Indie-pop band Pale Waves sold out the stunning Albert Hall Manchester on Friday for the first night of their UK tour. A packed crowd of enthusiastic fans meant the atmosphere had risen even before the support artist took to the stage.
Abby Roberts, previously known from creating videos on TikTok, has recently turned to creating music. The crowd seemed to love her angelic voice and she appeared to be no stranger to performing.
By the time Pale Waves were due to make an appearance, the room had reached capacity as people filled both the main floor and the balcony area – securing a place to watch the show. The band were around ten minutes late, which only made the anticipation stronger.
They instantly launched into ‘Lies’, the opening track from their most recent album ‘Unwanted’, which was released in August this year. The stage was lit with subtle hints of purple as vocalist Heather Baron-Gracie controlled the audience with her voice. Her stage presence is strong enough to win over the eyes of everybody in the room – she knows how to perform.
It was clear that the five-piece band were enjoying the show as they played through the sixteen-song set, which contained some of the best hits such as ‘Television Romance’ and ‘Eighteen’. Watching most of the show from the balcony area, the crowd were clearly enjoying it too.
There were plenty of highlights throughout the show, but the one that stands out the most is ‘She’s My Religion’. The song was written to express Heather’s sexuality and has since inspired many Pale Waves fans to feel more comfortable within their own identities.
The song was brought to a stop when the band discovered some technical problems, so during the break, Baron-Gracie brought it upon herself to drape herself in a lesbian flag, and Ciara the drummer in a Trans flag. The crowd were moved as they held up coloured hearts which were passed around before the show had begun.
The concert ended with a live debut of ‘The Hard Way’ and ‘Jealousy’, two songs from the new album. It was a night celebrating inclusivity and identity and it was near impossible to spot somebody walking out without a smile on their face.
Featured image and gallery: Kaitlyn Brockley The rumble of trains passing through Piccadilly station, the hollers of touts (“tickets, buy or sell?”) and security (“have your IDs ready”), and the excitable chatter of gig-goers all audibly backdrop the outskirts of Manchester’s Mayfield Depot this dark, damp evening. Leaving the outside chill and travelling along the…
Featured image and gallery: Leo Woollison Crook Angela Cheveau and Kate Carne were crowned winners of the 2024 QuietManDave Prize on Friday. The short-form writing prize is held bi-annually to honour the memory of the much-loved and well-known Manchester writer and critic Dave Murray, who passed away in 2019. The writers were each awarded £1000…
In each print issue, aAh! Magazine explores one word which runs as its theme. We are excited to announce that the theme for our upcoming print issue is COMMUNITY. aAh! Magazine invites all Manchester Met students interested in journalism, writing, design, illustration and photography to pitch ideas to be considered for print publication for the…
Featured image: FemWear A revolutionary clothing brand is changing the narrative for women living with gynaecological and gut health conditions. FemWear, founded by 27-year-old designer Roya Rasouli, offers not just fashion but a sense of comfort, empowerment and community for women navigating health challenges. For a decade, Roya unknowingly battled the pain of endometriosis, a condition…
Leave a reply