As fans poured into the O2 Apollo, a heavy sense of finality hung in the air. Above the stage, You Me At Six’s glowing ‘VI’ loomed like a solemn memorial, an unmissable spectre at the heart of the dimly lit venue—less a beacon, more a farewell. A deep, mournful blue washed over the stage, casting long, ghostly shadows over the instruments, as though standing silent, waiting for their last call. The crowd, fueled by anticipation and the haze of beer, their excitement laced with quiet grief of the impending farewell. The Final Nights of Six in Manchester was moments away from its bittersweet end.
Supported by Kid Kapichi, a punk rock powerhouse from Hastings, England, renowned for their sharp political lyricism, clever wordplay, and irresistibly catchy guitar hooks. Their performance gave raw energy and punk-fueled attitude , they electrified the crowd, igniting a euphoric response. Heads bopped, firsts punched the air, and both longtime fans and newcomers watched them in admiration.
You Me At Six have never shied away from a dramatic entrance, and for their final Manchester show, they made sure to savour every moment. As Oasis’ ‘Don’t Look Back In Anger’ echoed through the venue, the crowd sang along in unison. Phones hovered in anticipation, poised to capture the moment the five members finally stepped onto the stage.
The lights dropped, plunging the venue into darkness—except for the towering VI, glowing defiantly at the centre. It flickered ominously as the haze from the smoke machine curled through the air. One by one the members of You Me At Six stepped onto the stage, each met with deafening cheers. Max Heyler, Matt Barnes, Chris Miller, and Dan Flint stood still for a moment, drinking in the chants as they started to play the opening instrumentals, slow and stretched building in tension.
Then, as frontman Josh Francheschi emerged, ‘Room To Breathe’ roared to life, and the crowd erupted—screaming every word back at them, “I am no king / I have no throne” as the crowd surged, moving like a single, endless wave—jumping, thrashing, and losing themselves in the moment.
The set-list featured a dynamic mix of songs spanning the band’s two-decade career, seamlessly blending their pop-punk beginnings with ‘Save It For The Bedroom’, ‘Kiss & Tell’ and ‘Liquid Confidence’ to their harder, alternative rock with anthems such as ‘Beautiful Way’, ‘Fresh Start Fever’, and ‘No Future.’
Josh Francheschi kept the crowd engaged throughout the two hour set-list, sharing stories about the band’s early days and hyping up the energy in the room. During ‘Lived A Lie’, he encouraged crowd surfing, and as if on command, waves of fans soared across the venue from every direction.
The real chaos erupted during ‘Suckerpunch’, ‘The Swarm’, and ‘No Future’, where the mosh pits truly came to life. With a sweeping hand gesture, Josh signaled for the crowd to split, creating a tense anticipation. Then, right on cue with each explosive chorus, fans charged into the centre, throwing themselves into the pit, moshing without a care in the world.
Fan favourites had the crowd singing at full volume, with ‘Loverboy’s intro prompting Josh Francheschi to hold out the mic, letting the audience take over with thunderous “Da da da da da”. Though there was no appearance from Oli Sykes during ‘Bite My Tongue’, Josh’s vocals perfectly captured his energy, mastering the harsher vocals and making it an encore worthy performance.
The lighting and visuals elevated the performance, flashing in sync with the music and enhancing the energy on stage. The band’s passion was infectious, fueling the crowd’s excitement, which in turn pushed them to give even more throughout the set.
The Final Night of Six in Manchester was a bittersweet farewell—emphatic yet deeply poignant. Though excitement and anticipation filled the air, they couldn’t quite mask the underlying grief. Saying goodbye to You Me At Six is no easy thing, especially when they are still at the top of their game. But if nothing else, it serves as a stark reminder that even the most cherished things must, inevitably, come to an end.
Ana Joy King
