Lola Young Makes Triumphant Return at Manchester's O2 Apollo

Before she had even taken to the stage, before the house lights had gone down and before the audience even had an inkling she was about to emerge, the crowd were chanting. "Lola! Lola! Lola!" Manchester was more than ready for the return of Lola Young.

This was not her first time back on stage after her extended hiatus, but this was the headline date of her first tour back. And judging by the reception inside the O2 Apollo, it was a return many had been eagerly awaiting.

Since Young first found major acclaim following her hit single Messy, it has been a turbulent few months. Last September, at the All Things Go festival in New York, the now 25-year-old collapsed after telling fans that it had been a "tricky couple of days." Just days later, she cancelled all of her shows "for the foreseeable future," telling fans, "I really hope you'll give me a second chance once I've had some time to work on myself and come back stronger."

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This hiatus came at a pivotal point in her career. Young had recently released a new album (I'm Only F***ing Myself), earned the backing of Elton John, and was performing across the globe. But now, eight months later, she has returned to the touring circuit, choosing Manchester as one of the first stops on her comeback journey.

Simply put, it is absolutely clear that Lola Young is ready for this tour, and it is even clearer that her fans are ready for her return. The crowd's enthusiasm rarely dipped throughout the evening, with the singer occasionally pausing to take it all in. At one point she laughed, "I can't even hear myself in my in-ears, that's how loud you guys are."

The O2 Apollo felt like the perfect venue for the Londoner to make her return, with Manchester embracing her as one of its own. Opening with SAD SOB STORY!, Young eased the audience in with a slower number, but a fiery and emotional one nonetheless, with a passionate performance setting the tone for the evening. The song, centred around moving on from a toxic ex, is ultimately one of empowerment. Given her own journey over the past year, it felt like a fitting statement of intent and a thesis for the show and messaging that followed.

That sense of self-belief and confidence carried throughout the evening. At one point, Young shared her "Manchester Mantra," a reflection on empowerment and resilience. "Sometimes you forget your own power; it is easy to do when the noise around you becomes too loud. The instinct is to shout above it so you still feel heard," she said. "But don't. Stay quiet. Those who want to listen will lean in, no matter your volume." It was a message which resonated with a crowd whose affection for the singer appeared to have grown during her quiet time away, as the fans have truly listened.

Her gratitude for this crowd and the chance to come back was evident not just in her words, but also in her performance. In songs like Not Like That Anymore and Big Brown Eyes, it was clear that Young was having so much fun, and that energy instantly spread throughout the room. Backed by an incredible band, who shone in songs like Conceited and Penny Out Of Nothing, Young delivered every song with remarkable passion. Dancing and bouncing around the stage, she generated enough energy to fill a venue larger than the Apollo. While she could almost certainly command an arena-sized audience, it seemed fitting to return in a more intimate setting.

Of course, the loudest reactions came during fan favourites d£aler, One Thing, and the viral anthem Messy, with the audience screaming every lyric back at her. Young's charisma transforms songs already familiar from radio playlists and other live performances into something more vibrant, breathing new life into even her most-played tracks. She also proved why she received her Grammy nominations for Best Pop Solo Performance and Best New Artist. Performances of Why Do I Feel Better When I Hurt You, Spiders, and Post Sex Clarity highlighted both her emotional depth and powerhouse vocals.

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Yet Young was at her very best during You Noticed. The deeply vulnerable performance left many audience members in tears and served as another reminder of her ability to combine vocal brilliance with vulnerability. As she closed the show, Young promised fans she would return very soon. With a second Manchester show still to come, it already feels inevitable that this next visit will be on an even bigger stage. But no matter what venue is next, we are so glad you are back, Lola.