Paul McCartney Breaks Out ‘Wonderful Christmastime’ In Manchester

Paul McCartney had a special surprise in store for those attending the first shows of his 2024 UK Got Back Tour over the weekend in Manchester, England. Macca dusted off his festive 1979 single “Wonderful Christmas” at Manchester’s Co-Op Live for the first time since 2018.

Originally released as a standalone single in 1979, “Wonderful Christmastime” was recorded during the sessions that yielded 1980’s McCartney II. The holiday release marked McCartney’s first solo single since “Eat At Home” in 1971.

Paul McCartney debuted “Wonderful Christmastime” live in 2009 and has only performed the holiday song a handful of times since. The last live version played before Saturday night in Manchester came on December 16, 2018 at The O2 Arena in London.

“Seeing as the season is coming around, we’ve got a little surprise for you,” McCartney informed the crowd late in the show on Saturday night in Manchester. The 82-year-old musician then lit into “Wonderful Christmastime” accompanied by three percussionists dressed as elves. Children from the You Should Be Dancing Theatre Academy emerged towards the middle of “Wonderful Christmastime” to help sing the song. Macca reprised “Wonderful Christmastime” on Sunday at his second of two shows at Co-Op Live.

Watch Paul McCartney’s first “Wonderful Christmastime” in six years via audience-captured footage below: