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Lewis Capaldi at AO Arena Manchester – stage times, support act, setlist and more

Here we go...

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 16th January 2023

Lewis Capaldi will perform a huge gig at the AO Arena Manchester this week, in support of his new album Broken by Desire to be Heavenly Sent.

The best-selling Scottish singer also recently announced a huge outdoor summer concert at Wythenshawe Park in Manchester.

The Someone You Loved star made his long-awaited return to music with new music released last September rocketing straight to number one.

His tour kicked off last week in Leeds and saw him dressing up in a bra that was thrown on stage – so despite his more sombre music style, he’s sure to bring the laughs.

Lewis Capaldi is now set to perform in Manchester as part of his 31-date UK tour, performing here on Wednesday 18 January.

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Here’s everything you need to know ahead of his huge AO Arena gig.

Tickets

Tickets are, sadly, completely sold out for Lewis Capaldi’s Manchester gig.

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You could try your luck on a resale site, but make sure you’re buying from a trusted page and not getting ripped off or scammed.

Support act

Lewis Capaldi’s support act in Manchester will be rising star Raye, a British singer-songwriter who already has a flurry of award nominations and chart-topping singles – even before releasing her debut album.

Raye will perform some big hits from her back catalogue, which includes tracks like Bed, Secrets, and Escapism.

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She’s been nominated three times for the British Single of the Year Award at the BRITs, plus earned herself two Ivor Novello nominations.

Stage times

Doors to the AO Arena are set to open at 6pm on Wednesday 18 January.

The venue hasn’t confirmed its exact running order for the night yet, but based on an earlier gig in Sheffield, it’ll likely look something like this.

Doors – 6pm
Raye – 7:30pm
Lewis Capaldi – 8:45pm
Curfew – 10.30pm

Expected setlist

@thehootleeds

Welcome to Leeds Lewis 👙 #lewiscapaldi #lewiscapaldiinterview #lewiscapaldiedit #leeds #lewiscapalditour #the1975 #fyp #viral 📹: @sarahbablamps

♬ original sound – Thehootleeds

As is always the case, Lewis Capaldi’s setlist is subject to change, but based on previous gigs this is probably what Manchester will have in store.

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Forget Me

Forever

Pointless

Lost on You

Heavenly Kind of State of Mind

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Before You Go

Bruises

Wish You the Best

Grace

Leave Me Slowly

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Fade (Remix)

Hold Me While You Wait

Encore

How I’m Feeling Now

Someone You Loved

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The venue

The AO Arena has a few strict policies to keep gig-goers safe, so make sure to check entry requirements carefully before you travel.

For example, only one small bag per person is allowed, and bags like backpacks, travel cases and laptop bags are not permitted inside the arena.

All bags are scanned on entry to check for prohibited items like laser pens, flares, projectiles, weapons, drugs and alcohol, and even selfie sticks.

Featured image: Publicity picture

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Gig review | Lionel Richie leaves Manchester dancing on the ceiling after Co-op Live debut

Thomas Melia Thomas Melia

American multi-hyphenate Lionel Richie paid Manchester a visit last night and gave the 23,500 fans in the crowd all of his ‘Endless Love’.

Richie needs no explanation, being a household name, this artist had the crowd in the palm of his hands as soon as he stepped foot onto the stage, just like he has been doing since he burst onto the music scene over 50 years ago. 

When you’re about to watch a legend strut his stuff in various tailcoats ‘All Night Long (All Night)’, you know you’re in for a mini workout.

We tried out Co-op Live’s Backstage Club before the show to fuel up with a pizza and grab a drink to ensure that we could dance ‘All Night Long (All Night) as much as the main man himself. 

Drinks at the Co-op Live Backstage Club, Manchester.
‘Breezy like a Sunday Morning’.
Co-op Live Backstage Club, offers the perfect pre-gig experience.
Soaking up the fun at Co-op Live’s Backstage Club.
Co-op Live Backstage Club, offers the perfect pre-gig experience.
You really do get the VIP treatment.
Credit: Audio North

As well as boasting an intimate area with music history covering all four walls, this location had a photobooth, pool table, its own merchandise vendor and a live band.

