Devon rock trio Muse brought their signature blend of sci-fi spectacle and relentless energy to Manchester's Co-op Live on the second night of The Wow! Signal Europe Tour 2026. The show provided a dramatic antidote to a chilly November evening in the city, with the band performing a set packed with both new material and career-spanning hits.
A Spectacle of Lasers and Dystopian Imagery
Following a support set from California's Dead Poet Society, the lights dimmed and a new stage rig came to life beneath a colossal, hovering coil. The show opened with a laser barrage through 'Hexagons', 'The Sickness in You & I', and 'Unravelling', setting a visually intense tone from the start.
Huge red catwalks extended from a robot-adorned backdrop into the middle of the arena. Frontman Matt Bellamy, wearing a light-up suit and lyric-displaying specs, wielded custom guitars while strutting across the stage. Bassist Chris Wolstenholme unleashed the monstrous, fuzz-drenched riff to 'Hysteria', backed by Dominic Howard's powerhouse drumming, as thousands of free wristbands twinkled across the crowd.
New Tracks Sit Alongside the Classics
Having released The Wow! Signal in June, the band showcased new material like 'Cryogen' and the laser-drenched 'The Dark Forest' alongside their established heavy hitters. An extended 'Supermassive Black Hole' sent the crowd wild, before 'Be With You' drenched the arena in confetti and streamers.
'Plug In Baby' sounded as razor-sharp as it did in 2001, with Bellamy casually tossing off its legendary opening riff. An Ameca robot-assisted '[Drill Sergeant]' fed into 'Psycho' and 'Time Is Running Out', turning the floor into a frantic scene of flying limbs and beer.
A Bold Setlist and a Glimpse of Summer
Dropping 'Knights of Cydonia' mid-set proved a bold move. Wolstenholme's Ennio Morricone-style harmonica intro preceded a galloping riff that nearly took the roof off. The band followed with the disco-rock swagger of 'Nightshift Superstar' and a euphoric sprint through 'Starlight', closing the encore with an apocalyptic blast of 'Take a Bow'.
With a massive run of outdoor gigs already locked in for next summer, including a night at Leeds' Roundhay Park, fans catching this show under the open sky are in for a treat. On a cold Friday in Manchester, Muse proved once again that nobody generates heat quite like them.
