Ellie Goulding @ Manchester Academy, UK, October 20, 2023

Ellie Goulding

Ellie Goulding, Olivia Lunny

Ellie Goulding @ Manchester Academy, UK, October 20, 2023,

Oct 23, 2023 By Andy Von Pip Photography by Andy Von Pip Web Exclusive

Ellie Goulding brought her Higher Than Heaven Tour to Manchester, and our photographer Andy Von Pip was on hand to capture all the action.

Award-winning popstar, Ellie Goulding, emerged in the mid-to-late noughties and really began to gain serious traction after topping the BBC Sound Of poll in 2010. In an era dominated by big-personality pop stars, she stood out as something of an outlier. Often appearing shy offstage and candid about her struggles with anxiety she let her music and indeed her voice do the talking. Tonight’s performance on her sold-out Higher Than Heaven tour demonstrated her mastery of sophisticated, synth-driven folktronic pop and as an artist who seemed completely at ease with herself on stage. Her relative longevity in the pop sphere, which so often moves on to the next bright young thing at an alarming pace, can be attributed not only to the quality of her output but also her ability to evolve and grow as an artist alongside her fans. And the “Goulddiggers” (the affectionate collective name for her devoted fan base) turned out in force tonight, as Goulding skillfully navigated a perfectly judged set that included many of her biggest hits alongside some choice cuts from her latest album Higher Than Heaven. It was an elegant and engaging performance from an artist who still has so much to offer, and live, her vocals were as mesmerizing as they are on record.

Support came from the emerging Canadian pop star, Olivia Lunny, who delivered a captivating set to a near-capacity audience. It’s always heartening to see punters make the effort to catch the opening act, and those who did were rewarded with a sparkling performance. Lunny’s immediate connection with the assembled throng from the get-go was as impressive as her high-energy set, which was brimming with earworms, all of which felt like future pop hits.

Ellie Goulding’s Set List:

Better Man

Outside

Power

Let It Die

Halcyon

Frozen

Still Falling for You

I Need Your Love

My Blood

Lights

Animal