Sleeper and The Bluetones announce co-headline UK tour
They're performing their debut albums in full
Last updated 12th Feb 2020
90s indie icons Sleeper and The Bluetones are joining forces for a co-headline UK tour this coming August and September.
Taking turns to headline at each date, the Britpop bands will play a total of eight shows together, kicking off at Glasgow O2 Academy on Friday 28th August and calling in at Birmingham, Newcastle, Leeds, Bournemouth, Bristol and Manchester before culminating at London O2 Forum Kentish Town on Saturday 19th September.
Making the tour extra special, both bands will perform their debut albums in full on the trek – Sleeper are playing ‘Smart’ to mark its 25th anniversary and The Bluetones will perform the chart-topping ‘Expecting to Fly’, which famously knocked Oasis's (What's the Story) Morning Glory? off the top spot in 1996.
After performing their respective debut albums, Sleeper and The Bluetones will each play a greatest hits set. Star Shaped will also be hosting after-parties for all the dates, with an exclusive Mark Morriss DJ set each night which is included in the ticket price.
Sleeper and The Bluetones tickets:
Tickets to Sleeper and The Bluetones’ co-headline tour go on sale from Absolute Radio Tickets at 10am on Friday 14th February.
Sleeper’s Louise Wener says of the co-headline tour: “Our comeback gig after 20 years away was organized with the Star Shaped Festival, and we’ve felt connected to those tours ever since.
“We love the venues and enjoyed playing with The Bluetones. So, when the idea was put forward it was an easy yes… We’ve never played an album in full, even in the 90s.
“Our first response was, I’m not sure we can do it, and then we had all sorts of ideas that made it feel exciting.”
The Bluetones’ Mark Morriss comments: “Playing an album in its entirety is a pleasurable way of experiencing the natural cadences of the record as it was intended, unlike a normal set where the light and shade changes every night.
“These events are always such a celebration, a real joy to play. Nobody takes anything too seriously and the emphasis is always on playful hedonism for a day.”
See Sleeper and The Bluetones at the following shows:
AUGUST 2020
Glasgow O2 Academy – Fri 28th
Birmingham O2 Institute – Sat 29th
SEPTEMBER 2020
Newcastle O2 Academy – Fri 4th
Leeds O2 Academy – Sat 5th
Bournemouth O2 Academy – Fri 11th
Bristol O2 Academy – Sat 12th
Manchester O2 Academy – Fri 18th
London O2 Forum Kentish Town – Sat 19th