By Alisha Lawton
American singer-songwriter, Alec Benjamin, played a stellar sold-out show at the Manchester Academy, on Tuesday night this week, kicking off the UK Leg of his 12 Notes tour.
Alec Benjamin first gained recognition with his breakout single, Let Me Down Slowly, in 2018, which propelled him into the spotlight with its heartfelt lyrics and melancholic melody. Since then, he has built a reputation for his strong songwriting abilities, often compared to artists like Ed Sheeran and John Mayer.
His debut album, These Two Windows, was released in 2020, and explored themes of introspection and personal struggle, setting the stage for his most recent project, 12 Notes. The 12 Notes tour, named after his 2024 album, marks a new chapter in his career, showcasing his growth as a songwriter and performer.
With no support act present to open the show, Alec swiftly entered the stage, which was decorated like a bedroom, with a bed, and a table, with little trinkets placed on top. The backdrop of the stage looked like a window with lights shining through, which made a direct reference to his debut album These Two Windows.
The night began with I Sent My Therapist To Therapy from his newest album, 12 Notes, but it was when he picked up his guitar to play one of his biggest songs—If We Have Each Other—that the crowd roared and immediately began to sing along.
Later in the night, Alec told the audience how it was only his second headline show in the city, and joked that it was colder than the last time he visited Manchester!
An audience member shouted out a song request for Wonderwall by Oasis, which gained a laugh from the Manchester audience, and he joked that he ‘didn’t know how’ to play it, before launching straight into Devil Doesn’t Bargain.
Unfortunately, Alec suffered a couple of technical difficulties with his guitar, but like the star performer he is, he swiftly moved on—abandoning the instrument, and moving over to the piano—to play Mind Is A Prison, one of the more popular songs on his debut album. This changed the mood of the song into something more intimate between Alec and the massive Manchester audience, which despite the technical issues, they preferred!
After each song, the audience cheered, showing their deep appreciation for Alec coming back to the city.
Just before the show was came to a close, Alec told the audience that they were ‘awesome’ and moved to sit on the sofa placed on the stage, to get closer to them, asking if it were okay for him to sing some songs ‘just on [his] own’. At this point, the audience screamed in excitement, so he went straight into an acoustic rendition of Jesus In LA combined with a few other popular songs from his catalogue.
Overall, the show was a fantastic experience for both long-time fans and newcomers. The packed venue and lively atmosphere highlighted the undeniable impact of his music, while his exceptional storytelling shone through in every song.
It is clear to see three albums into his career, that he is only getting better.
Photography & Text Copyright 2025 © Alisha Lawton/ADRENALINE Magazine.
Chloe Morris 
Tyler Whiting