Music

Daði Freyr @ Manchester Academy review and gallery – joke filled dance-pop experience

1 376

Featured image and gallery: Gracie Hall


Australian three-piece, Blusher, set the stage for the evening with their dream pop vocals and mesmerising dance moves. With original songs like ‘Dead End’ and ‘Softly Spoken’ and covers of Nelly Furtado’s ‘Say it Right’ and ‘Love at First Sight’ by fellow Aussie, Kylie Minogue. A set full of glittery, girlie pop beats and lyrics about female friendships that perfectly represent the clear chemistry between the members on stage.

Standing at 6 feet 10 inches, Daði Freyr draws the crowd in with his wit and brooding vocals. With a huge inflatable version of himself behind him, he asks the crowd to repeat ‘football’ back at him. To his delight they comply. 

Despite the audience mainly knowing the artist through Eurovision, they groove and move to every song. From the Icelandic part-rap ‘Kemur þér ekki við’ on his 2019 & Co. album, to the whimsical synth of ‘Trying’, the barely 60-word song that highlights the personal struggle of just trying. There’s even the German language song, ‘Bitte’, which is reminiscent of the Berlin techno scene. 

Going into the first Eurovision hit of the evening, ’10 Years’, the crowd comes alive and sings every lyric to the heartwarming love song. After a few more euro dance tunes, Daði launches into ‘Think About Things,’ his Eurovision’s mega hit from 2020. Elated, the crowd ascends into full voice

Daði begins his encore with an acoustic rendition of McFly’s ‘Obviously’, in homage to Bolton born lead singer, Danny Jones, followed by a funky upbeat rendition of Atomic Kitten’s ‘Whole Again’ to seal off a high energy, fun filled evening.


Daði Freyr @ Manchester Academy


Blusher @ Manchester Academy

About the author / 

Gracie Hall

1 Comment

  1. Finnyfinfin 12th December 2023 at 11:25 am -  Reply

    Beautifully written and amazing pictures

Leave a reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

More News Stories:

  • “Well-slept characters aren’t as interesting” – The minds behind ‘Misper’ on Manchester Film Festival and the allure of writing people on the edge

    Feature Image: Press “It’s important to find your people. Don’t feel like you have to find this incredible producer or person who’s going to give you loads of money and change your life” says Lauerence Tratalos, one-half of the Northern duo responsible for Misper; a feature debut for director Harry Sheriff and script writer Tratalos….

  • Ignoring Izzy @ Fuel Café Bar review – a wonderfully bizarre set

    Featured image and gallery: Lucy Elson-Whittaker Fuel Café Bar in Withington hosts the fifth stop of six-piece band Ignoring Izzy’s ‘Motorway Musk’ tour, following the release of their debut single. The room buzzes with the promise of chaos, and possibly a few flying vegetables. Opening the night is Manchester-based Leucotome, a witch-folk trio blending soft,…

  • Rick Astley / Gabrielle @ Co-op Live review – Manchester will never give them up

    Featured image and gallery: Sub Khan Opening the night, Gabrielle eases the Co-op Live crowd into the spectacular night ahead. There’s no need for spectacle, her presence alone is enough with her deep vocals echoing around the arena. A performance rooted in control and feeling, each song reveals a different shade of her understated command. Operating…

  • Chalk @ Gorilla review – unrelenting and endlessly energetic

    Featured image and gallery: Sam Holmes Formed in Belfast in 2019, Chalk have already made a name for themselves. From support slots for Fontaines D.C., IDLES and Sprints, to taking to the stage at SXSW earlier this year, the band’s growth has been rapid and shows no signs of stopping. Touring their debut album Crystalpunk,…