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.
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.
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.
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.
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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Beloved British boy band Five are BACK in FULL for the first time in 25 years
Danny Jones
No, your eyes don’t deceive you: all five members of the beloved British boy band Five are set to reunite for the first time in a quarter of a century.
Formed way back in 1997 and dominating the charts throughout the period in and around the millennium, the iconic pop group was the UK’s answer to the Backstreet Boys and NSNYC, as well as a much-needed replacement for Take That just after their split.
And they did exactly that for a number of years, with hit tracks like ‘We Will Rock You’, ‘Keep On Movin”, ‘Everybody Get Up’, ‘If Ya Gettin’ Down’ and more still firmly stuck in our memories.
It doesn’t matter how long it’s been, we still remember all the words and the dance moves to go along with them – and we’ll be able to prove it when the Five UK reunion tour comes to Manchester.
Although the London-formed group has reformed every now and again in different configurations over the years for special occasions, anniversary events, etc., this is the first time that the original lineup has been together for 25 whole years.
That’s right, Abz Love, J Brown, Ritchie Neville, Scott Robinson and Sean Conlon will all be reuniting on stage for a limited UK arena tour – because anything less simply wouldn’t be enough to mark this throwback celebration.
More importantly, if you don’t think every single one of these massive rooms is going to sell out in a flash, then you clearly can’t count to five.
As for the Manchester crowd, fans will be welcomed inside the equally legendary AO Arena for the ‘KEEP ON MOVIN’ 2025’ Tour later this year and we can’t wait.
Fellow domestic DJ and producer Naughty Boy will also be joining them as the main support act. We’re rolling back all the memories this autumn.
You can see the rest of the tour dates below, including equally massive shows at The O2 in London, the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool, a First Direct Arena date in Leeds and more.
We really can't wait to get back on stage together and see you all in person, it's gonna go OFF!! Let's goooooo! International fans, make sure to sign up there so we know where in the world you are too 👀
Scott says: “This has been a long time coming and it really does feel right for all of us now – 25 years on and we’re so ready for it. Reconnecting as a 5 over the last year has been special and I know I speak for all the boys when I say we can’t wait to do this all over again. Hope you’re ready!”
Another fifth of the throwback boy band, Abz, added: “We really can’t wait to get back on stage together & see the fans, it’s gonna go OFF! Buzzing to have Naughty Boy on tour with us too… 5 bad boys and a naughty boy, that sounds like a lot of fun. Let’s gooooo!”
General admission for Five’s 2025 UK reunion tour goes live on Friday, 7 March from 10am but die-hards can access the exclusive pre-sale window on Wednesday, 5 March by signing up for the mailing list.
2000s indie rock icons The Enemy continue comeback trail with must-not-miss UK tour
Danny Jones
For fans of old-school indie and noughties contemporary rock, you do not want to miss the one because The Enemy are not just back making music but they’re heading out on a pretty big UK tour and, of course, they’ll be stopping right here in Manchester.
The Enemy first reformed back in 2022 for a limited run of shows, but it turns out the Coventry-formed trio were satisfied with a one-off reunion and a fifth studio album officially being worked on, the fierce Brit rock throwbacks have announced a series of pretty large UK tour dates.
Following on from some hugely successful comeback performances at TRNSMT, Isle Of Wightand a headline slot at Godiva Festival 2023, not to mention the instantly hit ‘Indie Til I Die’ shows last year – including an absolute stormer at Victoria Warehouse – they returning for more.
One of the few bands to make their way back to the live music circuit fully intact, with all three members still performing together, nothing has changed other than a few more grey hairs.
If you weren’t there at the outset, The Enemy’s debut LP We’ll Live And Die In These Towns (2007) was one of the most seminal domestic releases of its time, with songs like ‘You’re Not Alone’ going on to become indie anthems of the era.
To be honest, we’d argue their sophomore outing Music For The People just two years later is the better album, with tracks such as ‘Be Somebody’, ‘Elephant Song’ and ‘No Time for Tears’ still in plenty of our playlists to this day – but, you know, each to their own.
The point is, we’re very glad these lads are back and having played with everyone from Oasis and The Killers to even The Rolling Stones, we’d wager lots of other music lovers are too.
Set to play New Century Hall in Manchester as well as the legendary Leadmill in Sheffield, Beckett Students’ Union in Leeds, Rock City in Nottingham and more, it’s going to be a big tour.
We're absolutely buzzing to be back on tour & in some of our all time favourite venues.
We'll be trying out new material for the first time in years ahead of the new album we're making, we're all really excited to try some new tunes and see what you think whilst we finish it!
Frontman Tom Clarke, who has put out two solo records of his own in past years, said of the announcement: “We’ve been working long days in the studio recording new material, so we’re really excited to get out on the road again.
“The plan is to experiment with some of the new tunes, maybe different ones on different shows to see how the crowds react and which ones connect with fans, and let that guide the track listing on the record which is nearing completion.”
Co-songwriter and bass player, Andy Hopkins, added: talking about the upcoming tour: “My favourite part of being in a band is having those nights with the fans where the atmosphere is electric – I think this tour is going to be really special for the 3 of us.
“It’ll be the first time we’ve been back to some of these cities in a long time, in venues we absolutely love and have been really important to us on the way up – Electric Ballroom was the first venue we ever played in London supporting The Fratellis, I drove us there with all the amps & guitars in my Fiesta!”
The Enemy come to New Century, one of our favourite live music venues in all of Greater Manchester, on Saturday, 1 November.
Pre-sale has already been snapped up in the blink of an eye, which is no surprise whatsoever, but general admission will go live from 10am this Friday, 28 February.
Danny Jones -
18th May 2023 
