Stevie Nicks 35 Years After Her Last European Tour - Manchester Review

Photo Kenny Brown

Stevie Nicks takes a spellbinding journey through her solo and Fleetwood Mac years during an enchanting Manchester show

by Connor Gotto

Retropopmagazine

As Stevie Nicks arrived on stage at Manchester’s Co-op Live on Tuesday (July 16) to her 1981 ‘Bella Donna’ track Outside The Rain, she cast a spell over the packed crowd as she launched into a two-hour set of solo and Fleetwood Mac classics.

A week after her planned appearance was postponed due to an injury, it didn’t hurt the turnout for the concert, which saw the 23,000-capacity venue filled with adoring fans of all ages – some who’ve been there from the start, many of whose parents weren’t even born when she joined the legendary group in 1975.

Segueing into Dreams – the only Fleetwood Mac song to top the US Billboard Hot 100, written solely by Nicks, for the classic ‘Rumours’ (1975) – it provided the first of many singalong moments in a show that, in the artist’s words, celebrated her “halcyon days” with a focus on her first two records.

Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around – her first solo single outside of the band – saw guitarist Waddy Wachtel step up for Tom Petty’s parts, after Nicks introduced the track by detailing its origins and crediting her producer and ex-boyfriend Jimmy Iovine for making it happen, during one of several anecdotes throughout the evening.

Radiating warmth and laced with humour, there’s an innate charm to her storytelling that had the crowd hanging on her every word, whether introducing her quasi-political cover of Buffalo Springfield’s For What It’s Worth, or recounting her early years with Lindsey Buckingham in San Francisco ahead of the Mac’s Gypsy.

Having pointed out her tendency to ramble and the venue’s “strict curfew”, a sizzling Stand Back brought the crowd to its feet and Nicks – adorning the original ’80s black and gold cape – barely let up, with a non-stop run of anthems: a tribute to Petty with his own Free Fallin’ led into an enigmatic Gold Dust Woman (another shawl moment) and the Don Henley duet Leather And Lace, with Steve Real.

It was the iconic opening bars of Edge Of Seventeen that garnered the biggest reaction of the night so far, with longtime backing singers Sharon Celani and Marilyn Martin (yes, the same Marilyn Martin that sang with Phil Collins on Separate Lives) showcasing the flawless blend that’s become integral to Nicks’ live shows over the years.

Returning for a two-song encore, it was Fleetwood Mac classics Rhiannon and Landslide – both lifted from the group’s 1975 self-titled album – that closed the show, the latter featuring a poignant tribute to her bandmate Christine McVie, with a images of the pair through the years flashing across the screens.

Thirty-five years since her last European tour, on the back of her 1989 album ‘The Other Side Of The Mirror’, Nicks’ return to the UK stage is long overdue, but having filled the country’s largest arena – days after drawing 60,000 fans to London’s Hyde Park – there’s plenty of demand for one of music’s all-time legends over here.

Happily, a return looks to be on the cards with Nicks sharing her love of England – “[I’m] probably going to live in Harrods… in the jewellery department!” – and teasing: “We like it here. We just might stay.”

Setlist: Stevie Nicks, Co-op Live, Manchester

1. Outside The Rain

2. Dreams

3. If Anyone Falls

4. Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around

5. Gypsy

6. For What It’s Worth

7. Free Fallin’

8. Wild Heart / Bella Donna

9. Stand Back

10. Gold Dust Woman

11. Leather And Lace

12. Edge Of Seventeen

Encore

13. Rhiannon

14. Landslide

GOLD DUST WOMAN

Review Stevie Nicks Live in Manchester July 10, 2024

Review: Stevie Nicks at Co-op Live, Wednesday 10 July

by HARLEY YOUNG 

Confidentials.com

Photo Nick Flynn

Harley Young is honoured to share a room with the coolest lady on the planet

LET’s face it. When you think of the most beautiful, enchanting, ethereal yet incredibly badass woman in music, your mind instantly goes to The Reigning Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll herself Stevie Nicks.

At 76 years young, the boho beauty is still taking to the stage to grace us all with her unmistakably iconic look and sound and, on Tuesday night at Co-op Live, she did just that to an arena full of adoring fans, blubbing (me included) as she waltzed out onto the stage in her signature garb. 

Her unruly trademark curls flowed freely as she greeted the audience to Tom Petty’s Runnin' Down a Dream before charging right on with Outside The Rain from 1981 solo album Bella Donna. 