For tonight’s show, it was only right that the band soundtracking Co-op Live’s Backstage Club were aptly named The Pennies and the signature drinks were equally fitting, ‘Say You, Say G&T’ and a cocktail offering labelled, ‘Breezy like a Sunday Morning’. 

Glasgow solo star Brooke Combe – a favourite of ours from past Neighbourhood Festivals – gave the crowd our first taste of music for the night, playing highlights of her debut album ‘Dancing at the Edge of the World’, which only dropped back in January.

Her songs ooze soul, from the infectious ‘Shaken by the Wind’ to the instantly catchy ‘The Last Time’ and fan favourite, ‘Are You With Me?’. Combe’s stage presence was nothing short of contagious.

It’s no surprise, really, considering she’s already practised and perfected her craft at Glastonbury back in 2022 among countless other massive slots. Make sure you catch her the next time she’s in Manchester.

The legendary performer knew he had to kick things off in true Lionel Richie style, it’s only obligatory that he opened the show with his greeting-titled hit ‘Hello’.

Lionel Richie at Co-op Live Manchester, left us dancing on the ceiling
Lionel welcoming fans with ‘Hello’ and being greeted with equally impressive roars from the crowd.
Lionel Richie at Co-op Live Manchester, left us dancing on the ceiling
Richie slowing it down for a moment, performing Commodores classic, ‘Easy’.
Credit: The Manc Group

As the chorus approached, the American superstar hailed “Hello” and the audience immediately exclaimed in synch, “Is it me you’re looking for?”.  

Social media might’ve been non-existent when the performer first reached our ears, but this didn’t stop Lionel Richie from inadvertently turning last night into a mini ‘Throwback Thursday’ playing his 1977 Commodores swooner ‘Easy’.

If you had told me that Lionel Richie would directly address me and my brother mid-performance, I would’ve laughed in your face, but last night the star adopted the both of us. Life complete.

The American singer came up the catwalk, soaking up all the cheers and love from the Co-op Live crowd, and then pointed directly at me and my brother and gave us a little shoutout.

Before playing the anthem that is ‘We are the World’, Mr. Richie expressed, “Alright, I’ll just tell ‘em” before admitting to the whole arena, “These are my cousins right here”.

I guess when we sang “Hello, is it me you’re looking for?” earlier in the show, it really was me (and my brother) he was looking for.

Just like his opening track, the final slot also has its fixed placement in Richie’s setlist; of course, that song is none other than the essential party number, ‘All Night Long (All Night)’.

Richie recites the line, “We’re going to party, Karamu, fiesta, forever”, and the crowd understood the assignment as by the time he sang, “Come on and sing along / All night long”, everyone was up.

This tune is nothing less than cathartic, and for the five minutes it played, everyone was side-stepping, swaying, singing, dancing, not a single inhibition in sight. 

Lionel Richie might know his way around writing smash hits and commanding a crowd, but it’s the audience’s joy for the music that made this concert such a special night.

Lionel Richie at Co-op Live Manchester, left us dancing on the ceiling
Did we tell you? Lionel Richie called us his cousins.
Lionel Richie at Co-op Live Manchester, left us dancing on the ceiling
Richie amidst a flurry of flashlights from the Manc crowd.
Credit: The Manc

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Featured Images – The Manc Group  

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Catfish and the Bottlemen at Heaton Park, Manchester – support acts, stage times and more

Danny Jones Danny Jones Catfish and the Bottlemen tickets, supports, stage times

One of the most momentous live music weekends in Manchester is fast approaching, as even before Parklife 2025 gets underway, we must first prepare to welcome Catfish and the Bottlemen.

The Welsh indie rock band remains one of Britain’s biggest and best contemporary exports, even with a fairly substantial hiatus; the proof is in the pudding too, with their huge Heaton Park headline gig selling out and the fandom not fading even one iota in the time between their last album and now.

