With Taylor Swift and Bruce Springsteen leading the way, a blockbuster 2024 beckons for live music. The Mail's music critic Adrian Thrills guides us through the best performances…
Taylor time
After all the mind-boggling statistics and rave reviews, the Eras tour is finally arriving on these shores this June. Taylor Swift's three-hour pop competition is the kind of marathon show typically associated with veteran rockers like Bruce Springsteen or The Cure — and neither has to perform choreographed dance routines in glitzy outfits.
Taylor Swift's three-hour pop competition is the kind of marathon show typically associated with veteran rockers like Bruce Springsteen
Taylor opens at Murrayfield, Edinburgh, on June 7 before heading to Liverpool, Cardiff and Wembley Stadium, where she will play eight nights. Tickets are extremely limited (with resale through official agents the safest bet), although the Eras concert film is available for home rental on Apple TV+, Sky and Prime Video (taylorswift.com).
Stadium superstars
Swift isn't the only big name on the road. After postponing US dates in the fall due to treatment for a stomach ulcer, the fit-again Bruce Springsteen is now back with The E Street Band.
He launches a UK tour at the Principality Stadium, Cardiff, on May 5 (livenation.co.uk).
After postponing US dates in the fall as he was treated for a stomach ulcer, the fit-again Bruce Springsteen is now back with The E Street Band
The same South Wales venue will also see the return of P!nk's Summer Carnival tour, starting on June 11 (ticketmaster.co.uk), and a one-off show from piano man Billy Joel on August 9 (aegpresents.co. uk). ).
Arena pleasures
Celebrating the life of former bandmate Sarah Harding, who passed away in 2021, Girls Aloud have reunited as a four-piece and will deliver a nostalgia-filled show when they embark on a tour at the SSE Arena, Belfast on May 20 (ticketmaster.co .uk ).
Take That, a trio of Gary Barlow, Mark Owen and Howard Donald, will aim to clarify the departures of Robbie Williams and Jason Orange as they embark on a tour at the Utilita Arena, Sheffield, on April 13. Britain's most mature boy band recently released a new album, This Life, but will rely heavily on crowd-pleasers like Shine and Rule The World (gigsandtours.com).
Celebrating the life of former bandmate Sarah Harding, who passed away in 2021, Girls Aloud have reunited as a four-piece and will deliver a nostalgia-filled show as they embark on a tour at the SSE Arena, Belfast
Bedroom pop sensation Olivia Rodrigo kicks off her Guts tour at a new £365m Manchester venue, Co-op Live, on May 3 (livenation.co.uk), while Paul Weller performs in April (seetickets.com).
The Pet Shop Boys are touring in June and Texas has announced an autumn tour, starting on September 5 at The O2, London (both axs.com). Barry Manilow also returns for what he promises will be his 'final' UK tour. He opens at Co-op Live, Manchester on May 19, before bringing the spirit of the Copacabana to the London Palladium – a venue he first played in 1978 – for a nine-night residency starting on May 23 (ticketmaster .co.UK).
Eighties throwbacks
The stars of the decade when shoulder pads and mullets were the height of cool are also back in action.
Simple Minds, with founding members Jim Kerr and Charlie Burchill at the helm, embark on their biggest tour since 1985 at the First Direct Arena, Leeds, on March 15. They are also playing two gigs in their hometown of Glasgow (gigsandtours.com).
Simple Minds, with founding members Jim Kerr (pictured) and Charlie Burchill at the helm, embark on their biggest tour since 1985
On the occasion of their 50th anniversary, Squeeze is also returning. The South Londoners will play 36 shows in the autumn, opening at Sheffield Town Hall on October 4 ( gigsandtours.com ), while The Pretenders will kick off a tour at The Glasshouse, Gateshead, on February 24 and play two nights at the London Palladium ( ticketmaster.co.uk).
Soul girls
With her sixth album, The Glorification Of Sadness, out in February, Paloma Faith embarks on a tour on April 3 at The Hexagon, Reading, and Joss Stone, who co-wrote the West End musical The Time Traveler's Wife with Dave Stewart , is the show's headliner. Royal Albert Hall on July 8 (both ticketmaster.co.uk).
With her sixth album, The Glorification Of Sadness, released in February, Paloma Faith will embark on a tour at The Hexagon, Reading on April 3.
Jess Glynne is also back. The soul siren, whose last album was 2018's Always In Between, embarks on a summer tour at the Open Air Theatre, Scarborough, on June 15, while Ellie Goulding will renew her greatest hits with the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra at the Royal Albert Hall in April. 11 (both live on nation.co.uk).
Indie idols
The Killers topped the charts with this month's career-spanning Rebel Diamonds compilation, but it will be the 20th anniversary of another album – their 2004 debut Hot Fuss – that the Las Vegas band will celebrate at their first arena tour in six years. Brandon Flowers and Co. opens on June 18 with the first of four nights at Co-op Live, Manchester (ticketmaster.co.uk).
The Killers topped the charts with this month's career-spanning Rebel Diamonds compilation, but it will mark the 20th anniversary of another album: their 2004 debut Hot Fuss.
Another group celebrating a 20th anniversary next year is Keane, whose BRIT-winning debut, Hopes And Fears, was also released in 2004. The East Sussex band will play seven UK shows, starting at First Direct Arena, Leeds, on May 3 (ticketmaster. co.uk). And The 1975 begin a tour at OVO Hydro, Glasgow (livenation.co.uk) on February 8.
Dance and Rap
Fresh from the opening of the BBC Sports Personality Of The Year show, DJ Pete Tong and conductor Jules Buckley take their spectacular Ibiza Classics on tour again, adding orchestral stylings to vintage dance tunes.
DJ Pete Tong (photo) and conductor Jules Buckley are taking their spectacular Ibiza Classics on tour again
They will play outdoor shows next summer before embarking on a winter tour at P&J Live, Aberdeen (gigsandtours.com) on December 4.
Twice crowned Best Dance Act at the BRITs, Becky Hill kicks off her autumn tour at OVO Hydro, Glasgow, on October 12 (livenation.co.uk), while female rappers Nicki Minaj and Doja Cat are also on tour. Minaj launches her Pink Friday 2 tour at Co-op Live, Manchester, on May 25. Doja Cat starts her Scarlet tour at OVO Hydro, Glasgow, on June 11 (both livenation.co.uk).
Happy Glampers
The line-up for Glastonbury in June is not yet known – Coldplay, Dua Lipa and Springsteen are mentioned as headliners – but other festivals have shown their hand, with Duran Duran, London Grammar and Rick Astley at Latitude in July (latitude festival. com), and Lana Del Rey, Liam Gallagher and Raye in Reading and Leeds in August (reading andleedsfestival.com).
The line-up for June's Glastonbury is still under wraps – Coldplay, Dua Lipa and Springsteen are listed as headliners – but other festivals have shown their hand
The Prodigy, Green Day and Suede play the Isle Of Wight in June (isleofwightfestival.com), and Robbie Williams and Andrea Bocelli top the bill at BST Hyde Park in July (bst-hydepark.com). Of the smaller events, Nocturne Live, at Blenheim Palace in June, has an impressive female cast, with Chaka Khan, Sister Sledge, the Sugababes and Mel C (nocturnelive.com).