After headlining the Other Stage at Glastonbury last year, The Prodigy have embarked on their ten-date 2026 UK and Ireland tour - and on Thursday 16th April it was Manchester’s turn to host the rave giants. Wielding giant laser guns, squirming tentacles and live marching drummers, the Co-op Live was treated to a non-stop frenzy of The Prodigy at their finest, proving that even after 30 years, there’s a reason why they’re still at the top of the game. But if you missed them, don’t worry: they’re returning this summer to Wythenshawe Park to host their own Warriors Dance Festival.
It’s no secret that The Prodigy go hard. A show of theirs promises to be an assault on the senses. From their formation in the 90s, the group have presented themselves as explorers of the dystopian: their identity is that of a societal outsider, a voice for the unconventional. They are jarring, cathartic, a site for rage and release. Given the political state of the world currently, it would make sense that their themes of power and rebellion are striking chords with a ‘jilted generation’ more than ever. Rave escapism, especially now, is hugely appealing. This perhaps explained the tangible electrical charge in the crowd at the Co-op Live… and the support hadn’t even started yet.
The support - somewhat unbelievably - came in the form of none other than house and techno legend Carl Cox, whose career has spanned over four decades and seen him dominate the club scenes in the UK, Ibiza and beyond. Fans are at the barrier from the moment the doors open, and it’s worth the sprint: for two hours, Cox plays an impeccable 3-deck vinyl set of “old school bangers only, Manchester!”, as he yells to the crowd. The people roar back - it’s pure euphoria, with Cox delving into his record collection behind him to keep the mix going. It’s a breath of fresh air and a pleasure to watch a master going back to the roots of DJing. It’s genuinely a shame when it comes to an end.
However, then it’s time for The Prodigy, who appear to huge cheers.
Without letting the crowd catch a breath, the night begins immediately with ‘Omen’, and things go feral. Mosh pits lurch and pint cups soar overhead. Strobe lights explode. For the next hour and a half the group pelts us relentlessly with a medley of their biggest hits from across their seven UK Number One albums.
MC Maxim strides around the stage, dominating the space with an ethereal, otherworldly presence, barking his lyrics across the thrashing bass. Founding member Liam Howlett is tucked further backstage surrounded by synths, and joining the tour is Rob Holliday on lead guitar and Leo Crabtree on drums. All performers, it has to be said, are nothing short of spectacular: for the entire 90 minutes, their energy is through the roof.
‘Voodoo’ and ‘Poison’ follow in a similarly riotous fashion,
led by Maxim, but ‘Firestarter’ is the only song for which he isn’t storming the stage. He stands motionless, hands clasped, allowing late member Keith Flint’s voice to be carried across the arena for the song that propelled them from underground stars to global legends. It’s a small but powerful moment, and well recognised by the crowd who shriek the lyrics to one of the group’s most iconic tunes.
As the night progresses, it becomes clear it’s not just the Prodigy’s sound that is wowing fans. The visual aspect and staging of the performance is also truly incredible. The stage at the Co-op Live is turned into a dishevelled industrial den with ominous rags looming from the rafters. The set shifts and transforms: panels rise dramatically to reveal enormous, illuminated laser guns that fire light at the crowd (“What the f**k!!” I hear someone shriek), black-clad drummers march onstage during ‘The Day is My Enemy’ and animated skeletons battle each other before a fiery backdrop for ‘Get Your Fight On’. Tentacles writhe on screens before being replaced with blaring sirens. It’s absolute carnage and a visual explosion.
‘Smack My B*tch Up’ is another moment at which the roof seems to lift from the Co-op Live’s hinges. “Change my pitch up! / Smack my b*tch up!” is screamed from every corner of the space, before the group retreat backstage for a brief moment of respite. The encore sees them perform favourites ‘Breathe’ and ‘
But it doesn’t stop for The Prodigy, not even after this tour. This summer they are re-igniting their own Warrior’s Dance Festival, with day events taking place in Dublin, Milton Keynes, Edinburgh and Manchester. Described as “four nights of pure ruckus”, they are joined by a hefty lineup of performers including Carl Cox, Andy C, Yousuke Yukimatsu, David Rodigan and SCARLXRD. If their performance at the Co-op Live is anything to go by, it’s going to be total, glorious carnage.
You can buy tickets to The Prodigy’s upcoming Warrior’s Dance Festival here.
Megan FitzGerald
Images: Alisha Lawton @aalishatakesphotos
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