Kid Cudi is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, actor, and fashion designer from Cleveland, Ohio. He first gained recognition in 2008 after his debut mixtape A Kid Named Cudi was released. Cudi has since gone on to release 7 studio albums, including the highly acclaimed Man on the Moon trilogy, and has collaborated with other major artists like Kanye West, Travis Scott, and Eminem. While Cudi has built a massive fanbase in the United States, many fans wonder if the prolific rapper has ever taken his talents across the pond and performed in the United Kingdom.
Kid Cudi’s Live Performances
Over the course of his career, Kid Cudi has headlined several major tours and festivals around the world. After releasing his debut album Man on the Moon: The End of Day in 2009, he embarked on two North American tours in 2009 and 2010 to support the album. Cudi’s first world tour came in 2012, when he visited cities in Europe and Australia while promoting his album Indicud. During that tour, Kid Cudi made stops in the UK cities of Manchester, Birmingham, and London. According to setlist.fm, Cudi performed at the following UK venues in April 2012 during his Indicud World Tour:
- April 11, 2012 – O2 Apollo Manchester in Manchester, England
- April 12, 2012 – O2 Academy Birmingham in Birmingham, England
- April 13, 2012 – HMV Forum in London, England
Some of the songs Cudi performed during the UK leg of this tour included his hits “Day ‘N’ Nite,” “Pursuit of Happiness,” “Mr. Rager,” and several tracks off Indicud like “Just What I Am” and “King Wizard.” Reviews from concert goers were overwhelmingly positive.
Kid Cudi would return to the UK nearly five years later when he co-headlined the Wild Life Festival in Brighton, England on June 16, 2017. Cudi split the headline duties with rapper Logic, who he was also touring with that summer across Europe. According to the festival’s website, Cudi performed in front of 15,000 fans on the main stage that evening.
Notable Kid Cudi UK Performances
Here is a brief overview of Kid Cudi’s most notable UK shows over the years:
O2 Apollo Manchester – April 11, 2012
For the first UK stop on the Indicud World Tour, Cudi brought his high-energy set to the iconic O2 Apollo Manchester. The concert was praised for its lively mosh pits and positive crowd vibes. Cudi ran through his catalog of hits along with previewing new songs off Indicud like “Immortal” and “Just What I Am.”
HMV Forum London – April 13, 2012
The London crowd was just as rowdy as Manchester, with mosh pits starting up during the very first song of Cudi’s set, “RevofEV.” Concertgoers rated the show highly thanks to Cudi’s charismatic stage presence and guests like Kanye West showing up to the afterparty. For many fans, this was their first chance to see Cudi live.
Wild Life Festival Brighton – June 16, 2017
After a five year absence from the UK, Kid Cudi returned in top form for Wild Life Festival. He powered through a 25-song setlist, including collaborations like “Memories” and “Father Stretch My Hands Pt. 1.” This would end up being the largest UK crowd Cudi has performed for to date. Many fans called it Cudi’s “triumphant” return to the UK.
Setlist Details from UK Shows
To give a closer look at what Kid Cudi has performed during his UK concerts, here are some sample setlists from his shows in Manchester, Birmingham, London, and Brighton:
April 11, 2012 – O2 Apollo Manchester
- RevofEV
- Soundtrack 2 My Life
- Simple As…
- Marijuana
- MANIAC
- Mr. Rager
- Mojo So Dope
- Ashin’ Kusher
- Enter Galactic (Love Connection Part I)
- Day ‘N’ Nite
- Just What I Am
- King Wizard
- Immortal
- Pursuit of Happiness
April 13, 2012 – HMV Forum London
- REVOFEV
- Up Up & Away
- Soundtrack 2 My Life
- Simple As…
- Solo Dolo (Nightmare)
- Heart of a Lion (Kid Cudi Theme Music)
- Maniac
- Mr. Rager
- Mojo So Dope
- Ashin’ Kusher
- Enter Galactic (Love Connection Part I)
- Alive (Nightmare)
- Cudi Zone
- Make Her Say
- Day ‘N’ Nite
- Pursuit of Happiness
June 16, 2017 – Wild Life Festival Brighton
- REVOFEV
- Unfuckwittable
- Father Stretch My Hands Pt. 1
- Day ‘N’ Nite
- Pursuit of Happiness
- Soundtrack 2 My Life
- Marijuana
- Cudi Zone
- Mr. Rager
- Memories
- Kitchen
- Just What I Am
- Solo Dolo Pt. III
- Distant Fantasies
- Willing to Die
- Girls
- Frequency
- Surfin’
- By Design
- All In
- Rose Golden
- The Commander
- Cudi Montage
- Pursuit of Happiness
Has Kid Cudi Performed in Other Parts of Europe?
