The Wanted 2.0 brought a hit-filled, high-energy show to Manchester Academy, reminding fans why these songs mean so much. For many lifelong fans, it was a night that celebrated the past, embraced the present and proved that the music is still very much alive.
I've been a fan of The Wanted since 2011. I've followed them for more than 15 years, seen them live multiple times and experienced the emotion of Tom Parker's goodbye tour. So, seeing Max George and Siva Kaneswaran return to Manchester as The Wanted 2.0 was always going to mean something special. But this gig felt different.
Intimate Venue, Palpable Energy
Manchester Academy was the most intimate venue I've ever seen The Wanted perform in, yet the energy inside was absolutely palpable. From the screaming to the dancing, every song felt like a shared celebration. Everyone was there to have a good time, and Max and Siva delivered exactly that.
There was something particularly special about the atmosphere. It was nostalgia, excitement and pure enjoyment rolled into one. The energy was off the scale, with a crowd who knew every word and seemed determined to make the most of every second. And then there was the fact that we were in Manchester, Max's home city. There was an added sense of occasion about bringing this new chapter of The Wanted to a place so closely associated with him.
'Banger After Banger'
If there was one thing this show made clear, it was that The Wanted's back catalogue has lost none of its magic. As Max put it, it was "banger after banger" - and it was difficult to disagree. Opening with Lightning, the duo wasted no time setting the tone for the evening. The energy was there from the start, and the crowd responded in the way every performer hopes for: singing, screaming and dancing along as the hits kept coming.
Hearing All Time Low, the band's first single, was another reminder of just how far back this connection goes for those of us who have been there since the beginning. These aren't just songs that people recognise. They're songs attached to memories, friendships, nights out and different stages of our lives.
What made the evening so enjoyable was the way the audience embraced every moment. There was no hesitation, no holding back and certainly no shortage of enthusiasm. The atmosphere was infectious, and the intimacy of Manchester Academy only added to it.
The audience were given a particularly lovely opportunity towards the end of the night when Max and Siva asked which song we'd like to hear again. The response to All Time Low was the loudest, making it the clear favourite for another outing. These songs still matter, and the audience were more than happy to make their feelings known. The night ultimately finished with Glad You Came, an ending that felt fitting for a show built around celebrating the music that brought everyone together in the first place.
Remembering Tom Parker
The Wanted 2.0 represents a different chapter in the band's story, with Max George and Siva Kaneswaran carrying the music forward together. There is inevitably a different dynamic without the original line-up, with Jay McGuinness and Nathan Sykes absent from the reunion, and the heartbreaking loss of the talented Tom. Max and Siva thanked the fans for getting them to where they are today and made it clear that they weren't going anywhere.
It was hard to see a dry eye in the room when Gold Forever, a hit that changed the lives of the band, was dedicated to the late Tom. Everyone joined in as they chanted Tom's name, a reminder that his memory most certainly lives on. There was sadness, of course, but also love, gratitude and a sense of celebration. Tom remains part of The Wanted's story, and his place in the hearts of the fans who grew up with the band is unmistakable.
For someone who has followed the group for more than 15 years, that moment carried an extra weight. I have seen the band in different stages of its journey, and I have experienced the heartbreak of saying goodbye to Tom. To be standing in a crowd singing these songs again, with Max and Siva keeping the music alive, was genuinely moving.
A Brilliant Night Worth Seeing
I went into Manchester Academy knowing that the evening would mean something to me. What I didn't want was simply to revisit the past. I wanted to enjoy the music, feel that familiar excitement and see what this new chapter of The Wanted could offer. I came away having absolutely loved it.
The intimacy of the venue, the off-the-scale energy, the wall-to-wall hits and the enthusiasm of the crowd made this a genuinely brilliant night. Every song felt like an invitation to sing a little louder, dance a little harder and enjoy being part of something shared. There was nostalgia. There were tears. There was an enormous amount of dancing and singing. Most importantly, there was a reminder of why these songs have stayed with us for so long.
Max and Siva promised they weren't going anywhere, and after a night like this, I sincerely hope they're right. Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Set List: Lightning, Lose My Mind, I Found You, Heart Vacancy, We Own the Night, Warzone, Gold Forever, All Time Low, Walks Like Rihanna, Chasing the Sun, All Time Low (audience request), Glad You Came.
