Lucy Spraggan has just wrapped up a UK tour, and it stands as one of her most triumphant yet. It’s been a busy year for the singer-songwriter, who not only supported Robbie Williams on his arena tour but also released Other Sides of the Moon, an album featuring reworked songs spanning her career. In the lead-up to the album’s release, Lucy toured the UK with her longtime collaborator, pianist Josh Cana, delivering intimate, stripped-back sets. This time, however, she shook things up with a full band, bringing a fresh energy to her performances. We attended the final night of the tour in Manchester – a city that holds a special place in Lucy’s heart.
‘Bodies’ opened the show, presenting Lucy at her most vulnerable as she sang about her personal struggles with body image. Adding to the sense of exposure, she performed without her trusty guitar – a choice that now feels natural, reflecting her growth as an artist and her comfort on stage and in her own skin. Crowd favourite ‘Lucky Stars’ followed, lifting the energy with its irresistibly catchy chorus, before the pace dipped again for the resilient and emotionally charged ‘Fight For It’. Lucy’s lyrics are always deeply personal and candid, a quality that resonates strongly with her fans. She isn’t afraid to tackle difficult topics, and ‘Stick The Kettle On’, released with Scouting For Girls in 2019, is a testament to that – a heartfelt reminder of the importance of speaking openly about mental health.
Lucy boasts an impressive body of work, drawing from each of her albums to craft her set-lists, and this tour saw the welcome return of ‘Someone’. With its catchy hook and clever rhymes, the uplifting track was given new life by the full band, elevating it to a standout moment of the night. Lucy doesn’t just excel at selecting songs from across her catalogue – she masterfully arranges them, creating a set that ebbs and flows as the tempo rises and falls. Written after a session with her therapist, the slow-burning and deeply emotional ‘Balance’ reflects Lucy taking the time to consider what she truly wanted from life, and, most importantly, finding her own equilibrium.
After telling the crowd she wanted to do more things that scared her, she took a seat behind the keyboard for both ‘Balance’ and ‘Tea & Toast’ for the first time. The latter, one of her most well-known songs, had the audience singing along in full voice, culminating in a particularly memorable moment when a proposal took place mid-performance. ‘Tea & Toast’ kicked off the trio of anthemic tracks, followed by ‘Lighthouse’ and then ‘Last Night (Beer Fear)’, the song that propelled Lucy to stardom during her X Factor audition. The fast-paced, comedic lyrics showcase her skill as both a live performer and songwriter, and it always ignites the crowd. Light-hearted and infectious, it’s clearly a permanent fixture in her setlist, and it’s easy to imagine it holds a special place in Lucy’s own heart. In stark contrast, the emotionally devastating ballad ‘Dear You’ came next. Raw and highly intimate, the song tells the story of a friend’s suicide, delivered with a striking spoken-word approach that leaves a lasting impact on the audience.
‘Heaven’ is one of the three new songs from Other Sides of the Moon. During the intimate launch shows that accompanied the album’s release, Lucy admitted it would be challenging to perform the track live – making its live debut all the more special. Born from a moment of grief and a belief in being reunited with loved ones, the ethereal song is defined by delicate piano and soaring strings, creating a breathtaking live experience. Next came ‘Butterflies’, a fan-favourite from Join The Club that Lucy often cites as her most popular track. On stage, it was elevated by electrifying guitar parts not featured on the album, adding a fresh energy to the performance.
One of the most heartwarming moments of the night came with ‘Other Sides of the Moon’, written for her wife, Emilia. The song beautifully captures the idea that they were once looking at the same moon from different sides, and now share it together. It also highlights how comfortable Lucy has become performing without her guitar – she moves naturally with the music, radiating confidence and ease, with not a hint of awkwardness.
Always a huge moment live, the resilient ‘Unsinkable’ shone brilliantly, its unifying power prompting the entire crowd to raise their fists in solidarity as they were swept up in its anthemic energy. A jubilant rendition of ‘Lightning’ followed, igniting an atmosphere electric enough to serve as a finale – though Lucy still had surprises in store. ‘Roots’, which made its live debut on this tour, proved to be one of the standout moments of the night. Exploring Lucy’s feelings about not having traditional roots and her realisation that contentment doesn’t require settling down, the track leans into the folk-tinged acoustic pop sound that sits at the heart of her songwriting. The acoustic guitar forms its warm backbone, with the band weaving sensitively around it. Closing the set was the unexpected ‘Manchester’ – an upbeat ode to acceptance, belonging, and pride in the city, only performed once before this tour, back in 2023. A true love letter to the place she holds dear, its lyrics honour the supportive, grounded community that defines Manchester, making it the perfect and heartfelt finale.
Lucy Spraggan’s Manchester show felt like far more than the final night of a tour – it was a culmination of artistic growth, emotional honesty, and a renewed sense of creative confidence. Across the set, she moved seamlessly between humour and heartbreak, vulnerability and empowerment, offering a snapshot of every facet that has made her one of the UK’s most authentic singer-songwriters. Backed by a full band yet still rooted in the intimacy that defines her work, Lucy delivered a performance that honoured her past while boldly embracing her present.
You can read our recent interview with Lucy here.
