By Alisha Lawton
Kim Wilde is a true icon of the 1980s, known for her infectious pop anthems, distinctive style, and powerful voice that helped define an era of music. Bursting onto the scene in 1981, with her debut single Kids in America, she quickly became a household name, racking up hits throughout the decade and beyond. With a career spanning over 40 years, Kim has continued to evolve, while staying true to the energetic, synth-driven sound that made her famous. On this night at Manchester’s Academy, she brought that same electric energy, delivering a show packed with nostalgia, singalong moments, and a celebration of both her classic hits and new music.
Starting the show were fellow 80s band Cutting Crew, warming up the audience by playing a few of their biggest hits like (I Just) Died in Your Arms and I’ve Been in Love Before. After releasing their first album in 1986, and their latest in 2020, the band gave the audience a blast from the past, getting them ready for a night packed full of nostalgia.
While waiting for Kim Wilde to take to the stage, songs both old and new played throughout the venue keeping the audience engaged and ready for a night of fun. After flying to number 2 in the charts back in 1981, with her debut Kids in America, Kim gained hard core fans and I even think a few of them were in the room on this night.
Kim and her band walked onto the stage to a mighty cheer from the Manchester audience, and Kim greeted them with a beaming smile, wearing an all-black outfit and a fringed leather jacket, with an embroidered K and W on each shoulder, and a red star on her back. She began the show by singing the first song on her 1988 album Closer, Hey Mister Heartache.
After playing a few big hitters to get the show started, the crowd were singing along like they had heard the songs a thousand times, but enjoying them just the same, as if it were the first time they had ever listened.
Five songs in, Kim took a moment to speak to the Manchester audience addressing them by saying that she could tell they were ‘ready for a party’.
Kim told the crowd that she was going to play some songs from her new album, Closer, which was released back in January. She thanked the audience for welcoming it into the world, and showing it so much love, and stated that the album was inspired by her earlier album Close; that she owed it to the audience to play some songs from both albums.
Slowing down the set, Kim sang a beautiful ballad called Love’s a No, proving that all these years later, she has still got the talent she started with; showing off her vocal ability to the Manchester audience. All throughout the venue, there were couples dancing together and people swaying side to side, enjoying the break in the set. After this, she picked up the tempo, and jumped straight into Four Letter Word from Close, leading into Stone, from that same album.
Kim and her band led the audience into a clap in time to the music and fans on the front row jumped to the beat.
Before the show came to a close, a fan called Kim over to their side of the stage and lovingly threw a bunch of roses, which she caught and danced around the stage with.
Leading the show to an end Kim Wilde finished the set with her debut single, and the one that catapulted her into the industry, Kids In America. There was not a single person in the venue that wasn’t singing–proving that all these years later people still love the song that started it all.
Photography & Text Copyright 2025 © Alisha Lawton/ADRENALINE Magazine.
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