Sir Paul McCartney surprised fans with a rare live performance of his holiday classic “Wonderful Christmastime” during his December 14th concert in Manchester, England. The 82-year-old music icon was joined on stage by children from the You Should Be Dancing Theatre Academy, who provided backing vocals for the festive song. The performance at Manchester’s Co-Op Live venue was enhanced with falling faux snow, creating a magical Christmas atmosphere.
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McCartney shared photos of the snowy performance on his Instagram account, expressing his joy at being back in northern England and celebrating the holiday season with his fans. The Manchester show marked a special occasion, as “Wonderful Christmastime” is rarely performed live.
According to Rolling Stone, McCartney has only performed the song live a handful of times throughout his extensive career. The last documented performances were during a series of concerts in England in December 2018. Prior to that, he joined Jimmy Fallon and the cast of the movie Sing for a rendition on The Tonight Show in 2016.
Fans captured the Manchester performance on video and shared it across social media platforms. The Co-Op Live venue also posted a clip on their Instagram, highlighting the choir and the festive snowfall. This rare live performance of “Wonderful Christmastime” was a highlight of McCartney’s Got Back Tour, which kicked off its England leg in Manchester.
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The former Beatle’s tour has already made stops in South America and various European cities, including Paris and Madrid. Following the Manchester concert, McCartney is scheduled to perform in London on December 18th and 19th.
In a 2019 interview with BBC Radio 4, McCartney revealed the existence of a “secret” Christmas album recorded for his family. He explained his motivation for creating the album stemmed from a desire for more traditional and simple Christmas music. While the album remains a private treasure for his family, the revelation offers a glimpse into McCartney’s enduring love for the holiday season.
