New Year lull getting you down? Don’t let it affect your mood for the upcoming year – there are gonna be plenty of unmissable live moments over the next 12 months. From rising stars to established legends, get excited about the tours not to miss in 2019 below.
Panic! At The Disco
Why you should go: While they’ve always been an incredible live band, the emo titans have come on in spades since they emerged in 2004. Now, they’re experts at putting on phenomenal pop shows in enormodome venues, so expect these shows to be nothing short of euphoric masterclasses in arena theatrics.
Dates: Glasgow, SSE Hydro (March 24); Cardiff, Motorpoint Arena (25); Birmingham, Arena (26); London, The o2 (28, 29); Manchester, Arena (30).
Bastille
Why you should go: At long last, their third album ‘Doom Days’ will be with us this year and, when it comes out, they won’t be playing venues anywhere near this small for a long time. If you’re lucky, they might even give you a sneak peek of a track or two as well.
Dates: Dublin, Olympia Theatre (January 27); Birmingham, o2 Academy (29, 30); Brighton, Centre (February 1); Manchester, o2 Victoria Warehouse (3, 4); Glasgow, o2 Academy (6, 7); London, o2 Academy Brixton (9, 10).
Ariana Grande
Why you should go: Manchester fans will be getting a very special show that’s still to be announced but the rest of the UK will also get to enjoy Ariana’s pop spectacular this summer. By then, she’ll hopefully have shared new album ‘Thank U Next’ with the world but, if not, at least you can scream along to the title track with thousands of people for what promises to be one of the most feel-good moments of the year.
Dates: London, The o2 (August 17, 19, 20); Birmingham, Arena (September 14, 15); Glasgow, SSE Hydro (17); Sheffield, FlyDSA Arena (19); Dublin, 3Arena (22, 23); Manchester TBA.
Slowthai
Why you should go: He’s the rap-punk upstart everyone’s talking about and a master of uncompromising and chaotic performance. Let Slaves’ Laurie Vincent state his case for him: “Everyone’s trying to throw him in a box, and what I love about him is that you can’t. His on-stage physicality throws back to GG Allin, but in a more positive way obviously.”
Dates: Glasgow, SWG3 Studio Warehouse (March 26); Birmingham, o2 Institute (27); Manchester, o2 Ritz (28); Bristol, SWX (29); Brighton, Concorde 2 (31); London, York Hall (April 1).
Florence + The Machine
Why you should go: Her shows are full of grace, theatrics, and emotion and this big gig as part of Barclaycard’s British Summer Time will be a big, beautiful celebration of last year’s stellar ‘High As Hope’ album.
Dates: London, British Summer Time in Hyde Park (July 13).
Elton John
Why you should go: Because he’s a living legend and these are some of your last chances to see him on the stage. Yes, his farewell tour stretches until 2021 but that doesn’t mean you should put off going – the show is a nostalgic, warm lookback over Elton’s long, illustrious career, delivered with all the pizazz you’d expect.
Dates: Hove, 1st Central County Ground (June 9); Cardiff, Cardiff City Stadium (15).
Idles
Why you should go: One of last year’s fastest rising bands don’t look like slowing down anytime soon and that’s a good thing for us. Their live show is so full of pure joy, whether you’re in the thick of the bouncing pit or stood on the sides, that it’s impossible to leave without a smile on your face.
Dates: Sheffield, The Leadmill (March 26); Cardiff, Tramshed (27); Norwich, Nick Rayns LCR UEA (28); Brighton, Dome Concert Hall (29); Belfast, Empire Music Hall (April 1); Dublin, Vicar Street (2); Manchester, Albert Hall (3); London, Electric Ballroom (4, 5).
Fleetwood Mac
Childish Gambino
Why you should go: These could be your last ever opportunities to see Donald Glover perform under his rap alter-ego Childish Gambino – he’s heavily suggested he’s ready to quit touring many times in the last year. He’s a firecracker of a performer, too, so you’ll only regret not catching him.
Dates: London, The o2 (March 24, 25)
Billie Eilish
Why you should go: In 2017, we called the Californian teen the “future of pop” and she looks set to prove us right. Expect her to deliver her trap-laced pop stunners with an air of effortless cool that’ll reassure you the world is hers for the taking.
Dates: Manchester, Academy (February 27); Glasgow, SWG3 Studio (28); Birmingham, o2 Institute (March 2); London, o2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire (4, 5, 6).
James Blake
Why you should go: While the guests that feature on ‘Assume Form’ (Travis Scott, Rosalía etc) probably won’t join the producer on stage, he can more than hold his own on these big stages. Get ready for a night of intriguing and inventive electronic tunes.
Dates: Manchester, o2 Victoria Warehouse (April 7); Bristol, o2 Academy (9); London, Eventim Apollo (18)
Robyn
Why you should go: Because nothing beats dancing to ‘Dancing On My Own’ not by yourself, but with all your mates and a ton of strangers all driven by the same goal – to kneel at the altar of Robyn, queen of the sad banger.
Dates: London, Alexandra Palace (April 12, 13)
Spice Girls
Why you should go: The jury is out on whether this reunion will actually be any good or not, but it’s definitely guaranteed to let you relive your childhood. In these dark times, who doesn’t want to go back to the ‘90s, when everything seemed a lot more hopeful and generally just better?
Dates: Manchester, Etihad Stadium (May 29, 31, June 1); Coventry, Ricoh Stadium (June 3); Sunderland, Stadium Of Light (6); Edinburgh, BT Murrayfield Stadium (8); Bristol, Ashton Gate Stadium (10); London, Wembley Stadium (13, 14, 15).
Muse
Why you should go: Whatever you think of Muse, you can’t deny their live show is always a huge spectacle. This time, they’re exploring “choreographed theatrics” in an attempt to make something more “human”.
Dates: London, London Stadium (June 1); Bristol, Ashton Gate Stadium (5); Manchester, Etihad Stadium (8).
Troye Sivan
Why you should go: The South African star puts on a proper pop show – one with costume changes and different sets, while his setlist varies from emotional ballads to the kind of songs that make you bounce around for hours.
Dates: Glasgow, o2 Academy (February 23); Manchester, o2 Apollo (24); Birmingham, o2 Academy (26); London, Eventim Apollo (28).
