Tom Grennan’s rise has been nothing short of electrifying. From catching ears with early collaborations to storming some of the country’s biggest stages like Capital’s Jingle Bell Ball and Radio 1’s Live Lounge, he has gone from a promising newcomer to a headliner who can command an arena with ease. On Friday night at the Co-op Live in Manchester, he showed exactly why his name now belongs in lights, delivering a performance that was raw, unpredictable and completely unforgettable.

The night began with Rianne Downey, who stepped out with a voice that felt both timeless and fresh. Her country-tinged sound carried an easy warmth that immediately settled the crowd into the evening, her storytelling style drawing people closer, even in such a vast space. She might have been the opener, but there was a quiet confidence about her set that suggested much bigger stages are waiting. Next up was Tom Walker, whose catalogue of hits meant the energy in the room lifted instantly. From 'Leave a Light On' to 'Better Half of Me', the crowd sang every word, and when it came to 'Just You and I' he turned the arena into one huge choir by teaching the lyrics before striking the first chord. Thousands of lights waved through the stadium as voices echoed back at him, creating one of those rare goosebump moments that felt both intimate and massive all at once.

The show opened with a huge curtain draped across the stage with his voice cutting through the dark as the first lines of 'Full Attention' began. Nobody could see him yet and it sent a ripple of excitement through the arena. When the curtain finally dropped and the lights hit, there he was in front of his name glowing in giant letters. The place erupted. Without pausing he drove into 'Higher' and then 'All These Nights', which exploded with the first blast of confetti, and from that moment the atmosphere never came down.

He never stayed still for a second. Sprinting up and down the stage, he made sure the spotlight wasn’t only on him. The backing singers and horn section were brought to the front more than once, turning their parts into proper show-stopping moments rather than background support. It gave the performance a sense of togetherness, like the whole band was sharing the night. On the big screens above, every movement felt even larger, while bursts of fire, smoke and confetti exploded in sync with the music. Pink and blue lights swept across the crowd, adding to the spectacle and keeping the atmosphere electric.

For 'Cool With That' and 'Found What I’ve Been Looking For', the crowd were roaring, and during 'Boys Don’t Cry' and 'Don’t Break the Heart' he showed how easily he can move from emotion to pure power. 'Crown Your Love' and 'Certified' lifted the pace again before 'Royal Highness' kept the whole arena bouncing. 'Somewhere Only We Go' gave the crowd a moment to sway together before 'Let’s Go Home Together', sung with one of his backing singers. As it was her last show he handed her flowers, a small but moving moment in the middle of all the chaos. 'Diamond' followed, and then came 'How Does It Feel', one of the night’s biggest highlights. At one point he even picked up a phone thrown on stage and sang into it, sending the place wild.

The energy refused to dip with 'All Goes Wrong' and 'Lionheart' before 'By Your Side' turned the whole arena into one giant dancefloor. He brought his singers back out to the catwalk where they moved with him in full force, clapping, spinning and throwing themselves into the moment. It gave the far end of the crowd their own close-up taste of the show and added another surge of energy.

Things slowed down with 'Remind Me', where he took the time to connect directly with both his band and the audience, making it feel less like a solo performance and more like a shared experience. Then came one of the most emotional points of the night when he moved to the B-stage and spoke openly about his struggles with mental health. He admitted there was a time not long ago when he “didn’t think he could do this anymore” and urged anyone going through the same to reach out for help. It was raw and heartfelt, a reminder of the person behind the performer.

'I Won’t Miss A Thing' came with more fire and smoke but it was 'Little Bit of Love' that closed the night in unforgettable fashion. He dropped to his knees as the crowd sang every word back at him, clearly in disbelief at what he had accomplished. Shaking his head, he stood as confetti filled the air, only to sink straight back down in awe, reaching his hands out to the fans. It was a proper spine-tingling moment, full of pride, connection and raw emotion.

From the very back of the arena you could feel the energy, people were moving from front to back, completely united in the music. On the final night of the tour he left the Co-op with a show that was celebratory, heartfelt and impossible to forget.