Paul McCartney announces UK shows including in Manchester – but fans are furious

Sir Paul McCartney has announced his first UK arena tours in six years, but fans are furious after a notable snub.

In 2022, The Beatles icon headlined Glastonbury's Pyramid Stage but hasn't performed in a regular arena since 2018. His most recent ticketed gig was at the O2 in London, where he performed a marathon set of 40 songs from his catalogue.

He recently revealed he'll be playing four shows later this year in two cities, with back-to-back performances scheduled at Manchester's Co-Op Live and London's The O2. But this announcement has provoked controversy as fans say that the 82-year-old should have included his home city in his itinerary.

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The Wings frontman will bring his Got Back tour to Manchester on December 14th and 15th before moving on to play at The O2 on the 18th and 19th of December. However, there has been frustration in Liverpool over why their local music legend isn't performing in his hometown. One Twitter user said the news was disappointing, especially following Taylor Swift's three sold-out concerts at Anfield, the home of Liverpool Football Club.

One tweet read: "After the feel good factor of the Taylor Swift gigs this feels like a massive kick in the plums for Liverpool and its live music reputation." Another fan wrote: "WOW! So Liverpool continues to build on the legacy of The Beatles and one of the bands biggest stars chooses Manchester over his home city? ! WHAT A JOKE!".

Homecoming gigs have become a trend for touring artists in recent years, with Sam Fender's performances selling out St. James' Park, the home of Newcastle United, over two consecutive nights. Pulp's comeback tour took them around the world, but they returned to their roots with two packed shows at Sheffield's Utilita Arena.

Sir Paul McCartney's upcoming Manchester gig has sparked discussions among fans about potential venues in Liverpool that could accommodate the sheer number of fans expected to want to attend. One person suggested: "If only there was a brand new waterfront stadium in Liverpool that could possibly have him playing a gig."

Another fan expressed disappointment: "I don't blame Macca completely. But not having a venue big enough to house Liverpool's most famous living musician is a kick in the teeth. We had Taylor Swift last week."

However, many are thrilled at the prospect of securing tickets for what they consider a "bucket list" concert. McCartney, who achieved further success post-Beatles with Wings and their hit album 'Band on the Run', has fans buzzing with excitement. One elated fan declared it "the best day of my life," while another insisted they "have to be there".