Clare Sellers
The lights dimmed, an electronic board flashes ‘Life Support’ and Madison Beer takes the stage in a simple white pearl dress with her two dancers following suit, music fills the room… and then, she sings.
Live at Manchester Academy, Madison Beer continues her Europe takeover in her signature fashion of stylish dresses and pretty hair ribbons, performing the entire debut album in her hour and a half long performance.
Squashed together in anticipation, the audience waited for the supporting act Leah Kate to emerge on stage. Shouting profanities and hyping the crowd with her bass blaring anthems, Kate performed electrically singing a few opening songs that included TikTok smash hit ’10 things I hate about you’ with her drummer and guitarist in tow.
After leaving the stage, there’s a period of time that seems to last forever as we wait for the main act, and crowd surf cups of water from one person to another. Then, finally, she emerges.
Beer’s stage presence is completely ethereal to begin with, standing in a large open platform box that perfectly illuminates her as she dances and sings from the comfort of the step as her dancers push her from side to side. It matches the style of the songs and allows the audience the best chance at a glimpse of her, even if you were stuck at the back.
The stage design was impeccable, featuring a tree swing covered in fake leaves and vines matching her aesthetic and creating a unique experience that feels more like a show production rather than just a concert.
With three outfit changes, Beer styled a brown puffed out mini dress for emotional ballads ‘Selfish’ and ‘Stained Glass’. The former being the first single released from the debut album holds a special place in both performers’ and audiences’ hearts, so Beer lifts the microphone to the audience to sing one of the standout lines ‘Why you always such a Gemini?’ which was delivered with so much force by the audience that she had to take a moment to compose herself before continuing with the song.
Changed into her final outfit for the night, a dark blue number the crowd went wild for, Beer began her final few songs including her most upbeat fan favourite ‘Boyshit’ that saw her encourage the audience to let loose with her and her dancers.
Vocally outstanding in all aspects, she takes the chance to harmonise differently than the pre-recorded tracks and sings runs incredibly effortlessly sending the audience into a roar of cheers and, occasionally, sobs.
Granting a secret Easter egg for any long-time fans, Beer sang ‘Dear Society’, a stand-alone single released in 2019 that predates her debut album. Dancing along the stage, it feels like a worthy salute to how far she has come since then.
A breath-taking finale had Beer leave the stage momentarily while the audience watched stunning visuals on the electronic board, before returning and belting ‘Everything happens for a reason’.
Midway through, during a strong instrumental the singer thrust her arms to the air as confetti rained down on the audience from all sides in a mesmerising experience.
Taking their final bow, Beer and her dancers exited the stage and audience members began to file out, unaware of a secret surprise afterparty song that Beer plans for each event. She bounced back on stage to the iconic Queen number ‘Don’t stop me now’, creating a sense of community between herself and the audience as she picks up a bouquet of flowers thrown on stage and blows us kisses.
Stumbling through mounds of confetti and crushed plastic cups on the venue’s floor, we’re left to come down off our visual and vocal high as we leave, wishing that it would have never ended.
Featured image courtesy of Zoe McCartney. Permission received and no changes were made.
claresellers
I am a 20-year-old multimedia journalism student in my final year studying at the University of Salford