Despite having pushed back the gig a week due to minor surgery, Stevie showed no signs of slowing down and put her all into her performance from the off, thanking the crowd for taking time out of their week to come and see her before getting everyone up on their feet with Fleetwood Mac favourite Dreams. 

Stevie then told the audience that, after the show, they could find her in Harrods. “It’s not even in this town, but you can visit me here because I’ll be in the jewellery department,” she joked, adding “Anyway, jewels allowed, I’m so glad to be here. I’m so glad you’re here. So let's get this fabulous party started.”

Party in full swing, Stevie took the packed-out arena on a journey through her discography, both with Fleetwood Mac (Gypsy) and Tom Petty (Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around) and her solo career (Stand Back). 

Between every couple of songs the Arizona-born legend shared tales of how her legacy came to be, including how she was working as a cleaning lady when she and Lindsey Buckingham were discovered by Mick Fleetwood. She’d scamper off every now and then and reappear with a different cape, each more magical than the next - most of which were originals worn by her in music videos.

“We bought and listened to all of their records. Lindsey said they sounded ‘too jazzy’ and he didn’t want to be a jazz guitarist. So, I told him I didn’t want to be a cleaning lady.” 

Both comical and endearing, Nicks has a way of telling stories that make you feel like you’re the only person in the room listening to them. The way she speaks of her past is so sincere and it makes you feel like you’re best friends sharing a secret. We’ve all read the tabloids, but hearing it straight from the lady herself is truly special. 

After covering Tom Petty’s Free Fallin’, Nicks performed a powerful rendition of Gold Dust Woman with help from musician and record producer Waddy Wachtel on guitar. She then brought out her long-time vocal coach, Steve Real, to perform a heartwarming duet of Leather & Lace, a track she originally performed with Don Henley on the Bella Donna album.

Then came the moment we’d all dreamed of; Wachtel and the band erupted into life, performing the most highly anticipated instrumental of the night. The crowd were on tenterhooks as they waited with bated breath, eyes fixed on the door waiting for Stevie to reappear. 

Seconds felt like years until finally Nicks strutted back out onto stage to a roaring applause before serenading us like a white winged dove with Edge of Seventeen.

The lights went down and the crowd begged and pleaded, chanting in unison for “one more song”. Much to our delight, Stevie and the crew came back and graced us with not one but two more Fleetwood favourites; the wonderfully entrancing Rhiannon followed by closing song Landslide, accompanied by photos of keyboardist, vocalist, and Nicks’ dear friend, the late Christine McVie. 

Review Stevie Nicks Live in Manchester - more than worth the wait.

Stevie Nicks' Co-op Live - icon treats Manchester to Fleetwood Mac hits

Stevie Nicks performed at Manchester's Co-op Live Tuesday July 16, 2024

By Craig Jones

Manchester Evening News

Photo Kenny Brown

Manchester enjoyed a wonderful evening when music royalty Stevie Nicks paid a visit to the city’s Co-op Live - even if it was a little later than expected.

Fleetwood Mac icon, Nicks, 76, had been due to perform in the city earlier this month before suffering an injury. Quickly rescheduled to Tuesday evening, the speedy turnaround didn’t prove to be a problem for her devotees with the venue packed out.

There was no mention of the postponement from Nicks but she did speak at length about her love of England with American Nicks joking she’d be keen to call it home. She said: “We like it here. We just might stay. You are probably asking yourselves ‘where is she going to live? She’s probably going to live in Harrods?’.

“Oh, that’s not even here in this town but you can visit me there. As I’ll probably just be in the jewellery department.”

Opening with Outside The Rain, howls followed when the easily-recognisable intro to Fleetwood Mac’s Dreams came second in the set. Nicks, dressed in her signature cape, wavy skirt and tassels, tenderly exuded those unforgettable lyrics. Having many thousand Mancunians as backing singers. After, there were numerous cries of ‘we love you, Stevie’.

The setlist consisted of Mac hits accompanied by songs from the Nicks solo back catalogue. The music pioneer also regularly engaged with her audience giving details about how some of the tracks came to be.

Touching on the unmatched if complicated (well, very complicated) dynamic between herself, Lindsey Buckingham, Mick Fleetwood, et al the masses discovered how Gypsy was created. The number soon followed and proved to be one of the evening’s highlights.

