Halestorm Deliver Festival Headliner Ready Performance at Manchester AO Arena [Photos]

Rock icons Halestorm brought their nEverest Tour to Manchester, and the AO Arena was treated to a thrilling blend of styles that made for an exhilarating evening with something for everyone.

Kelsy Karter & The Heroines opened the night, launching straight into an a cappella rendition of ”God Knows I’ve Tried” that immediately captivated the crowd. Karter is one of the few vocalists who can rival Lzzy Hale’s power, and this introduction was a striking showcase for anyone unfamiliar with her or The Heroines. Her raspy, emotion-filled delivery filled the arena as confidently as her presence did.

A proud Oasis fan, she joked that covering them in Manchester might be a bit too on-the-nose, opting instead for a punchy version of Aerosmith’s ”Cryin’” — a choice that likely landed better in this rock setting anyway. A brilliant run through ”Devil on My Shoulder” and “Liquor Store on Mars“ closed the set, leaving little doubt that she walked away with a legion of new fans.

Next up were New Delhi’s Bloodywood, who delivered a 40-minute set that felt both heavy and refreshing. Their distinctive blend of metal with Indian musical stylings brought the arena to life, the dhol drum cutting through the mix to form the backbone of their unique sound.

Frontmen Raoul and Jayant worked flawlessly together, a multi-layered vocal assault that triggered several mosh pits and kept the energy rising. Their combination of harsh vocals, rap-style delivery, and punishing instrumentals made them sound even heavier live. Killer renditions of “Gadaar,“ “Dana Dan“ and “Machi Bhasad (Expect a Riot)“ proved that they can achieve in six songs what many bands struggle to do in a full headline set. Future arena headliners? Absolutely.

Halestorm have graced this venue many times before, usually as openers or special guests, but tonight they returned as a fully established force ready to claim it as their own. Their show was built for an arena, both sonically and visually, and they doubled down by showcasing nine tracks from their new Everest album. For some bands that would be a risk. For Halestorm, it was a statement.

As the curtain dropped and the band teased the intro to “Black Sabbath,“ they tore into the ferocious opener “Fallen Star,“ complete with machine-gun drumming and roaring guitars. They meant business. Fan favourites followed quickly: “I Miss the Misery,“ “Love Bites,“ and “I Get Off“ arrived in rapid succession, accompanied by the first blasts of pyro and confetti that kicked the atmosphere up another notch.

While Everest is a high-octane, adrenaline-charged album, it also offers more delicate moments. “Like a Woman Can“ sounded incredible, carrying a thread of Stevie Nicks’ influence, and a touching “How Will You Remember Me?“ was dedicated to those lost this year, one of several nods to Ozzy Osbourne.

“Rain Your Blood on Me“ was a standout, and Arejay’s “big stick” drum solo provided both spectacle and humour, possibly inspiring the world’s first drum-solo circle pit.

Halestorm are operating at the peak of their powers, none more so than Lzzy Hale, who sounded phenomenal throughout. “K-I-L-L-I-N-G“ landed huge, and a bone-crunching tribute to Ozzy with “Perry Mason“ gave the crowd a cathartic moment before the band closed with a more restrained “Here’s to Us,“ the perfect ending to a monumental night.

Halestorm have fully cemented themselves at this level and should absolutely be considered future festival headliners. And while a part of us might still hope to see Lzzy fronting Skid Row for a few UK dates, one thing is certain: you never leave a Halestorm show disappointed.

Halestorm Setlist:

1. Black Sabbath (Black Sabbath cover — Intro only)
2. Fallen Star
3. I Miss the Misery
4. Love Bites (So Do I)
5. WATCH OUT!
6. I Get Off
7. Shiver
8. Like a Woman Can
9. How Will You Remember Me?
10. Familiar Taste of Poison
11. Rain Your Blood on Me
12. Drum Solo
13. Freak Like Me
14. Mz. Hyde
15. Uncomfortable
16. K-I-L-L-I-N-G
17. Everest
18. I Gave You Everything
19. I Am the Fire
20. Perry Mason (Ozzy Osbourne cover)
21. Here’s to Us

Halestorm (Bloodywood, Kelsey Karter) @ AO Arena (Manchester, UK) on November 24th, 2025

48 photos