MGK at Birmingham’s Utilita Arena
Date: 10/03/2026
From being a fan to photographing one of my favourite musicians, MGK.
I’ve been a fan of Machine Gun Kelly for nearly 10 years now, first being introduced to his music by an old work colleague. I’ve followed Colson’s journey ever since.
This was my fourth time seeing him live, and it’s been incredibly inspiring watching his transformation from 2017 until now. The first time I saw him was at O2 Academy Bristol, and then again at SWX Bristol, both smaller-capacity venues. Seeing that progression—from those intimate shows to selling out arenas—has been remarkable to witness with my own eyes.
I’ve now had the opportunity to photograph Colson on both arena tours so far in Birmingham. It’s been four years since the last time he graced the stage at Utilita Arena Birmingham, and being there again, this time behind the camera, made the moment even more special.
I managed to photograph about a quarter of the show. After storing my camera and making my way back to my seat, I arrived just in time to catch the end of ‘Bloody Valentine’ — an iconic track from the Tickets to My Downfall album and the beginning of MGK’s pop-punk era. During this song, woman were picked from the crowd to join him on stage. I’ve always loved how musically diverse Colson is; his talent feels effortless no matter which genre he chooses to explore.
At previous tours I’ve always been in the standing crowd, but this time I had a seated ticket. One of the first things I noticed was how many young adults were there with their own children. Many of them had likely grown up listening to MGK during their teenage years and were now bringing the next generation along. It was incredible to see so many young families at the show, dancing together and passing their music taste down from generation to generation.
About halfway through the two-hour set, MGK left the main stage and made his way to a B-stage located within the standing audience. Here he performed a selection of slower songs, beginning with one of my personal favourites, ‘Glass House’. He followed this with an acoustic version of ‘Times of My Life’ and a tribute cover of ‘Dreamer’ by Ozzy Osbourne — a fitting choice while performing in the home city of Black Sabbath. Before returning to the main stage, fans were given a choice between three songs: ‘Till I Die’, ‘Candy’, and ‘Why Are You Here’. The song with the loudest reaction from the crowd would be the one performed.
Shortly after returning to the main stage, Julia Wolf — who also supported on the tour — joined MGK for their rendition of ‘Iris’ by the Goo Goo Dolls. During the performance, both artists were elevated on platforms above the stage, creating a memorable visual moment.
One thing I always look forward to on every MGK tour is the creativity of his mic stand, which is always designed differently. The first time I saw him in 2017, the mic stand was a rose with thorns for the Bloom era. On the Hotel Diablo tour it was a cobra, and during the Tickets to My Downfall tour it was shaped like two hands. For this tour, the mic stand featured an arrangement of cigarettes. It’s a small detail, but it’s something I always notice when seeing MGK live.
The main stage design was also impressive, featuring a large punk-style version of the Statue of Liberty holding a cigarette high in the air. At one point during the show, Colson even climbed up and performed on top of it.
Across the two-hour set, around 31 songs were performed. In terms of stage production, this was definitely one of the best MGK tours I’ve experienced. However, the smaller shows during the Bloom and Hotel Diablo tours will always hold a special place in my memories.
I believe MGK is one of the most diversely talented musicians in the world. He consistently experiments with different genres yet never seems to produce a bad album — in my opinion, there isn’t a single skip among his songs.
Seeing him live only reinforces that belief. He’s one of the most charismatic performers on stage and clearly has a genuine love for his fans. Another thing I really admire is how his band members have remained the same throughout the years. It says a lot about their relationship and loyalty to one another that they’ve continued touring together for nearly a decade.
Throughout the European leg of the tour, he has even been filming a music video with fans in several cities along the tour route, which is a great way of involving the people who support him the most.
I would highly recommend seeing MGK live if you ever get the chance — you definitely won’t be disappointed.
All photos by Dan Rose. Only able to upload these four images out of thirty-one images submitted for approval.