LIVE REVIEW: Lola Young @ O2 Apollo, Manchester

Despite the miserable weather in Manchester on Wednesday evening, American Indie Folk singer Annabelle Dinda had no problem uplifting the crowd with her energetic set. Dancing with her band on stage, the singer’s whimsical energy was felt by the audience, whose cheers got louder with the more songs she played. As her set came to a close, there were chants of ‘one more song’ and ‘another one’ that proved Annabelle had successfully done her job of warming up the crowd.

The excited buzz amongst the crowd only got louder as the audience waited for Lola Young to take the stage. After cancelling all upcoming live shows for the foreseeable in September 2025, Young’s return to performing has been much anticipated. Walking on stage to an almost sold-out venue, she struggled to welcome the crowd due to the volume coming from fans chanting her name and cheering.

Photo Credit: Paul Lang // @paullangphotographer

Opening with ‘SAD SOB STORY! :)’, a song about moving on from a past relationship, it was clear the excited crowd were ready to welcome Lola Young back for this new era after her hiatus.

After singing a few songs, Young took out her phone to read a prepared speech, something that she said she will be doing every night of the tour to ‘remind herself who she is’. She shared: “When you are connected, when you express what you feel is true to you, when you open yourself up and share your very unique experience, remember you are electric”. The emotional speech stressed to the audience that Young is back and better than ever.

Lola Young’s gratitude for her fans was obvious, with her stating: “My face is going to be stuck in the smiling position”, after having to pause multiple times throughout the show to take in the audiences’ applauds.

Young is known for her raw and straight-to-the-point lyrics, such as those in 'One Thing' and 'Post Sex Clarity', however, her vocal talent is also what makes her such a unique artist. Even though there were a few mic hiccups, her exceptionally powerful voice shone through on each track. 

Photo Credit: Paul Lang // @paullangphotographer

Despite being dressed in a more laid-back outfit compared to what she normally wears, Young’s stage presence was phenomenal. Each song was paired with a fitting-coloured strobe light that brought the performance to life even further. Even those on the back row of the circle were stood up dancing.

Before leaving the stage after singing 'Messy', Lola thanked the crowd again and said: “Manchester I will be back”. The promise felt like a sincere response to the audience. It’s clear the performance meant a lot more to Lola Young that just singing on stage, and marked the start of a refreshing new era for the London-born singer as she embarks on the rest of her UK tour.