March 6, 2010 1:53

Lily Allen flouts smoking ban at co-headline gig with Dizzee Rascal

Singer overcomes bronchitis to play Manchester MEN Arena show

Photo Gallery: Lily Allen
Photo: Tim Cochrane

Lily Allen flouted the smoking ban during her co-headline gig in Manchester with Dizzee Rascal last night (March 5).

The singer puffed on a cigarette as she returned to the stage partway through her set at the MEN Arena.

She later told the crowd she was battling illness to play the show and apologised for her vocals being "a bit shit".

"I've got a bout of bronchitis so sorry if my singing's a bit shit. Not that it's any good anyway…" she said.

The gig, the first of three co-headline shows with the 'Bonkers' man, was opened by rapper Professor Green. Dizzee Rascal then played the first of the co-headlining slots, which saw him play tracks including 'Road Rage' and 'Freaky Freaky' - complete with a brass section.

His group of backing singers included Daniel Pearce, former member of One True Voice - the boy band who went up against Girls Aloud in reality TV show Popstars: The Rivals in 2002.

Songs such as 'Pussyole (Old Skool)' and 'Holiday' got the crowd moving, while 'Stand Up Tall' was spliced with a cover of Nirvana's 'Smells Like Teen Spirit'.

Meanwhile, early single 'Fix Up Look Sharp' had to be restarted while security dealt with a scuffle in the crowd.

Dizzee Rascal played:

'Bad Behaviour'
'Road Rage'
'Can't Tek No More'
'Freaky Freaky'
'Flex'
'Chillin' Wiv Da Man Dem'
'Sirens'
'Fix Up Look Sharp'
'Jus A Rascal'
'Pussyole (Old Skool)'
'Dirtee Cash'
'Stand Up Tall'/'Smells Like Teen Spirit'
'Dance Wiv Me'
'Holiday'
'Bonkers'

Lily Allen then played a hit-laden set, kicking off with 'It's Not Me, It's You' album opener 'Everyone's At It'.

The singer, who recently confirmed plans to take a break from music, was typically chatty between songs, pointing out boyfriend Sam Cooper in the crowd and dedicating 'He Wasn't There' to her dad Keith Allen.

"He was a bit of a shit in the early days, but we're friends now," she told the crowd.

Allen then gave a shout-out to Liverpool FC and England footballer Steven Gerrard, who was apparently watching on in the audience. "Guess what I heard? Steven Gerrard's in the house," she said, sparking crowd boos.

"That's what I thought. Manchester on a Friday night - are you sure bruv?" Allen added.

Hits such as 'LDN' and 'The Fear' inspired huge singalongs, while the set also included covers of The Kooks' 'Naive' and Britney Spears' 'Womanizer'.

Finishing up with 'Not Fair', Allen revealed plans for celebrating the gig in Manchester's gay village.

"I'm going to Canal Street to get fucking lashed after this," she said before dedicating the tale of sexual frustration to all the girls in the crowd.

Lily Allen played:

'Everyone's At It'
'LDN'
'Back To The Start'
'22'
'Who'd Have Known'
'I Could Say'
'Naive'
'He Wasn't There'
'Littlest Things'
'Smile'
'The Fear'
'Womanizer'
'Fuck You'
'It's Not Fair'

Lily Allen and Dizzee Rascal play their second co-headlining gig at London 02 Arena tomorrow (March 7).