Here’s what the Manic Street Preachers performed at the start of their 2025 Critical Thinking Tour in the UK.

Manic Street Preachers’ Critical Thinking Tour Begins

Manic Street Preachers kicked off their “Critical Thinking” tour in the UK in 2025. Check out their setlist below.

• Read more: Manic Street Preachers – Overview “Critical Thinking”: former generation terrorists shoot in hope through doubts

Concert Details

Their first show in this series took place last night (April 11) at the Barrowland Ballroom in Glasgow. They will perform there again tonight (April 12), followed by shows in London, Wolverhampton, Bristol, Manchester, and Swansea. A complete list of tour dates is available below.

Prior to last night’s performance, the band announced that long-time member Nick “Nicky” Nash would not be joining them for the tour due to “personal circumstances.” In his place, “great friend and producer” Dave Ering will step in.

Ering’s association with the band dates back to their debut single, “Motown Junk” (1993), where he contributed production duties. He has produced and mixed several tracks for the group over the years and played keyboards with them from 1993 to 1994.

We simply would like to tell you that, unfortunately, a brilliant nickname Nickite cannot be with us in this tour of personal circumstances. Our great friend and producer Dave Ering entered in violation.

Love,
ISS pic.twitter.com/smbknb8mbd

– manic street preachers (@manics) April 11, 2025

The tour opened with “Depline and Fall” from their latest album “Critical Thinking,” followed by tracks like “Enola/Only,” “La Tristesse Durera (Scream Soake),” and “Reunion Labs,” which are also on the new LP.

The concert included a brief acoustic segment featuring “This Gloomy Wales Heart” and “Little Black Flowers That Grow in the Sky,” culminating with the fan favorite “If You Tolerate This, Your Children Will Be Next.” Check out their full setlist and fan reactions below.

Setlist Highlights:

‘Depline & Fall’
‘Enola/One’
‘La Tristesse Durera (Scream Soake)’
‘Brushstrokes Reunions’
‘You Stole the Sun From My Heart’
‘She Suffered’
‘Cleansed Apples’
‘Motorcycle Emptiness’
‘You Go to the Bridge’
‘Hiding in Sight’
‘Autumnsong’
‘Design for Life’
‘This Is a Gloomy Wales Heart’
‘Little Black Flowers That Grow in the Sky’
‘Eternal’
‘Dear Stefan’
‘Sleeplower’
‘Your Love Is Not Enough’
‘International Blue’
‘People Destroy Paintings’
‘Motown Junk’
‘If You Tolerate This, Your Children Will Be Next’

Happy tears in the eyes when @Manics I went on stage in @TheBarrowlands tonight.

This set is as close to perfection as possible! The group never had more influence or inspiration on me ❤

God, save manic! pic.twitter.com/9yohkszzxb

– Dr. Paul Hamilton (@_paulhamilton) April 11, 2025

What a night! Manic Street Preachers in Glasgow 🎸🤘 @Manics #ManicStreetPreachers pic.twitter.com/zv2up9bnoh

– Eidan (@afmcCloskey) April 12, 2025

Glasgow crowd is excellent as always #Manics pic.twitter.com/vvydazhmyj

– Jan David Hamilton 🌳 (@ianhamilton1982) April 11, 2025

Manic street preachers in Barrowland in Glasgow last night.

This is only the ninth time I saw them. pic.twitter.com/hs2di6omes

– Derek Pilling 💙🇺🇦 (@Derek_j_pilling) April 12, 2025

The “Critical Thinking” tour will run until May 10, visiting London, Wolverhampton, Bristol, Manchester, and Swansea. See all remaining dates below and find tickets here.

April
12 – Glasgow Barrowland
18 – London Empire Bush
19 – London O2 Shepherd’s Bush
25 – Wolverhampton Civic Hall
26 – Bristol Lighthouse

MAY
2 – Manchester O2 Apollo
3 – Manchester O2 Apollo
9 – Swansea Arena
10 – Swansea Arena
21 – Bearded Theory Festival, Derbyshire
24 – Live in Leeds: In the Park, Leeds

AUGUST
02 – Audley End, Saffron Walden

In a four-star review of their new album, Manic Street Preachers’ NME stated: “According to ‘Critical Thinking,’ the band’s sound channels the European modernism of 2014’s ‘Futurology’ and the sophisticated pop of ABBA – making it a continuation of 2021’s ‘Ultra Vivid Lament.’

“Moreover, its exuberant warmth pairs with a provocative brilliance, suggesting the creation of an album through the lens of their artistic and indie heroes from adolescence.”

In a recent interview with NME, bassist and lyricist Nicky Wire described the LP as “a different kind of record” compared to what fans have heard before.

“Albums reflect where your mind is at – clearly in the manic world,” he shared. “Sometimes you must embrace this honesty.”

He further added: “I’ve stepped back a little, yet I always find myself to be my most trusted source of inspiration. While I may start to feel lost, it contrasts with James’ (Dean Bradfield, frontman) lyrical content on the album; his three songs carry a much stronger sense of optimism.”

The musician also noted to NME that the band has already begun discussing their future plans, mentioning: “I hadn’t written much for a while as it felt good to take a break from the album we just released, to avoid redundancy.

“This is meant for the dark night of the soul, and I’m certain the next will differ. Whether it’s broader or more macro in its approach. We’ll see.”