The Mac anecdotes were delivered with warmth and an understanding of how important those people and that band have been in Nicks’ life. On Tuesday, there were also dedications to the star’s contemporaries as many greats flashed on the big screens with Tom Petty getting his own moment when Nicks gave a rendition of Free Fallin’. Nicks spoke with much humility when discussing her influences.

The cape changes were plentiful with Bella Donna and Stand Back originals being presented on stage. The attire of many in attendance was clearly inspired by the landmark musical artist.

A mesmeric performance of Edge of Seventeen, featuring emphatic guitar work from Waddy Wachtel, concluded the main set. Stills of Prince flashed up before the humble Nicks thanked the Co-op crowd for their support.

A two-song encore came in the shape of Fleetwood Mac classics Rhiannon and Landslide. At the weekend, in London, the latter saw Harry Styles join Nicks on stage. In Manchester, it was Nicks and her stripped back band who brought the curtain down with the deeply impassioned song - dedicated to Mac bandmate Christine McVie who sadly died in 2022.

There were some tears and much adulation as Nicks took her bow. One thing is for certain, Stevie Nicks’ appearance in Manchester was more than worth the wait.

Setlist

• Outside the Rain
• Dreams
• If Anyone Falls
• Stop Draggin' My Heart Around
• Gypsy
• For What It's Worth
• Free Fallin'
• Bella Donna
• Stand Back
• Gold Dust Woman
• Leather and Lace
• Edge of Seventeen

Encore

• Rhiannon
• Landslide

(Soldiers Angel, dropped from this show)

Outside The Rain / Dreams 

Gold Dust Woman

Stand Back (different opening)

If Anyone Falls In Love

Fans Disgruntled Over Steep Ticket Prices for Stevie Nicks' Co-op Live Gig

Stevie Nicks fans slam 'ridiculous' Co-op Live ticket prices

Some of the cheapest tickets during the show's pre-sale were priced at £132.50 each

Manchester Evening News

Fans looking to see Stevie Nicks at her huge Co-op Live gig later this year have slammed the ‘too expensive’ prices for tickets during the event’s presale.

Announced earlier this week, the Fleetwood Mac singer will perform at Manchester’s newest music venue on July 9 as part of her first series of shows in the UK and Ireland for seven years. The gig will coincide with shows in Dublin on July 3 and Glasgow on July 6 as well as a headliner slot at BST Hyde Park on July 12

Tickets for the Manchester show are set to go on general sale from 12pm on Friday (March 22) but Co-op members and select fans have been able to sign up for presale tickets since Wednesday.

The pre-sale opportunity has seen some fans criticise the pricing of seats for the show - with tickets for far back areas of the arena, like sections 316 and 317, going for £132.50 each. Tickets a little closer to the stage, in sections including 104 and 112, are priced at £233.50 each.

It’s meant that some fans have said they feel priced out of going to the show. One posted on social media: “wanted to go see stevie nicks but it's too expensive :(“. Another wrote: “Well this was short lived. It would seem I need to be Stevie Nicks to afford Stevie Nicks tickets.”

Another asked: “why does stevie nicks want me to sell my kidney for her concert”. One other person said: “Love you to bits @StevieNicks but your prices are ridiculous!”. Another said: “Why are @stevienicks concerts so expensive! Loved Stevie since 1977 but this makes me sad !! People paying £140 + for rubbish seats - really?”

Members of tribute band Fleetwood Mad also decided to get into the fun of the online reaction by jokingly suggesting they could perform at a Co-op store for a fraction of the cost. Drummer 'Rocksteddie Ed’ posted: “Come and see Fleetwood Mad instead....we will play the Co-Op for far less!”

During the pre-sale this week, there were still some fans who were keen to pay no matter the cost to see their idol Stevie for the first time in years. One wrote: “Ticketmaster kept kicking me out of the queue (on both devices) but managed to get a ticket for Stevie Nicks. Insane prices - as well as 5 years of my life - but worth it.”

Sharing a screenshot of tickets booked for Co-Op Live, another said: “Beyond excited! Been waiting for this for years @StevieNicks.” Another wrote: “Stevie Nicks, you'd better be good after the amount I've just spent on you!!!”

But it’s not just tickets for Stevie Nicks that has opened up a wider discussion amongst fans about the rising cost of attending large-scale concerts. The likes of Eric Clapton and The Eagles have charged up to £300 for tickets to recent shows, whilst Taylor Swift’s shows in Liverpool later this year saw VIP experiences cost as much as £662.40 each.

Tickets for Stevie Nicks at Co-Op Live on July 9 will go on sale at 12pm on Friday