station, and it has an integrated Metrolink stop to make your life even easier.
Head along the pink, light blue or yellow lines directly to the Victoria stop, and you can get off the tram literally spitting distance from the arena. You can find the full map HERE.
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Train
Considering this live entertainment venue is situated right in the middle of one of Manchester’s most frequented stations, concertgoers should find no problem getting to the arena, wherever they are.
Bus
A variety of buses cover AO Arena andVictoria Station on their route, such as the 2 bus, which stops just a one-minute walk away from the venue.
A full list of buses and their routes can be found HERE.
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Getting there by car and parking
The Arena has its own official CitiPark, with 958 car parking spaces, including 40 Blue Badge parking bays, which can be booked in advance.
Alternatively, anyone attending a gig can park at their nearest train station and jump on a train service or the various Metrolink park and ride facilities.
Walk/cycle
Greater Manchester now also offers the option to hire bikes through the Beryl app, with riders able to locate, unlock, get to their destination and then safely lock up the bike all through an easy-to-use app.
Danny Jones -
18th May 2023 
