Tate McRae Delivers Pop Perfection in Manchester

Tate McRae took to the stage at Co-op Live on May 24th for the first of two headline shows at the new venue in Manchester.

Fresh from the release of her third album, So Close To What, the 21-year-old performed to a sold-out crowd at the largest arena in the UK for The Miss Possessive Tour. Fans braved the rainy Manchester weather and queued outside the venue ready for a night of pop perfection and flawless choreography. The dress code was clear as fans were head to toe in Y2K-inspired outfits; think micro shorts, sports jerseys and boots.

Opening the show was New Zealand singer-songwriter, BENEE. She warmed up the crowd with her indie tracks and bubbly personality, effortlessly interacting with the fans. Her fun, light-hearted performance and viral TikTok hits Glitter and Supalonely got the crowd hyped up ahead of Tate’s set.

The pre-show setlist featured the likes of Ariana Grande, Taylor Swift and Charli XCX, with 360 playing minutes before Tate took to the stage. It was obvious before the show even began that this crowd was a good one, and that energy continued throughout the whole show.

Beginning the set with Miss possessive (the opening track on her latest album So Close To What), Tate’s compelling stage presence was clear from the start. Joined on stage by her talented dancers, the adoring fans screamed back every word. Dressed in a sparkly black bodysuit with black leather boots, Tate radiated confidence as she effortlessly performed her iconic dance routines, barely breaking a sweat.

Keeping up the energy, No I’m not in love and 2 hands followed, both new tracks from her latest album. 2 hands started with an extended intro and was a clear hit with the fans as she broke out into a dance break mid-song. Ending the first act with guilty conscience – the first song to be performed from her sophomore album THINK LATER – Tate left the stage for a quick outfit change.

Act two saw Tate emerge from under the stage wearing a lace bra, in reference to the first song of the act – Purple lace bra. A sultry performance with flawless choreography set the tone for act two, which continued with some tracks from her latest album including Like I do, Dear god and Siren sounds. Having previously been compared with Britney Spears – her performance was reminiscent of the Y2K era. Not only were her vocals extremely strong, but her choreography also arguably puts her a level above anyone in the industry at the minute.

The staging too was just as impressive. Two big yellow cranes towered either side of the main stage, with a raised platform. A B-stage made the show feel more intimate, which she performed on for act three. Walking through the crowd, Tate was met with screams before the show took on a slower pace over on this second stage. Showing her more vulnerable side, she kicked off the third act by performing Greenlight and Nostalgia. Bringing out the piano to pay tribute to some of her older songs, she performed a medley of that way, chaotic, One Day and feel like shit. The crowd lit up with flashlights, creating an intimate moment despite the 23,000-strong crowd. Tate then gave a compelling performance of her 2020 TikTok smash hit you broke me first and finally ended the third act on a high with a shortened version of run for the hills.

Returning to the main stage for the final act, Tate wore a snakeskin two-piece, continuing the strong Y2K theme through her iconic outfits. Injecting energy back into the show, the fourth act consisted of some of her biggest tracks: exes, It’s okay I’m okay and Revolving door. In reference to Revolving door’s lyrics ‘I need a minute’, Tate took a moment to pause on the stage in silence at the end of the song. A minute countdown appeared on the screen as Tate stopped to look around and appreciate the crowd, which felt like a special moment for both her and the fans. Bloodonmyhands was another highlight of the show where Tate got the crowd involved. She headed to the barrier with her dancers to interact with fans on the front row, making an effort to have another intimate moment with the audience despite the size of the venue.

After a short interlude, Sports car kicked off the encore, featuring a perfectly choreographed routine with her dancers on the main stage. Ending the show with greedy – her 2023 viral hit, the crowd sang back every word. Confetti filled the arena as she sang the final chorus – a euphoric moment for her most streamed song.

Split into four acts, the show felt like true pop perfection. Featuring stunning vocals and flawless choreography – Tate really gave it her all. The energy of both her and her dancers never faltered throughout the show as they executed effortless choreography. Last time she was in Manchester, Tate performed to a 3,500-strong crowd at the O2 Apollo. Now performing in a venue over six times the size, Tate commanded the stage at Co-op Live, proving her well-deserved spot as an arena act.