Charli XCX in Manchester: 7 best moments from her biggest UK concert

The gray and dreary winter weather did nothing to stop Charlie's Angels from showing up to their heart's content. Neon Corsets, Two Piece Latex Coated, Fishnet, Homemade Brat baby t-shirts: for the thousands of ticket holders descending on Co-op Live, fitting in was just as important as shuffling to the front to find a good spot in the crowd. The space became their own rare corridor.

The streets of Manchester were painted green as some fans were inspired by the Brat album cover, while others expressed Charli's intimate career with drag culture, wearing everything from stomper boots to dramatic cats and sky-high wigs. Clearly, everyone knew how to look.

The death of SOPHIE – who died in 2021 after falling from the roof of a building in Greece while trying to take a picture of the moon – was earth-shattering for pop fans, particularly Charli. He worked with the pioneering hyperpop producer on a number of projects, including tracks from the 2017 retro-futurist Number 1 Angel mixtape and the Broom Broom EP, released last year. The latter's dizzying, expressive songs arguably changed the course of Charli's career, showing a whole new depth to her artistry and becoming a cult hit with her predominantly queer audience.

Before Charlie took to the stage at Co-op Live, SOPHIE's eternal banger 'Immaterial' blasted through the PA, amplifying the raucous atmosphere in the room. Later, she delivered the poignant “So I,” an ode to her late friend and collaborator. Charli played the track straight and simple, relying only on her impassioned vocals as she lived under a pale, single spotlight.

After his high energy ingenuity Pop 2 highlight “Unlock It” – filled with an overall view of Kim Petras signature “Wh-Ah!” ad-lib – Charli caught her breath explaining the meaning of “Talk Talk”. The track was inspired by the early days she spent meeting her now-fiancé George Daniel, producer and drummer with The 1975.

“Can you believe the love of my life George Daniel is here?” he exclaimed, pointing to a private box at the top of the arena. Clearly moved by the audience's raucous response to the mere mention of her partner, Charlie continued to call out George throughout the evening, giggling giddily every time she said his name.

“Oh shit, it's tiiiimmmeee,” Charli shouted as the bright, inflatable 'Apple' arrangement began to unfurl. The piece became an internet sensation earlier this year after actress and content creator Kelley Heyer posted a TikTok dance in what he described at the time as an “under-appreciated” moment Brat – and has since become one of the album's most streamed songs.

As Charlie wandered around the stage, nonchalantly smoking a cigarette under an overcoat, the arena began to take shape. The video screens showed different performances from the routine fans, although thankfully, there were no moments that stole the spotlight – unlike a recent, mimed moment from Los Angeles Sweat demonstration.

His out and out aura Brat allowed Charli to use AutoTune to filter and manipulate her vocals to suit each song. Onstage, she applied the same effect to revamped versions of older material like “Party 4 U” and “Track 10,” raising her tone to match the intensity of the show's extended lighting. Throughout the latter, she was variously angry, seductive and forceful – an actress who had her true pop diva in the spirit of Cher.

The theatrics continued toward the end of “Track 10,” as Charli walked to the front of the stage and finished the song under a towering water screen. A bright flash of loose, pristine white clothing and embellished underwear, she gave it her all.

When Charli first unveiled his formidable EP title track “Vroom Vroom”, few imagined that he would one day light up large domes on both sides of the Atlantic in the same way that he has been a staple of LGBTQ+ nightlife for years. Where he used to play the track in tiny nightclubs, crouching low on the floor as if he were hiding in a shelterlast night, “Vroom Vroom” finally got the arena treatment it always deserved.

From that opening, adrenaline-pumping appeal “let's ride” on the sheer melodic power of the song's snappy lyrics, Charli performed “Vroom Vroom” with enough magnetism to cut through the air at Co-op Live one more time.

While much of Charli's set focused on stage antics with shock value – from debuting a Sanrio-inspired miniskirt to spitting and licking the stage on all fours – there were a few moments of reflection that added some much-needed emotional weight to the night.

Shygirl also made a cameo for a playful, uplifting rendition of the pair's '365' remix, while Charli later opened up about a formative show she played to '10 people' at the Manchester Deaf Institute venue in 2013. 'Thank you for you stood by me and always with faith in me,” she concluded, her smile widening at second.