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.
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