Reneé Rapp brought her BITE ME Tour to AO Arena on March 18, delivering a performance that balanced high-energy pop spectacle with striking emotional depth, all in front of what felt like a completely sold-out crowd.
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As one of the final stops on the European leg of the tour, the Manchester date carried a sense of momentum and confidence. With her second studio album, “Bite Me”, achieving significant success in the UK, including reaching Number 1 on the UK Official Singles Chart, the show marked a defining moment in Reneé Rapp’s transition into a fully-fledged arena headliner.
Everything That Happened at Reneé Rapp’s BITE ME Manchester Concert:
A Packed Arena Sets the Scene
From the moment attendees filled the venue, the scale of the night was undeniable. The arena appeared packed throughout, with the standing section stretching deep into the floor and seating areas showing little sign of empty spaces. The density of the crowd created an atmosphere that felt both expansive and unified, with anticipation building steadily ahead of the headline set.
This collective energy became especially impactful during the quieter moments of the evening. As the lights dimmed and ballads took centre stage, thousands of phone torches illuminated the arena, creating a striking visual contrast to the high-energy pop numbers. It was within these moments that the scale of the crowd worked in harmony with the intimacy of the music.
Absolutely Captivates as a Standout Support
Opening the show was Absolutely, who delivered a confident and vocally impressive set that immediately captured the audience’s attention. As the sister of RAYE, comparisons may be inevitable, but Absolutely proved she is carving out her own identity as a live performer.
Her set showcased a strong vocal range and a natural stage presence, with each track taking on new life in the live environment. There was a clear sense of authenticity in her performance, underlined by her visible appreciation for the crowd.
A particularly memorable moment came when she acknowledged a fan holding a handmade sign inspired by her album “Paracosm”, complete with yarn-crafted detailing. The interaction added a personal touch to the set, highlighting the early but meaningful connection she is building with her audience.
By the end of her performance, Absolutely had successfully engaged the crowd and established a tone of sincerity and musicality that carried into the rest of the evening.
@goodstarvibes Stunning the attendees at @reneé's Manchester gig of her BITE ME Tour on 18 March at the @AO Arena, @ABSOLUTELY gives a strong performance of "Nowhere To Hide" #aoarena #reneerappbiteme #absolutely #absolutelynowheretohide #nowheretohide ♬ original sound – Good Star Vibes
A Message That Resonates Beyond the Music
Before Reneé Rapp took to the stage, a pre-show video encouraged attendees to support Save the Children, a charity partnered with the BITE ME Tour. The message stood out for its sincerity, with Reneé Rapp emphasising that contributions should only be made if fans were in a position to do so.
This sentiment carried into the live show itself, as she paused mid-set to speak directly about the organisation and its work. Reiterating that she personally donates to the cause, Reneé Rapp made it clear that her advocacy was grounded in genuine commitment rather than obligation.
These moments added a meaningful layer to the performance, offering a reminder of the wider impact artists can have beyond the stage.
Audience Safety Takes Priority
One of the defining aspects of the Manchester show came through a series of pauses, as Reneé Rapp stopped the performance a total of nine times to ensure fans in the crowd received medical attention.
Throughout the evening, several attendees—primarily near the front—required assistance, prompting her to bring up the house lights and actively manage the situation. With a calm but direct approach, she guided the audience to create clear pathways, instructed fans to support those affected, and asked for visible confirmation once each situation had been resolved by asking her fans to raise their thumbs.
At one point, she encouraged the crowd to take a step back to allow for more breathing room, addressing the realities of a tightly packed arena environment.
While these interruptions disrupted the overall flow of the set, they underscored an important aspect of the live experience. In prioritising the safety and well-being of her audience, Reneé Rapp demonstrated a level of awareness and responsibility that extended beyond the performance itself.
Vocals and Performance at the Forefront
When the show was in full flow, Reneé Rapp delivered a performance that showcased both technical ability and emotional depth. Across a set of 20 songs, she navigated seamlessly between high-energy tracks and more stripped-back moments.
Her live vocals remained a consistent highlight throughout. The quieter songs allowed her to fully demonstrate her range, incorporating controlled falsetto, intricate vocal runs, and a clear sense of emotional delivery. In contrast, the more upbeat tracks highlighted her breath control, as she maintained vocal strength while incorporating movement and choreography.
Her background in performance was evident in the way she balanced these elements, ensuring that neither vocal quality nor stage presence was compromised.
Full Setlist: From Opening Moments to Final Encore
A defining element of the Manchester show was its carefully curated setlist, which guided the audience through the evening from the opening support act to the headline finale. The structure of both performances allowed the night to build naturally in energy and emotion, creating a cohesive live experience from start to finish.
Support Act Setlist: Absolutely
Opening the night, Absolutely delivered a concise yet impactful set that introduced her artistry to a wider audience. Her song choices highlighted both vocal ability and emotional depth, laying a strong foundation for the headline performance.
Absolutely Setlist:
- Natural Disaster
- Nowhere To Hide
- Painting By Numbers
- Elevator
- No Audience
- Prototype
- I Just Don’t Know You Yet
- Paracosm
Her set steadily built engagement within the crowd, ensuring the atmosphere was firmly established ahead of the main event.
