Rick Astley roars Co-op Live to life in first 'test' gig at vast new arena

There’s something endearing about a group of lads filing onto a busy tram and singing their hearts out to ‘Never Gonna Give You Up’, but such is the power of Rick Astley’s 1987 hit.

After the Rickrolling phenomenon of the last few years, the singer continues to ride the wave of his recent resurgence, which has seen him play Glastonbury twice, release a top 10 album with ‘Are We There Yet?’ and front BBC One’s New Year’s Eve entertainment coverage.

It seems apt then that the party starter who has been welcomed back into the fold with open arms by fans new and old should be chosen to help celebrate the launch of Manchester’s huge new arena.

READ MORE: First look inside £365m Co-op Live - Europe's biggest indoor arena

It’s been years in the making, but Co-op Live, a £365m music and entertainment arena has now welcomed its first guests through its doors. While it doesn’t officially open until Tuesday, when Bolton comedian Peter Kay takes to the stage, a select few were invited inside last night as part of a test event.

It wasn’t without its teething issues though. An audience of 11,000 made up of invited guests and those who had paid £5 for tickets were expected to pile through the doors, however a number of those were sent an email just hours before the event, telling them their tickets had been cancelled.

Understandably, there was some backlash, especially from those who had already arrived at the venue and were turned away, or by those who had travelled significant distances to see Astley and a number of support acts.

But for those who attended, an eclectic musical assembly awaited. In the coming weeks, the huge new arena will welcome acts including Liam Gallagher, Take That and Eagles, but laying claim to being the first to perform on the stage in the huge new bowl were identical twins Hope and Millie Katana.

The twins, from Manchester, who perform as The KTNA opened before a string of other acts including Meute, an eleven-piece techno marching band from Germany, who seemingly hypnotised the crowd during a lull between main act performances, and Manchester-formed group Everything Everything, whose better known hits including ‘Cough Cough’ and ‘Distant Past’ kept the energy going in a venue that was far from filling its 23,500 capacity.

Furthering the point about homegrown talent, a surprise performance from McFly’s Danny Jones, demonstrated the potential of this sparkling new arena to support for its own. The singer from Bolton looked visibly moved to be playing on the new stage, winning the crowd over with a cover of ‘Morning Glory’, and perhaps McFly's biggest hit ‘All About You’.

But then it was time for the main act. Though he sauntered onto stage in an aubergine two piece suit, hair quiff perfectly intact, and with a confidence of a man who is really enjoying his comeback, Astley set out his stall early.

“You’re not here for me,” he joked before explaining that the next hour or so would take the audience on a journey through some of his newer material, the classics and a number of covers. His self depreciation was quickly proven wholly unnecessary though.

Straight into ‘Together Forever’, his slick showmanship quickly had the crowd on side, though he conceded he wasn’t quite sure where to pitch the night’s setlist given the nature of a test event. At one point he teased the crowd with the opening chords to Sam Fender’s Seventeen Going Under, but quickly conceded he didn't know the rest of the song.

Hits including 'She Wants To Dance With Me' were given a contemporary spring clean with slick support from Astley’s two female backing singers and house band. Sharing the love with his band members, a segue into Lizzo’s 'Juice' really allowed his singers to have their moment in the spotlight, as their sumptuous vocals really hammered home the night’s party atmosphere.

Likewise, a cover of Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell’s ‘Ain’t No Mountain Higher’, Harry Styles ‘As It Was’, and Chic’s disco classic ‘Good Times’ went down a treat. From his own back catalogue, a group singalong to ‘Hold Me in Your Arms’ may have slowed down the pace a little, but after Rick promised to “take the brand new roof off the f****** arena”, the pace really picked up as the night drew to a close.

A quick Motown stop off via The Temptations ‘My Girl’ and then a curveball thrown in for a good measure as Astley got behind the drums for a rendition ACDC’s Highway to Hell, and we were back to where we started. The Rick Astley experience really can’t be complete without the song we’re all here for after all.

A showman with his own diverse back catalogue of hits, but also aware of the power of a good cover, he brought proceedings to a close with the song he is best recognised for.

Giving the crowd a energetic rendition of ‘Never Gonna Give You Up’ despite probably having had to perform this song on countless occasions, he gave it his all, the audience slowly dancing out of the arena, humming, or in the case of the lads on the tram, belting it out on the ride home after what was for many, a very enticing taste of what’s next to come for Co-op Live.