Cowboy Hats, Back-Flips and Cowboy Boots - Benson Boone Transforms Manchester’s Co‑op Live Into a Pop-Arena Circus
- Desh Kapur
- 3 days ago
- 2 min read
Updated: 2 days ago
Co Op Live, Manchester, October 27th 2025
WORDS DESH KAPUR /IMAGES PROVIDED BY POMONA PR
It was a wet and rainy night as we headed to the sold-out Co-op Live in Manchester. Still, there was no dampening of spirit — cowboy hats, Boone boots and glitter were everywhere you looked. The audience skewed young and female, many accompanied by parents — this very much felt like a full-on pop event, not just a gig.
As the lights dropped, the show kicked off with one of Benson Boone’s trademark routines: a back-flip to launch proceedings, pyrotechnics snapping across the stage, and immediately you knew you were in for something spectacular. From there the arena ramped up into something more than a concert: a show-stunt hybrid, full-on spectacle.
One of the wildest moments came when Boone sang a song suspended from a flying chandelier high above the crowd. Elsewhere he strafed the concourse runway that stretched into the standing section, leaping from ramps, surfing the arena floor, back-flipping again into the end-game of the set. Confetti cannons exploded; the crowd roared. It was impressive that he kept control of thousands of screaming fans, many perched on shoulders, many holding up signs, shouting “I love you!”, even marriage proposals being hurled his way.
Musically he delivered — slick, professional, with moments of genuine emotional heft. Yet I found myself at times thinking it was a little safe, a little middle-of-the-road. I tend to like things edgy; this leaned more polished pop-arena than raw rock-edge. But the arena clearly loved it: singalongs, big-band energy, full engagement.
Given that Benson Boone came from a TikTok breakout, passed through the quarters of American Idol, and is now headlining arenas — it’s very impressive. He channels a stage-persona with echoes of Freddie Mercury’s showmanship and works all the angles.
By the time the final back-flip landed and the house lights came on, the Co-op Live had become something like a pop-rock war zone — in the best possible way. Rock’s not dead — it’s just wearing glitter boots and cowboy hats tonight. For a fan’s first outing to a show like this, it was a full-on revelation.
SET LIST
Set 1:
I Wanna Be the One You Call
Wanted Man
Sorry I'm Here for Someone Else
Man in Me
Drunk in My Mind
Slow It Down
Be Someone
Set 2:
Mystical Magical
Pretty Slowly
In the Stars
Let Me Go / There She Goes / Sugar Sweet
Take Me Home
Set 3
Young American Heart
Mr Electric Blue
All I Want
(Kodaline cover)
Momma Song
Love of Mine
Reminds Me of You
Beautiful Things
Encore:
Cry
CONNECT WITH BENSON BOONE
Comments