Featured image and gallery: Sub Khan
American dream-pop duo LANY bring the Soft World tour to Manchester’s 02 Apollo, in celebration of latest record Soft. In tow is emerging alt‑pop force Maisy Kay and Los-Angeles alt‑rockers Weathers, for a night of shimmering pop force.
Opening the night, Maisy Kay commands the stage in a shimmering black ensemble that catches every beam of stage light. Her butterfly‑adorned microphone becomes a symbol of transformation as she moves between power and vulnerability, her voice cutting through the haze with precision. The crowd leans in, captivated by her theatrical and magnetic presence, and a technical prowess that shows no fear in the face of sprawling stages and eager crowds.
Second act Weathers shifts gears, ripping into a set of fierce intensity. They bring a surge of alt‑rock and pop punk energy, pulsating with tight rhythms and infectious hooks. The interplay of guitars and synths reverberate around the room, pop with a dose of rock and roll swagger, setting the perfect bridge between Maisy Kay’s cinematic opening and the headliner’s polished dream‑pop. Frontman Cameron Boyer takes centre stage, bathing in the stage lights and the applause.
Closing the night, LANY transforms the stage into a glowing expanse of light and sound. Their signature blend of nostalgia and modern pop washes over the crowd, every lyric echoes back by fans holding phones aloft, hearts and names glowing on screens. It’s a moment of collective connection, where emotion meets artistry under sweeping beams of white light.
What stands out most is how effortlessly LANY shift between glossy pop anthems and stripped‑back vulnerability. ‘Ilysb’, a crowd favourite, ignites the room in an instant, the crowd’s voices rising louder than the speakers, while ‘Malibu Nights‘ carves out a rare moment of stillness – thousands swaying as lead vocalist and guitarist Paul Klein delivers each line unguarded and unafraid.
Between songs, he reaches for fans’ hands at the barrier, sharing small smiles and quiet thank‑yous that make the Apollo feel far smaller than its size. It’s these fleeting, human moments, the kind that never quite translate outside the room, that turn a flashy, polished headline set into something genuinely unforgettable, from picking up a video camera to film the crowd for the big screen, or embracing fans at the barrier, LANY know exactly how to make their shows very special.
Featured image: Henry Redcliffe Not to be outshined by the artists performing today, the rain makes its inevitable return to the skies of Yorkshire over Leeds Festival. With the downpours hardly taking a break, Saturday is the day for the indie-heads and brats, as two of the most anticipated acts of the weekend take the…
Featured image: Georgina Hurdsfield Despite the dreary weather forecast, it seems the explosive noise of the night before has blown away the expected torrential rain, as the sun fights through the clouds to shine over Leeds Festival on Friday. With the opening of the ‘other’ stages, the first double headliner, and a very special birthday,…
Featured image: Ruby Boland As the gates of Bramham Park finally opened for the 2026 edition, so too did the heavens, with heavy rain and thunderstorms forecast for the whole weekend, you’d be forgiven for thinking this year’s instalment of Leeds Festival was a write-off. Neither the punters nor the artists would let this dreary…
Featured image and gallery: Hoang Phan Notebooks were carried from one workshop to another. Writers from different generations sat around tables, sharing manuscripts and listening to each other. Outdoors, small groups strolled along Oxford Road, pausing before buildings steeped in literary history. This was the scene during the Manchester Writing School Summer Festival 2026, held…
Leave a reply