Goldie Lookin Chain Bring the Noughties Nonsense to Manchester New Century

2 minutes ago

4 min read

New Century Hall, Manchester, 22nd October 2026

WORDS AND IMAGES TONI SLATER

Goldie Lookin Chain Bring the Noughties Nonsense to Manchester New Century — Photo Credit Toni Slater

Noughties nostalgia, irreverent humour and bass-heavy hip-hop collide as Goldie Lookin Chain bring their gloriously unpolished rap show to Manchester.

There are gigs where the audience stands back and admires the performance, and there are gigs where the whole point is to get involved. Goldie Lookin Chain fall firmly into the latter category. Taking over New Century Hall on 22 October, the Welsh collective brought their distinctive blend of comedy rap, cult hits and unapologetic silliness to Manchester, delivering an evening that prioritised entertainment over musical pretension. The venue was packed with die-hard fans dressed in over sized gold chains, bad taste shell suits and bucket hats a plenty.

With JJ Bull opening proceedings, the night offered a welcome dose of nostalgia, although GLC's deliberately chaotic approach remains something of an acquired taste.

JJ Bull had the job of warming up the crowd before the main event, bringing personality and energy to the stage. Their appearance provided a lively introduction to the evening, setting the scene for a night that would be as much about humour and audience interaction as the music itself. As a support act, they helped establish the atmosphere without overshadowing the anticipation surrounding the headliners.

Goldie Lookin Chain have never been a group particularly concerned with playing by the rules of hip-hop. Their music combines rap with satire, absurdity and a distinctly Welsh sense of humour, taking aim at everything from gangsta-rap stereotypes to the ridiculousness of everyday life.

That formula was firmly at the heart of their Manchester appearance. Tracks from their back catalogue, including the likes of Your Missus Is a Nutter, Half Man Half Machine and The Middle of Lidl, showcase the group's ability to turn everyday absurdities into memorable, comedy-driven anthems. Meanwhile, Soap Bar and Guns Don't Kill People, Rappers Dounderline the tongue-in-cheek attitude that helped establish their cult following.

The strength of material like this lies in its familiarity. These aren't songs that demand intense concentration or invite solemn reflection; they're built around memorable hooks, ridiculous premises and lyrics designed to provoke a reaction. For an audience who grew up with GLC, the nostalgia is a considerable part of the appeal.

The comedy is central to the experience, and once the novelty of the lyrics and characters has settled in, the relatively straightforward musical framework offers limited variation. They have always occupied their own corner of the genre, and their refusal to take themselves seriously is central to their identity.

The atmosphere at New Century Hall was a key part of the evening's appeal. GLC's music lends itself to a communal experience, where the jokes, recognisable choruses and exchanges between performers and audience matter as much as the songs themselves.

Rather than relying on elaborate staging or an overly polished production, the group put their personalities front and centre. The result was a gig that felt closer to a shared night out than a carefully choreographed spectacle.

There is also something distinctive about the group's relationship with its audience. Their humour depends on a willingness to embrace the ridiculous, and fans who understand the joke have plenty to enjoy. For newcomers, some of the material may feel deliberately juvenile, while the comedy-led format occasionally threatens to overshadow the music.

New Century Hall provided a fitting backdrop, its distinctive character and sound system well suited to the group's bass-heavy material. The venue offered an effective setting for a performance built around personality, familiar songs and audience engagement rather than visual extravagance.

Goldie Lookin Chain remain a band with a very clear identity, and their Manchester appearance demonstrated both the strengths and limitations of that approach. GLC delivered a generous helping of their trademark comedy rap and noughties nostalgia. Their best material remains memorable precisely because it refuses to take itself seriously, although the deliberately repetitive musical style and juvenile humour won't appeal to everyone.

For fans, the combination of cult anthems, irreverent banter and familiar material makes for an entertaining evening. For those less convinced by the joke, the lack of musical variety may leave them wanting more.

Ultimately, Goldie Lookin Chain don't need to reinvent themselves. Their appeal rests on a formula they've spent years refining: uncomplicated beats, outrageous humour and a willingness to celebrate the absurd. At New Century Hall, that formula provided an entertaining trip back to a time when comedy rap could occupy a place of its own in British music culture.

Not a gig for those seeking musical innovation, but for anyone happy to embrace the humour, nostalgia and sheer ridiculousness of it all, Goldie Lookin Chain still know how to put on a show.

SET LIST (Based On Previous Shows)