Barry Manilow concert – 2 September 2018

Age UK Manchester were offered a VIP experience for 16 lucky people to see legendary entertainer Barry Manilow in a box suite at Manchester Arena as he hit the road on a UK tour One Last Time!

Eight of us from Out In The City enjoyed a memorable evening in luxurious surroundings.

With worldwide record sales exceeding 85 million, Barry Manilow is ranked as the top Adult Contemporary chart artist of all time with over 50 Top 40 hits. However, his first record came out in 1821 and sold 5 copies.

He performed all his classics, including his mega-hit Mandy, which first topped the charts over 40 years ago in 1975. Manilow said, “We had a great time putting the show together. We hope to take everyone on an emotional roller coaster. I can’t wait to see everyone dancing in the aisles.”

Barry Manilow has limited his concert appearances in recent years but, as he has told Out In The City, the One Last Time Tour “is my way of thanking everyone for their years of support …one last time!” (Actually, I made up these quotes.)

Barry Manilow’s unparalleled career was recognised with an award from the Royal Northern College of Music. During the concert he wore five different jackets and we screamed whenever he changed his jacket. Imagine what would have happened if he changed his trousers! The highlights were putting on 3-D glasses for a rooftop tour of New York, the dance version of “Could It Be Magic?” and waving our green fluorescent glow sticks during the concert.

Support came from Collabro, winners of Britain’s Got Talent. Although they were not as good as The Four Seasons, Stuart and I decided to join the fan club and become “Collaborators”.

Jamie Lambert is the gay one in Collabro. Barry Manilow is the gay one in Barry Manilow.