A glorious Manics weekend by the sea.

‘6.01pm. There’s quite the buzz about, a lot of Manics fans have descended upon the town, I think we’re ready to see out this tour in style. Time for eyeliner and glitter I feel.’

So I wrote in my diary just before heading out to the first of these two gigs. A Manics end-of-tour experience is always a thrill, and doubly so if it happens in Wales. I’d made my first ever visit to Swansea for these gigs this spring weekend, and it was a complete revelation. Somehow I had anticipated a somewhat poky, run-down seaside town with a typical UK pebbly beach, so when I first beheld the pristine blue water and seemingly never ending expanse of glittering golden sand, I was utterly transfixed. Swansea very quickly became one of my favourite places in the UK.

That’s even before I made it to the new arena, a majestic and imposing building near the marina. While truthfully more theatre-like in size than really an arena, it was impressive. I described it in my diary as ‘very cool, very small, a bit like a cross between Brixton and the Barbican, new and clean and comfortable.’

I got to the arena at a quarter past seven, suitably eyelinered and glittered – in fact, a little more glittered than I’d intended as my glitter eyeshadow had exploded all over me while I was getting ready in my hotel room. The social media for the arena had suggested to arrive an hour ahead to get through security, but I was in and at my spot second row Nicky side by 7.30pm, and soaked in the atmosphere as I waited for the night to begin.

First up was Welsh band Adwaith, who I very much enjoyed: ‘two young and energetic ladies with a couple of blokes, and a bunch of bouncily infectious tunes. Looking forward to seeing them a second time.’

Then, as the driving, purposeful intensity of “Critical Thinking” remix pulsating through the venue, I began to think that it may be almost the band’s best ever walk-on tune. Only the Bowie-flavoured thrills of “Speed of Life” which opened their shows on the 2002 Forever Delayed tour can top it. Once the band were on stage, it was clear they were in top form and high spirits. I recorded that ‘Nicky in particular looked fantastic, first in his black jacket with red roses all along the sleeves, then his glittery WIRE number. He was all grins and stomps and coy cheekiness and was a true joy to behold.’

I did not have the most comfortable gig position, perched as I was on that little step where the barrier platform meets the floor, but I couldn’t give up my view of the Wire to find a more comfortable spot further back. He truly was glorious this evening.

The setlist was very mjch the same as the one I’d seen at the London gigs in April. However, the additions of a gorgeous “Let Robeson Sing” and a few tantalising moments of “From Despair To Where” in the acoustic bit were very welcome. Nicky sang a little of Echo and the Bunnymen’s “Bring On The Dancing Horses” before “Hiding In Plain Sight”, prompting me to note ‘I’ve never heard his voice sound so lovely‘. Hilarity then ensued as the “Design For Life” confetti blew high up to the ceiling and onto the stage, covering the boys in snow, and prompting James to exclaim ‘best confetti ever!’

On arriving back to my hotel room at half past eleven, I did not have a huge amount to record about the individual songs played at the gig, but was filled with the sense of occasion and the overload of sensory thrills that the gig had brought. ‘That was EPIC. Like a stadium show in miniature, this mini arena, a a blazing bright burst of colour, and the confetti bang! made me scream, even though I was expecting it.‘

On Saturday, after another magnificent spring day spent roaming the seaside and the city centre, I got to the arena around 7.30 again. This time it was a fair bit more packed, and I decided I wanted a change from my usual Nicky-side spot and to experience the gig from a central point a bit further back. I found a good sp ot about half way back, from where I enjoyed Adwaith’s excellent tunes once again. But when the Manics came on, it didn’t feel quite right. The vibe was wrong somehow – perhaps I’m just too used to being right in the throng near the front. Worse, there was a man behind me who had such a loud, powerful voice that I could hear him singing along with “Enola Alone”, “La Tristesse Durera” and “Australia” more clearly than I could actually hear James.

So I made a break towards the left side of the crowd during “You Stole The Sun From My Heart” and found a little pocket of space where ‘two 12-foot tall dudes had created a vacuum behind them‘, and carried on with the gig there. And a good thing too, because the next song was “From Despair To Where”, for I believe the only time on this tour. It’s the song that made me a Manics fan, and it was truly epic to hear it on the final gig of the tour. I’d have been righteously pissed off if all I’d heard were the vocals of Loud Bloke.

The acoustic set this night included the beautiful, half-Welsh version of “Ready For Drowning”, which I’d previously heard at the first London gig. Then James let us choose between “Small Black Flowers That Grow In The Sky” or “This Is Yesterday” for his second solo song. I cheered for the latter as I hadn’t heard it yet on the tour, and happily for me it won the vote. Finally for the solo set, “The Everlasting” was a once again a stunning transition back to the full band.

As for the second half of the set, after the snoresome “Dear Stephen” I decided I was going to make the most of the mini dance floor space I had in my pocket of the crowd, and commenced wigging out like a lunatic to all the rest of the tunes, which was immense fun. ‘Headbangin’ to “Sleepflower”! Bouncing to “Your Love Alone”! Leaping and pointing to “International Blue”! And just as I thought I’d have to really summon some energy for the mellow “Paintings”, which I assumed would be next, I saw Nicky had his lyric sheet and gasped at the excitement of the imminent “Critical Thinking”!’

I’d already decided that I’d film a snippet if they did it on these days, so I recorded the first verse and chorus which you can see in my mini-vlog below, before resuming my wig out, as the gig catapulted towards the end in style.

‘Then, gloriously, we got “You Love Us” instead of “Motown Junk” and while I love both tunes, I’d really missed leaping and pointing to “You! Love! Us!” etc. And finally, of course, “Tolerate”, which truly has morphed into the greatest MSP gig closing tune ever.’

All in all, this gig had the best setlist of all the shows I saw on tour, but for me it did not quite the euphoric heights of the second night at Shepherd’s Bush. I also decided that for future gigs I should stick to my as-close-as-possible-to-the-far-side spot, as the grass was not really greener further back.

This weekend in Swansea was the pinnacle of a wonderful spring of Manics gigs, but it was not the end of my 2025 Manics adventures. In the summer I would celebrate a personal milestone of attending my 50th Manics gig, and would even squeeze in a 51st before the year was out. It truly was one of the best ever years of my life as a Manics fan.