Tricky

Tricky takes the stage at Aviva Studios in Manchester on 16 May 2026. Bristol-born producer, rapper and vocalist Adrian Thaws helped shape trip-hop alongside Massive Attack before breaking out with Maxinquaye, then pushing his sound through Angels With Dirty Faces and Blowback. Onstage, he strips things back to bass pressure, skeletal beats and smoke-hazed melodies, mixing half-whispered flow with the cool detachment of a lead vocalist by his side. Expect deep cuts and reworks drawn from across his catalogue, from early staples to later releases like False Idols, all bent into tense, nocturnal grooves. Tricky’s live format favors atmosphere over polish: minimal light, clipped hooks, sudden drops, and that elastic way he lets silence carry as much weight as the drums. It’s a set built on contrasts—grit and grace, menace and lullaby—where collaborations and samples become a single pulse. A chance to catch one of Bristol’s most singular voices exploring his own map of soul, dub and post-punk textures at Aviva Studios, Manchester.