American acapella sensation Pentatonix returned to the UK after launching their European leg of their tour on Monday, playing to a packed out Manchester O2 Apollo. The group, who gained notoriety for their flawless vocal abilities, delivered a truly unique performance to Manchester fans.
Supporting on the night was Ellie Dixon, opening with a set including Britney Spears and Dua Lipa hits. She pumped up the crowd with a combination of ‘Toxic’ and ‘New Rules.’
The alt-pop artist’ has developed a distinctive sound by utilising live looping to assemble her tunes. She said: “This next one is my own song; it’s okay if you don’t know the lyrics. I came prepared,” displaying her sign with the lyrics so that the audience could join in with her.
Pulling out her ukulele she dived into ‘Jurassic Killer’ and the audience began to sing along and show their support for this amazing performer.
Once Ellie wrapped up, the crowd were already singing along to Pentatonix hits as the suspense built for the main act. Taking the stage, Pentatonix soon got stuck into ‘Sing,’ ‘Na Na Na,’ and ‘Can’t Sleep Love,’ as their enthusiastic fans applauded.
Frontman Scott Hoying then introduced his fellow bandmates: Mitch Grassi (Tenor), Avi Kaplan (Bass), Kirstin Maldonado (Mezzo-soprano), Kevin Olusola (Cello) and Matt Sallee (Bass). They each showcased their individual singing abilities before joining forces to bring the music to life.
Popular songs are frequently covered by Pentatonix throughout their performances, which engaged the crowd. They managed to turn a sold-out O2 Apollo into a choir to participate in the legendary Beatles song ‘Hey Jude.’ The Greatest Showman’s ‘From Now On’ cover song was one of my personal favourites. It made for an unparalleled experience to hear over 3,400 voices speaking together.
Later on in the performance, Scott and Kristin united to sing the beautiful duet of ‘Shallow’ from A Star is Born. The audience realised they were in for a surprise as soon as the song’s intro started. Scott and Kristin, playing the roles of Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper, sang the song while the audience sang along with them, giving a feeling that they were in the room with us. For these fans, it was an emotional moment in the performance that they wouldn’t soon forget.
The Pentatonix finished the evening with Queen’s ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ as their encore. It was the ideal way to conclude a performance and get the crowd on their feet
Pentatonix will continue their tour of Europe throughout May and June.
Ellie Dixon supporting Pentatonix at Manchester O2 Apollo
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