Michael Kiwanuka // Manchester Apollo // 13.3.25
“The whole affair feels like he has transformed the lobby of Manchester Apollo into some kind of DeLorean, and we find Kiwanuka slap bang in 1975…”
Michael Kiwanuka has been growing and expanding his sound, and the size of the venues he plays, since he scooped the Mercury Prize in 2020 with his third record, Kiwanuka. On Thursday, he took on Manchester Apollo on the final night of the tour following 2024’s Small Changes.
The vast Apollo stage is a picture of vintage cool: huge red curtains act as wings for performers and the space is adorned with gorgeous wooden furniture, lamps which bathe the stage in a warm halogen orange, vintage amps and keyboards, and a sea of percussion. Everything is in perfect place on top of a series of Persian rugs as we wait for Kiwanuka and his ten-strong band to take their places.
For such a huge room, Kiwanuka makes it feel like he’s in your living room playing through his vast back catalogue of tunes. ‘You Ain’t the Problem’ from his aforementioned Mercury-scooping Kiwanuka is an early highlight – the whole ten-piece come together in gorgeous harmony: crashing percussion, expressive guitar and brilliant backing vocals showcase one side of Kiwanuka’s brilliant best. The crowd are up for it and the huge ‘la la la’s of the chorus ring round every seat of the vast theatre.
‘Father’s Child’, ‘Follow Your Dreams’ and ‘Black Man in a White World’ all sound exceptional. There is a real sense of Kiwanuka embracing the vintage: from the old school equipment and stage dressing, the whole affair feels like he has transformed the lobby of Manchester Apollo into some kind of DeLorean, and we find Kiwanuka slap bang in 1975. The cherry red Gibson slung around his neck for most of the evening is attached to the era-appropriate amplifier with a deliciously retro coiled guitar cable, and the warm, soulful sounds blasted around the arena are often entirely reminiscent of Floyd and Gilmour.
We’re treated to an extended version of ‘Hero’, and as the night progresses we get to see each member of the extended touring entourage shine. His three backing vocalists sound radiant as their voices soar across the huge room, guitarist Michael Jablonka makes his Fender strat howl as the evening progresses, imparting some serious 70s face-melting solos into the otherwise soulful symposium.
‘Lowdown’ parts I and II are superb: they channel a gorgeously retro Abbey Road sound and the extended jam outro once again gives Jablonka room to stretch his sonic muscles. It’s a glorious night, with Kiwanuka playing out a lap of honour off the back of a glorious record, a stellar tour and the feeling that he has yet more in the locker.
Words: Charlie Brock
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