The Weeknd's Spellbinding Manchester Show: A Victory Lap of Epic Proportions

The Weeknd's 'After Hours til Dawn' Tour is a behemoth. Not only has it been traveling around the world for several years, but it also represents the highest-grossing R&B tour and the biggest tour by a solo male artist in history. So far, it has grossed over $1 billion across more than 150 shows. This continent-crossing spectacle is nearly impossible to tear your eyes away from. A sensory feast, it represents worldbuilding at its finest.

Mere seconds into the show, with rain lashing down on The Etihad, we are invited into The Weeknd's fantasy creation. A giant metallic cityscape transforms the football ground into something almost post-apocalyptic. The artist, real name Abel Tesfaye, first emerged on the music scene with his debut mixtape, House of Balloons, in 2011, but he was active earlier, releasing music anonymously on YouTube in 2009. Since then, he has released six studio albums and earned his place at the top of the charts with hits like Blinding Lights, Starboy, and Can't Feel My Face. However, his back catalogue is not just shiny smash hits but also brooding, dark pop, alternative R&B, and hip hop.

Star Power and Speculation

His star power at this stage is undisputed. The 'After Hours til Dawn' Tour is an extended swansong, a victory lap of epic proportions. There has been much speculation online and insights from the artist himself that he could eventually retire his stage persona after the conclusion of the album trilogy that began with 2020's After Hours, includes 2022's Dawn FM, and wrapped up with last year's Hurry Up Tomorrow. But until the fate of his sonic alter ego is decided, we are allowed to enjoy this era for a little while longer. It has been three years since the show came to The Etihad, which means there is a whole other album to weave into the production.

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While Manchester basked in the sun during his last appearance at the venue, this time it has been traded with rather wetter conditions. It is a trope, but the drizzle does not dampen the spectacle; if anything, it elevates it to new heights. Emerging from the flames engulfing the pitch-length walkway carving up the standing section, The Weeknd, wearing all black and a MF Doom-style mask, stands metres from a giant golden robot designed by artist Hajime Sorayama. At the other end, the dystopian cityscape looks dilapidated, a far cry from a sparkling metropolis. It is quite a sight to take in. He is also flanked by a troupe of backing dancers all in red gowns and gold masks, who promptly take their positions along the cross-shaped walkway. There is a distinct Handmaid's Tale feel to the look, which heightens the tension further.

Ominous and Haunting Start

It feels ominous, a little haunting, and entirely appropriate as he dives head first into 'Baptized in Fear', the sixth track from 2025's Hurry Up Tomorrow. A slow-burn it may be, but it feels expansive, almost biblical. Transitioned smoothly into the album's sublimely synth-heavy 'Open Hearts', the pace is gathering. Still sounding fresh a decade later, chart-topper 'Starboy' glides around the stadium, while 'Heartless' feels operatic. Mask removed, revealing a wide, almost shy grin, he allows himself to soak it all up, the crowd's screams unrelenting.

"First show off to a good start I think so," he ponders, already knowing the answer. Then he gives his instructions to an obliging crowd. "Manchester first night, first show of the tour - we need to set the tone tonight right? We going to set the tone Manchester? You going to make every city jealous on this tour, Manchester?" Getting the reaction he is after, things shift gear again as he saunters into 'Cry for Me' and gives us a taste of Brazilian funk on 'Sao Paulo'. Vocals on show, he rips through the pulsing disco bop that is 'Take My Breath', while 'Can't Feel My Face' feels euphoric - and we are not even halfway through at this point.

Master of the Stage

A master of the stage, he oscillates between schmoozing the Manchester crowd in falsetto, leading mass singalongs, and brooding with his more introspective, pared-back tracks. The lengthy set allows him to indulge in his earlier material too, a journey through his many eras. Support act Playboi Carti joins him back on stage as the heavens open once more, for a crowd-pleasing rendition of their 2024 track 'Timeless' and a cover of the American rapper's tune 'Rather Lie'.

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The second half slows in tempo slightly, and it feels for a brief moment that it may have lost its momentum. But a segue into 2016 album Starboy and some masterful crowd work provides a necessary second wind - both 'I Feel It Coming' and 'Die for You' sound sumptuous as they linger around the stadium. Punctuated by pyrotechnics, lasers, and The Weeknd's excursions to different stages - at one point he passes a fan the mic - the show keeps its pace as we hurtle towards its crescendo. Diehard fans perhaps would have wanted the set to be mixed up a little more and incorporate some more of his earlier work, but remember this is the Weeknd's fantasy world and we are just living in it.

Encore and Final Thoughts

With a back catalogue as extensive as Abel's, crafting an encore is no easy task. Naturally, the universally acclaimed anthemic 'Blinding Lights' makes the cut, but as the fireworks soar over the roof, his collaboration with Swedish House Mafia, a pulsing, sleek, and rapturous track, rings out to close the show. For close to two hours, we have been taken on a voyage through The Weeknd's many eras. Whether this is the closing chapter remains to be seen, but at the very least, we can all agree that it was quite the ride.