Although there have been some genuine concerns that the massive outdoor gig could be cancelled, it looks as though we’re in the clear and it will, indeed, be ‘Showtime’ once again.

With that in mind, we thought put together a gig guide of everything you need to know ahead of Catfish at Heaton Park for their Manchester comeback.

Catfish and the Bottlemen at Heaton Park – all the important info

Are there tickets left for Catfish at Heaton Park?

We hate to be the bearers of bad news, but unsurprisingly, Catfish’s Heaton Park – their first Manchester headline gig in many years – sold out very quickly.

On the other hand, you’ll be glad to hear that there are some official resale tickets and VIP packages listed on Ticketmaster.

You can grab your tickets HERE and, of course, you can always keep your eye out for spares on trusted resellers like Twickets and TwicketSwap. Proceed with caution, though, and don’t risk getting stung.

Support acts

Now, for those who don’t know who is supporting Catfish and the Bottlemen at Heaton Park, you’re in for an absolute treat, because this is a great little lineup that includes a much-loved Manchester band.

As well as a set from London-based DJ and producer Katie Owen to kick off the day, local legends and fellow indie rock favourites James are the main warm-up act.

Given the scenes we saw at their sell-out Piece Hall shows, they could easily pack out this place themselves, especially now we know why frontman Tim Booth loves crowd-surfing so much. You can also read our recent interview with founding member and bass player, Jim Glennie.

Stage times for Catfish’s Manchester show

In terms of when you can expect the action to get underway, Katie Owen is expected to get underway right from doors at 5pm until approximately 7:05pm; there will then be a roughly 25-minute interval before James take to the stage at 7:30pm.

Following a slightly longer break in play, the main event kicks into gear at 9pm, with Catfish expected to play a roughly 1h30m set.

Curfew is at 11pm, so you can expect people to start filing out of the park promptly after the end of the show. We’d also urge attendees to arrive nice and early and get in the queue from 4:30pm.

Setlist

Now, while the setlist obviously hasn’t been confirmed yet (that would spoil the fun now, wouldn’t it?), for the more impatient among you who are trying to figure out what the boys might play, you can check out the most recent running order of tracks from their comeback at Reading Festival last year on Setlist.fm.

It looks a little something like this:

Intro: ‘Aint That a Kick in the Head’ (Dean Martin song) and ‘Helter Skelter’ (The Beatles song)

  1. Longshot
  2. Kathleen
  3. Cocoon
  4. Soundcheck
  5. Pacifier
  6. Twice
  7. Fallout (‘Bartender and the Thief’ snippet in outro)
  8. 2all
  9. Rango
  10. Outside
  11. Fluctuate
  12. 7 (Extended outro)
  13. Cocoon

Who knows what the encore will be at this point, but one thing we will see is that the above setlist will surely include their most recent song ‘Showtime’ as well as persistent die-hard fan favourite ‘ASA’, which was recently released as a single at long last – maybe a bit of ‘Glasgow’ and ‘Hourglass’ too.

To be fair, we’d be happy with just about any of their tracks.

How to get to Heaton Park

Credit: Bruce Baker (via Flickr)

Last but not least, if you’ve never been to the massive green space before, your best bet is to travel via tram or other Bee Network public transport. Metrolink services will be running direct from Victoria to the venue during the day, and thankfully, it’s just a case of getting off at the Heaton Park tram stop itself.

From there, you can enter the event site via the North Gate; after the party is over, the Bowker Vale tram stop located near the East Gate is your quickest exit. Please also be mindful that Heaton Park station will also be closed from 9pm due to help with congestion and safety reasons.

Otherwise, the usual Big Green Coaches will also be running from the city centre, which can be booked in advance, and taxis home will be available from Blackley New Road and along Bury Old Road.

There is also official car parking for the site – you can reserve your spot online from £16.80.

And that should be just all the important key information you need to know ahead of what is sure to be a memorable night. Touch wood and keep everything crossed, folks…

Read more:

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — Press Shots

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