Delilah Bon Continues to Inspire Fans with Raucous Set at Manchester Academy 3 [Photos]

Acts like Delilah Bon shouldn’t have to exist — but in a world where women can still lose the right to make choices about their own bodies depending on who holds power, and where young boys are influenced by misogynistic figures like the Tate brothers, artists like her are essential. She is a voice for the voiceless, and her shows offer a rare safe space where all kinds of people can express themselves freely (read our recent cover story with Delilah here).

The sold-out crowd at Manchester Academy 3 was a beautiful mix of all types of people, all ready to shout and scream their way through a ferocious set from their idol, Delilah.

Opener Bex, who is a very softly spoken and polite individual between songs, exploded with fury during them. It was a truly exciting experience, perfectly renamed as a ‘Bex-perience,’ and her 40-minute set was lapped up by the audience, which she spent the last song floating around on. A brilliant way to start the evening and definitely one to watch for the future, for anyone who loves high-energy, raucousness.

Delilah Bon took the stage alongside a new line-up since the last time we’d seen her play live, and it was wonderful to see the legendary Becky Baldwin back on bass for these shows. The band also added more heaviness to the riot-grrl fuelled blend of hip-hop and nu-metal that is her signature – all delivered with a hilarious Northern humour that sets her apart.

Set highlights included a brilliant “I am the Best” and fan favourite “Chop Dicks” that showcased equally her ability to rap with the cadence of Eminem and sing in the vein of P!nk, which makes for a fantastic delivery and unique sound – her lyricism is head and shoulders above the majority of modern-day rappers.

“Not the President” channelled grunge-era influences and stood out as one of the night’s most striking moments. From there, the set closed in a blaze with “War on Women,” “I Wish a Bitch Would,” and “Maverick,” before the defiant anthem “Dead Men Don’t Rape” brought the main set to a thunderous end — screamed word-for-word by every person in the room.

With a mass audience of fans having discovered her through social media, the haters have also appeared, but she’s just flipped the negative comments and turned them into the brilliant “Evil Hate-Fuelled Female,” which seems to encompass all her musical styles at their best. Show closer “Bush” is a fun and raucous call to bring back the bush with some of the bounciest beats around.

Delilah Bon is a force of nature, but more than that, she’s the kind of woman you’d hope your daughters and granddaughters grow up to be like – talented, fearless, outspoken, and creating work with genuine meaning. She’s an artist more people, especially more men, should be listening to.

Delilah Bon (w/ Bex) @ Academy 3 (Manchester, UK) on November 13th, 2025

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