Cameron Whitcomb to headline Manchester's O2 Ritz ahead of debut album release

A personal journey takes centre stage on The Hard Way

Cameron Whitcomb will headline an upgraded gig at Manchester’s O2 Ritz this weekend ahead of the release of debut album The Hard Way. The Manchester gig is one of three UK dates he is playing. he will also headline at London’s Electric Brixton and Glasgow’s SWG3.

The 15-track collection draws deeply from Whitcomb’s personal journey, tracing his experiences with addiction, recovery and growth into adulthood. The album includes tracks such as Quitter, Options, Medusa, and the emotionally charged new single Fragile, which is available now.

Produced by frequent collaborator Jack Riley — whose credits include Grace VanderWaal and Knox — Fragile was co-written by Whitcomb alongside Riley, Nolan Sipe, and Cal Shapiro. The tender ballad centres on the longing for acceptance, even in the face of past trauma.

The Hard Way showcases a mix of intimate folk-leaning arrangements and alternative textures. The album features previously released tracks including Gasoline & Matches, co-written with Riley and Chance Emerson, and Bad Apple, a track which marks a sonic shift. Also featured on the album is Hundred Mile High which picked up widespread acclaim, landing on ELLE’s list of Best New Songs for January and collecting over 1.6 million first-week streams. The album also includes a stripped-down acoustic take on Medusa.

Whitcomb’s rise has been fuelled by more than 400 million streams and over six million monthly Spotify listeners. The Hard Way follows last year’s debut EP Quitter, with Love Myself and the title track praised for their raw, folk-driven vulnerability. The new album also includes collaborative tracks with Evan Honer, plus production and writing contributions from Jack Riley throughout.