James Arthur- Co Op Live- Manchester, UK 21/02/2026- Danni Baker

Photo By Sam Wall

It’s been an extremely successful 14 years for James Arthur since winning The X Factor back in 2012. He’s proven himself to be somewhat of an anomaly as the TV show was simply just the start for him, not a career peak as it has been for many others. So much so in fact that until he mentioned it himself on stage, I almost forgot he was on the show! His Co Op Live show comes in the midst of a huge arena tour, with stops across the whole of the UK. His show at the UK’s biggest arena was a monumental performance, in James’ own words it “felt like he’d reached the pinnacle” as he returned to the very same city he won the show in. 

In terms of the performance, I genuinely do not have a bad word to say. The whole band and backing singers were all on top form, the visuals were mesmerising, an exceptional lighting rig and even fireworks at points. Every aspect of the show had been meticulously thought out. James’ insane vocal talent alone would’ve made a hell of a show, but the production brought it to a whole other level. My one and only criticism comes from the lack of a support act. There was a whole two hours between doors and James’ set and only half an hour of that was filled with a DJ playing some throwback hits. This tour could’ve been a great opportunity to showcase an up and coming band so it’s a shame that time wasn’t utilised as much as it could’ve been. The DJ went down well enough with the crowd though so maybe that’s just me. 

Photo By Sam Wall

As soon as James took to the stage the long wait was forgotten, and instead replaced with a buzz of anticipation. Naturally, the ‘Pisces’ tour had to be kicked off with a track from the newest record, and ‘Water’ was the perfect high energy opener to set the tone for the night. James was very on brand for his Manchester show, wearing an Oasis T-shirt as he confidently moved around the huge stage.

When you have a career as long and successful as James Arthur, fitting all the hits into one setlist can be quite the challenge! To fit as many fan favourites as possible into the show, there were a number of mashups throughout the night. These were mixes of covers such as The Fugees’ ‘Ready or Not’, and some of James’ tracks both old and new. The second medley of the night included hits such as ‘Safe Inside’ and ‘A Year Ago’ (the latter of which had me tearing up) as James walked the arena floor, enjoying a special moment with his fans up close and personal as he made his way to the B-stage for a few more acoustic tracks. ‘Naked’ saw yet another crowd walk as he made his way back to the main stage, and highlighted how important James’ relationship with his fans is. It’s extremely refreshing to see an artist of this size care so much about creating these core memories, and having such special interactions with fans. James is setting the bar for other artists and proving how genuine he is. 

Photo By Sam Wall

There were plenty of tracks from James’ latest album on the setlist, but it was clear the Middlesbrough singer hasn’t forgotten the huge hits that got him consistently playing arenas all these years. ‘Can I Be Him’, ‘Trainwreck’ and ‘Impossible’ were just a few that had the whole arena screaming at the top of their lungs and brought the whole room together beautifully.

One of the standout moments of the night came with James’ reimagined version of ‘Rewrite the Stars’ from The Greatest Showman. “I was offended they didn’t ask me to be part of the movie. I would’ve taken the bearded lady, I would’ve done anything!” He joked before introducing backing singer Yasmin Green who took on Anne-Marie’s lines in the beautiful duet. James faced away from the stage to face Yasmin as they sang, making it feel less like part of an arena show and more like we were witnessing an intimate moment between the two. Their voices seamlessly blended together, and the harmonies were stunning. 

Photo By Sam Wall

Throughout the night the show had stunning backdrops and eye-catching visuals, but ‘Bitter Sweet Love’ was by far the standout. It had everything from fireworks, gorgeous light and confetti cannons, as well as being an absolute earworm of a song! 

The three song encore showcased every side of James Arthur, starting with the powerful indie-rock of ‘Yeah, No.’, followed by the party vibe of ‘Lasting Lover’ that’s made for dancing, before slowing it down to end on the huge hit ‘Say You Won’t Let Go’. From the second James started teasing ‘Say You Won’t Let Go’ with those first few chords the crowd took over and sang the whole first verse, something he was visibly shocked at and said had never happened before! After expressing his gratitude he asked if we’d mind starting again so his whole band could join in. Phone lights lit up the room, and the atmosphere was incredible. The perfect way to end the night with such a beautiful moment. As the crowd’s deafening cheers echoed through the arena James said “This feels like I’ve reached the pinnacle, thank you.” 

Over 14 years on, James Arthur is still reaching new heights and packing out huge rooms. Behind all the fireworks, production and band is a lad from Middlesbrough who still can’t believe that this many people know the words to his songs. With a run of summer shows already lined up, it’s clear he has no plans of slowing down. I found myself scrambling for tickets to the July shows as I left the arena, already needing my next hit of James Arthur dopamine, and I imagine I wasn’t the only one. His set is bound to hit even harder at an outdoor summer show so you won’t want to miss it!

Photo By Sam Wall

Article By Danni Baker