Garbage‘s Shirley Manson has been announced as 2027’s Teenage Cancer Trust gig series guest curator at the Royal Albert Hall.
Manson is set to curate the line-up for the TCT’s annual gigs, which will take place next year on March 15-21. She will carry the baton from The Cure‘s Robert Smith who helmed this year’s ‘Cure-ation’ last March; following Sir Roger Daltrey’s lengthy stint as the TCT’s curator, who chose to step down in 2024 after two decades. Manson’s line-up is expected at the end of this year.
Speaking about her guest curator role, Manson said: “To follow in the footsteps of the great Sir Roger Daltrey and most beloved Robert Smith by being invited to curate next
year’s run of TCT shows is one of the greatest honours that has ever been bestowed upon me.
“I consider it an immense privilege to continue helping raise funds and awareness for our all too often forgotten teenagers in the UK who are living with cancer and the struggle that this entails,” she continued. “I hope to curate a fine week of entertainment, calling upon some of my favourite artists to join the cause. I am so looking forward to seeing it all come together at the Royal Albert Hall next year and I hope to see you there.”
Meanwhile, Smith added: “Having played a few Teenage Cancer Trust at the Royal Albert Hall shows with The Cure, it was a real honour to curate the series in 2026, bringing together so many of my favourite artists to perform for such a great cause. The response and support from the audience, in the hall itself and all around the world, was really incredible. Garbage were one of the highlights of a stellar week, and I am very sure Shirley, with her great energy, commitment and values, will do a fantastic job in 2027.”
TCT patron Daltrey agreed:“To have a female musician with a great reputation for quality work is something that’s been at the top of my wishlist going forward. I will always be there for her if she needs any help with anything.”
To celebrate, an official video of Garbage’s cover of The Cure’s ‘Lovesong’ has been released. The band were invited by Smith to perform at this year’s edition, where they covered The Cure – which the band described as a “bucket list moment” (“a song by a band who inspired us to form a band”, Manson added on the night).
We spoke to Garbage ahead of the TCT gigs last March, where Manson told us she “just about fucking lost my marbles” when she received the invite from Smith’s famed all-caps emails to play.
“I’ve loved The Cure for as long as I can remember, since I was about 14-years-old,” she told NME. “To get one of those famous emails from someone I admire so much was gobsmacking, really.”
The NME Icon Award alumni expanded on her personal connection to the cause and how it was “immensely important” for Garbage to perform, having recently lost a friend’s “beautiful young” daughter to cancer.
“I’ve experienced first-hand what teenage cancer can wreak, not just on the teenager struggling to recover themselves but also the families,” she continued. “It’s very, very difficult. Teenagers seem to fall between the cracks of cancer care all over the world.
“It’s particularly difficult for teenagers to wrestle with not just the consequences of the disease but the impact on the rest of their lives. These are ways that might not impact young children or older people. Teenagers are still so vulnerable, their bodies are still developing, their minds are still developing. It’s a very serious and pressing part of the treatment of cancer. It’s very complex and upsetting. We’re very honoured to have been asked and delighted to assist in any way we can.”
Meanwhile, this year’s TCT gig with Garbage saw Placebo play their first gig in two years to support Garbage, who also made a series of speeches during their headline gig.
Manson spoke out in support of the transgender community following the recent decision in the UK for transgender girls to be thrown out of the Girl Guides. “I just find this the most astoundingly weird, cruel and nonsensical drive by any government in about a billion years,” she said on the night.
This year’s Teenage Cancer Trust line-up was kicked off by Elbow before huge sets from the likes of Mogwai and My Bloody Valentine, with Manic Street Preachers covering The Cure’s ‘Close To Me‘ in the icon’s honour and Chvrches debuting new song ‘Conman‘. The run was closed by Wolf Alice debuting new songs and airing rarities during a spectacular finale for 2026.
Teenage Cancer Trust is the only UK charity providing specialised nursing care and support for young people with cancer – funding specialist nurses, youth workers and hospital units within the NHS, for anyone diagnosed with cancer aged 13-24, and their loved ones too.
Garbage return for UK and European tour including dates with Skunk Anansie this summer. Visit here for tickets and more information.