All Time Low/You Me At Six – Manchester Arena

SUPPORT band Walk The Moon played only a handful of songs when the American pop punks and British rockers played Manchester Arena.

But still the atmosphere was electric by half seven when the first of these two co-headliners played sets that kept the audience ecstatic for more than three hours.

All Time Low were one of the best live acts I've seen: I didn't know their music but I was riveted as they performed with brash confidence and a great deal of playfulness.

They took selfies with the entire crowd, singer Alex Gaskarth fired t-shirt bombs at the crowd, and guitarist Jack Barakat gathered a colourful collection of bras on his mic stand.

Alongside this cheeky showmanship, All Time Low had a spirited skill that saw the quartet playing every song as if it was their biggest-ever hit.

While All Time Low were naughty little whippets, from the moment they stepped on stage it was clear You Me At Six were a mightier beast indeed.

They opened with a clutch of loud, proud, relentless and repetitive songs that although boasting great musicianship and headbanging heaviness, left me wondering why the band gathered such adoration from the crowd.

Then the band laid back a little, turning more mainstream, with anthems that could see them at home headlining any stadium or festival.

David Knights