Reneé Rapp Setlist: A Dynamic Headline Performance
When Reneé Rapp took to the stage at AO Arena, the shift in scale was immediate. Across a set of 20 songs, she balanced high-energy pop tracks with emotionally driven ballads, showcasing the full range of her artistry.
Reneé Rapp Setlist:
- Leave Me Alone
- Kiss It Kiss It
- Talk Too Much
- Poison Poison
- Shy
- Mad
- Why Is She Still Here?
- That’s So Funny
- Sometimes
- Good Girl
- Swim
- I Think I Like You Better When You’re Gone
- I Can’t Have You Around Me Anymore
- Tummy Hurts
- You’d Like That Wouldn’t You
- Pretty Girls
- In the Kitchen
- Snow Angel
- Not My Fault
- At Least I’m Hot
The pacing of the setlist allowed for natural shifts in tone, with early tracks establishing momentum before transitioning into more introspective moments. The closing stretch leaned into fan favourites, ensuring a strong and memorable finish.
As typical of the BITE ME Tour, “Not My Fault” was set to be interrupted to transition into “At Least I’m Hot”. However, this moment unfolded differently on the night, as a fan required medical assistance. Reneé Rapp paused the show, requested the house lights be raised, and asked the crowd to make space, prioritising the situation before continuing. The interruption ultimately altered the usual flow of this segment of the performance.
@goodstarvibes We're all a little bit shy, right? @reneé brings it in Manchester at the @AO Arena for her BITE ME Tour giving flawless vocals and huge stage presence during her song "Shy" #reneerapp #bitemetour #reneerappshy #reneerappbiteme #aoarena ♬ original sound – Good Star Vibes
How the Setlist Shaped the Night
The chronological structure of the evening played a key role in its overall impact. Absolutely’s opening set provided a grounded and vocally focused introduction, while Reneé Rapp’s performance expanded into a larger-scale production that maintained emotional connectivity throughout.
By alternating between upbeat tracks and stripped-back moments, the headline set avoided becoming one-dimensional. Songs like “Sometimes” took on added significance in the live setting, driven by the intensity of the crowd’s response, while tracks such as “Snow Angel” and “In the Kitchen” reinforced the emotional core of the performance.
Style, Movement, and Stage Presence
Visually, the performance carried a distinct sense of style. Reneé Rapp took to the stage in a blue jacket paired with camo trousers, later revealing a white vest top as the set progressed. The only other notable change saw her remove a pair of white sunglasses that she initially wore on stage. While minimal, these subtle adjustments contributed to the evolving feel of the show.
Her stage presence combined confidence with a sense of playfulness, incorporating choreographed routines alongside more spontaneous moments of movement. This included sequences that leaned into attitude-driven performance, aligning with the tone of her more energetic tracks.
These visual and physical elements complemented the music, enhancing the overall experience without detracting from the vocal focus of the show.
A Crowd Fully Engaged
The connection between Reneé Rapp and the Manchester audience remained a constant throughout the night. From the opening moments to the final songs, the crowd’s engagement was evident, with fans singing along across both newer material and established favourites.
One of the most notable highlights came during “Sometimes”, a track that Reneé Rapp introduced by reflecting on how it has grown on her through live performance. She spoke about the impact of hearing audiences sing the song back with intensity, and in Manchester, that connection was clearly present.
The crowd’s response elevated the moment, transforming the performance into a shared experience that extended beyond the stage.
@goodstarvibes Vocally outstanding! @reneé delievers her incredible vocals as she performs "Why Is She Still Here?" at Manchester's @AO Arena on 18 March 2026 #reneerappbiteme #aoarena #bitemetour #reneerapp #whyisshestillhere ♬ original sound – Good Star Vibes
Balancing Energy and Emotion
A defining strength of the performance lay in how seamlessly Reneé Rapp moved between high-impact pop moments and more emotionally grounded material. Up-tempo tracks injected energy into the arena, encouraging crowd participation, while the stripped-back, slower songs shifted the focus firmly onto her vocal delivery and lyrical depth.
Rather than feeling like separate segments, these contrasts were woven together in a way that maintained momentum without sacrificing intimacy. This balance not only kept the audience engaged throughout but also highlighted the breadth of her artistry, allowing both her commanding stage presence and more vulnerable side to coexist within the same set.
A Defining Arena Moment
Overall, the Manchester stop of the BITE ME Tour presented Reneé Rapp as an artist confidently stepping into arena-level performance. The show combined strong vocals, engaging stage presence, and a clear connection with the audience, all within a large-scale production setting.
While the multiple pauses for audience safety affected the pacing of the night, they ultimately highlighted a performer who remains attentive to the well-being of her fans.
As her career continues to evolve, this performance stands as a clear indicator of Reneé Rapp’s ability to command larger stages while maintaining a sense of authenticity and connection. With her sophomore studio album, “Bite Me”, now out in the world, the Manchester show offered a compelling glimpse into how these songs translate live, further cementing her position as an artist to watch.
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