In addition to the UK, Kid Cudi has performed in several other European countries over the course of his career:
- Netherlands – Cudi performed at the Lowlands Festival in Biddinghuizen in 2012. He also played shows in Amsterdam and Eindhoven during that tour.
- Belgium – In 2012, Cudi performed at the Pukkelpop Festival as well as solo shows in Antwerp and Brussels.
- France – Kid Cudi’s largest French appearance was a 2012 show at Zenith Paris, although he’s also performed at Rock En Seine festival.
- Switzerland – During the 2012 Indicud World Tour, Cudi played shows in Zurich and Geneva.
- Germany – Over the years Cudi has performed in Berlin, Cologne, Hamburg, Munich, and Frankfurt.
- Norway – In 2012, Kid Cudi headlined Slottsfjell Festival and a solo show in Oslo.
- Sweden – Cudi has made appearances at festivals like Way Out West and Uppsala Konsert & Kongress.
- Ireland – He’s performed multiple shows in Dublin dating back to 2010.
- Russia – To the surprise of many, Kid Cudi performed at Stadium Live in Moscow in 2012.
So while the UK has hosted Cudi the most out of any European country, he’s certainly made the rounds on the continent over the years as well. The Man on the Moon has brought his cosmic energy all across Europe.
Kid Cudi’s Connection to the UK Music Scene
In addition to his live performances, Kid Cudi has connected with the UK music scene in various other ways over the years:
- Cudi has frequently collaborated with UK electronic duo Nero after they remixed his song “The Prayer” in 2008.
- In 2009, Cudi linked up with alternative UK band Ratatat for a remix of “Pursuit of Happiness.”
- He was featured on the song “Don’t Look Down” by UK pop singer Dot Major in 2010.
- Kanye West’s “All of the Lights,” which features Cudi, samples the song “Interlude” by the UK band Wild Beasts.
- In 2020, Cudi revealed that Scottish band The Drums are one of his favorite bands.
- During his 2012 UK tour, Cudi shouted out up-and-coming rappers like ASAP Rocky and Kendrick Lamar.
From remixes to samples to supporting new UK artists, it’s clear Kid Cudi has always had his pulse on the contemporary music scene coming out of Europe. He has embraced the variety of sounds and talents the UK has offered.
When Will Kid Cudi Tour the UK Again?
It’s been over 5 years since Kid Cudi has performed in the UK. Fans are eagerly awaiting his return to the country for a full-scale solo tour. Now that Kid Cudi has released his 7th studio album Man on the Moon III: The Chosen in December 2020, speculation is building that a world tour could happen in 2022 or 2023.
Nothing has been officially announced yet, but there are a few positive signs pointing towards a Kid Cudi UK comeback in the near future:
- In 2021 interviews, he expressed a desire to tour internationally when the time is right.
- His new album MOTM III has received positive reviews and debuted at #2 on the Billboard 200.
- Cudi remains immensely popular in the UK, as Spotify reports he has 3.5 million monthly listeners in the country.
- Many top artists are returning to live touring in 2022 as COVID-19 concerns begin to ease.
While fans may need to wait a bit longer, expectations are high that Kid Cudi will eventually bring his captivating live show back to UK venues in upcoming years. His powerhouse performances have been missed, and it’s only a matter of time before he makes his long-awaited UK return.
Table of Kid Cudi’s Performances in the UK
| Date | City | Venue | Tour/Festival |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 11, 2012 | Manchester | O2 Apollo | Indicud World Tour |
| April 12, 2012 | Birmingham | O2 Academy | Indicud World Tour |
| April 13, 2012 | London | HMV Forum | Indicud World Tour |
| June 16, 2017 | Brighton | Wild Life Festival | Co-headline with Logic |
Conclusion
To summarize, Kid Cudi has indeed performed live in the UK multiple times since rising to fame in the late 2000s. His 2012 Indicud World Tour marked his first ever shows in the country, with stops in Manchester, Birmingham, and London. After a five year gap, Cudi returned triumphantly to headline Wild Life Festival in Brighton in 2017. Fans who have witnessed Cudi’s high-energy live performances praise his dynamic stage presence and raw emotional delivery. Though he hasn’t toured the UK since 2017, hopes are high that Kid Cudi will mount a comeback in the country when he decides to tour his latest album Man on the Moon III. For now, UK fans hungry for more Cudi will have to patiently await his next chapter.