Conan Gray has only once graced the UK official Top 20 singles, back in 2020 with the anthemic Heather. However, while the album that spawned his biggest commercially successful UK single, Kid Krow, reached number 30 in the official album charts, each subsequent release has charted higher than the previous. Last summer, his fourth studio album, Wishbone, nearly climbed all the way to the top of the album charts, peaking at 2. It is therefore little surprise that the 27-year-old singer/songwriter's show at Manchester's AO Arena has attracted massive queues of Coneheads, who are queuing early to see their icon back on the road in the UK for the first time since his three shows in 2024.

With an army of truly loyal Coneheads excitedly anticipating their icon, Esha Tewari is warmly met as she embarks on a brief but beautiful opening set. It is clear a large portion of the audience are already familiar with the material and are happy to engage with her set with real gusto. It is clear the Australian singer has potential, with About Me making the biggest impression.

After a short interlude, Conan's chaptered show kicks off with Act I: A Wishbone Never Breaks Even. Kicking off the singalong with the epic My World, it is clear that both Conan and his Coneheads are fully on board with the euphoria of a massive singalong. As the act traverses material old and new, the depth of beauty in his lyrics and the bop power of his delivery are only outshone by the real strength of his live vocal.

Act II: I Got The Short End of The Stick opens with the brilliant Class Clown and peaks with The Cut That Always Bleeds; however, it is following it with the live debut of the recently released House That Always Rains that offers another show highlight. Performed acoustically for Conan's Campfire, it is a real gem in the mix of the show.

Act III: I Took The Long Way to Realisation is fully loaded with real bangers. His latest single, The Best, is sensational; however, it is the explosive Heather and intimate Family Line that have the biggest impact in terms of audience response.

Closing his show with Act IV: I Wished For Love, And I Found It, the set reaches its peak with a trio of hits – Actor, Maniac and the unforgettable Vodka Cranberry – before Conan returns to the stage for an encore of Memories and Caramel, leaving his audience with rolling tour credits and a sense of sheer joy.

Conan Gray may not yet be a household name in the UK, but he's achieved something far more significant. He's grown an arena-sized audience and delivers a set full of heart and connection. A truly magical performance.