That’s Showbiz, Baby! – Jade at the Manchester O2 Victoria Warehouse

Words by Kate South 

With soaring vocals and sharp choreography, Jade dazzles on her debut solo tour, That’s Showbiz, Baby!

One of the best pop releases in the UK in 2024 was Jade’s “Angel of My Dreams”, an epic, experimental, eclectic track that acts as a bittersweet love letter to the music industry. On the track, Jade lays bare the toxicity of an industry that she loves to hate. Half a dozen singles and over a year later, Jade released her debut solo album That’s Showbiz, Baby! on the 12th September 2025, before embarking on a tour of the same name to promote the album. Months before the album’s release, this was one of the hottest pop tickets, with every single UK show selling out. I was lucky enough to score tickets to the Manchester show at the O2 Victoria Warehouse, an upgraded venue from Manchester Academy, and what a show it was!

I arrived 15 mins before doors opened, and the queue was heaving with fans dressed up in their fave Jade looks. The production value on this tour was high, especially for O2 Academy venues. However, it was interesting to note where expense was spared; the opener, DJ Adam Theo, would have benefited from some proper lighting programming to help get the party atmosphere going. Nevertheless, he did an excellent job at hyping up an already buzzing crowd, playing a range of club bangers from Kesha’s “Joyride”, to a mash-up of Rhiana and Chapell Roan’s “Pink Pony Club”, to throwbacks like Beyonce’s “Sweet Dreams”. He certainly got the crowd dancing!

Then the show began. The main ‘cast’ of the show was two dancers who flanked Jade during her more dance-heavy numbers, wheeling on set pieces to help create the different worlds of each number. There were also two onstage musicians: a drummer and a multi-instrumentalist who absolutely slayed a saxophone solo during “Fantasy”. Jade certainly knows how to put the ‘show’ in showbiz, and took us on a journey from the uber-theatrical opener “FUFN”, into a disco paradise for “Before You Break My Heart”, “Unconditional” and into “Fantasy”, complete with a mirror disco ball, diva-tastic coats that connected to the other dancers, and an amazing party atmosphere. “Unconditional” was a vocal highlight of the show for me, showing off a rockier edge to her voice.

After this rush of disco came a more laid-back run of “Self-Saboteur”, “Lip Service” and fan-fave “Plastic Box”, complete with the viral choreography. “Lip Service” had some particularly cheeky choreography, showing off Jade’s humorous side whilst being unafraid to own her sexuality; something we love to see! “Glitch” brought elements of electro-clash, complete with strobe lighting and dynamic choreography, before taking us to the emotional “Natural at Disaster”, with a brief break in the middle for a few Madonna covers. Truly, no corner of pop was left untouched, showcasing the breadth of Jade’s artistic range.

Then we had my personal favourite moment of the show: a medley of “Midnight Cowboy” into “Wasabi” (the only Little Mix cover), into the summer bop “Gossip” ft.  Confidence Man. While they did not make an appearance, singer Janet Planet’s voice echoed out over the speakers, and the crowd was more than happy to sub in for the iconic line, “Tina Says You’re a ****”. The medley finished with “IT Girl”, the crowd screaming with Jade “, It’s a no from me!” a not-so-subtle nod to a certain music mogul. The energy during this run of songs was immense, and it was clear Jade had the crowd completely and utterly won over.  

Throughout the whole show, I couldn’t help but think this is an artist who has mastered her craft. A self-professed student of pop, Jade deftly pulls cultural references together through a range of her songs, creating not just perfectly written but perfectly performed numbers. No element of the staging, light design or choreography wasn’t carefully thought through, and it showed. It’s always a privilege to see an artist with the voice, stage presence and professionalism to fill arenas in a smaller venue. I have to say, when Jade joined us on the balcony for the penultimate number of the show, the gorgeous ballad “silent disco”, I was star-struck. The years in Little Mix undoubtedly allowed her to hone her skills as a dancer and vocalist. Still, as she steps into the spotlight, it’s clear she has the star quality to shine as a solo artist who creates creative, experimental hits and soaring pop anthems.

Closing the show, she finished with “Angel of my Dreams”. I found myself getting emotional during the final powerhouse chorus. It was clear this show is just the beginning for Jade, and yet it was also a marker of how far she has come. From her beginnings on the X-Factor to Global Stardom in Little Mix, Jade has finally come into her own artistically and musically. I cannot wait to see her again in a much bigger venue. The album and the tour are a triumph, and she deserves to take a bow. That’s showbiz, baby!