Antony Szmierek Turns Manchester Academy Into a Rave-Fuelled Poetry Slam

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Manchester Academy, 23rd October 2026

WORDS H PALMER / IMAGES PAUL DIXON

Antony Szmierek Turns Manchester Academy Into a Rave-Fuelled Poetry Slam — Photo Credit Paul W Dixon

Antony Szmierek’s return to Manchester Academy felt less like a standard tour stop and more like a homecoming celebration. The venue’s familiar 7pm doors and 11pm curfew framed a night that drew a cross section of Manchester’s music crowd, from teenagers with parents in tow to long time fans who’ve followed Szmierek’s rise through the city’s spoken word and indie hip hop scenes

The set leaned heavily into the blend of electronic, hip hop, indie, and spoken word that defines his catalogue.

Atmospherically, the gig struck a balance between intimacy and energy. Manchester Academy’s layout kept the performance grounded, allowing Szmierek’s storytelling to take centre stage. His spoken word interludes—half poem, half banter—were met with cheers, especially when he nodded to the city’s creative scene and the venues he played earlier in the year.

The performance was tight and confident, reflecting his growth after major festival appearances and TV slots like Later… with Jools Holland

His delivery balanced humour and sincerity, often shifting from sharp observational lines into dance floor crescendos. The crowd reacted strongest to the moments where spoken word sections bloomed into full band rave infused climaxes—an approach described in coverage of his debut album Service Station at the End of the Universe

The show was paced like a narrative arc: quieter spoken word moments early, dance driven tracks in the middle, and a euphoric closing run. Lighting was minimalistic but effective, often bathing the stage in warm tones that matched the emotional beats of the set.

This gig felt like a milestone. Szmierek’s rise over the past few years—supported by BBC Radio 1 and BBC 6 Music, festival appearances, and a critically acclaimed debut album has clearly sharpened his live craft. The Manchester Academy show showcased an artist fully in command of his voice, his audience, and his hybrid genre.

If you were there, you likely left with the sense that you’d witnessed a hometown artist revelling in adoration and community.

This guy will be a main act at Glasto one day soon…. Note these words.

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