Ron and Russell Mael to visit Glasgow, Blackpool, Bournemouth and Bristol this June
Sparks have announced a run of UK shows for June 2026.
Following the release of their acclaimed 28th studio album MAD! and the companion EP MADDER!, the band’s recent world tour was rapturously received.
When the band played Eventim Apollo in Hammersmith last summer, Classic Pop’s Barry Page said: “It’s been a veritable rollercoaster ride since Ron and Russell Mael last played here in 1974, but they’ve managed to maintain their mystique, occupying that space between household names and cult favourites. The tight 20-track set barely scratches at the surface of their considerable back catalogue.
“Still mad for it, retirement isn’t an option. At 76, Russell’s octave-spanning vocals are largely intact, and the flamboyant frontman covers every inch of the stage with youthful exuberance, while a stern-faced Ron – who is pushing 80 – still manages his customary theatrical dance. With many contemporaries choosing to rest on their laurels, Sparks continue to not only innovate and inspire but perform to an astonishingly high level.”
Picture credit: Munachi Osegbu
Summer Shows
Now 77 and 80, Russell and Ron will play London Live @ Chelsea Royal Hospital on Friday 12 June (on sale now), Glasgow’s Kelvingrove Bandstand (Sunday 14 June), Blackpool Opera House (Monday 15 June), Bournemouth International Centre (Wednesday 17 June) and Bristol Beacon (Thursday 18 June).
As well as their headline shows, Sparks will be special guests of Gorillaz at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on 20 June. The show will follow the release of The Mountain, the new album by Gorillaz, released on 27 February and featuring the collaboration with Sparks – The Happy Dictator.
In issue 100 of Classic Pop, we crowned MAD! our album of 2025, saying: “Sparks may have landed on a new record label in Transgressive, but happily this was Ron and Russell Mael keeping their formula the same: do what you want, just make it approachable and never talk down to the audience. Slightly more political, slightly more frantic, yet assured as only Sparks can be.”
Tickets go on general sale for the newly announced dates at 10am on Friday 30 January. Click here for details.
Featured image credit: Credit: Ernesto Rogata/Alamy Live News.
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