When Concert Tour?
Simple Minds have announced that they will be touring the globe in 2023.
Simple Minds, a top Scottish rock band, has just revealed specifics of a major 2023 tour. Comprising 35 concerts around the United Kingdom and Europe, the tour will start in late February and finish in mid-May.
Since their 2018 excursion to promote the Big Music album, this is the band's first official tour. Among their many successes in the 1980s, the band is mainly known for "Don't You (Forget About Me)," "Alive and Kicking," and "Belfast Child." Though they have been busy recording and playing live in the last ten years, fans are happy to see Simple Minds on a respectable tour.
UK and Ireland Dates
It begins with a run of performances in Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Tour dates start on February 24 in Hull with a show. From then, Simple Minds visits big cities such as London, Birmingham, Manchester, Glasgow, and others.
Among the most well-known events scheduled in the UK are those at the SSE Hydro in Glasgow on April 1 and the Royal Albert Hall in London on March 18. Early April will see the Ireland part of the tour with dates in Belfast, Dublin, and Cork. Simple Minds considers these markets to be their second home as the band members are from Scotland. People want to groove to both old and modern tunes.
Mainland Europe Shows
Following the UK and Ireland leg, Simple Minds proceed with their tour in mainland Europe. The continental tour is set to start on April 21st at the Forest National in Brussels, Belgium. In the following month, they will be touring the Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Italy, Switzerland, and France.
Some notable events that were held in Europe are the concert on the 27th of April in Amsterdam, on the 9th of May the band performed in Milan Italy, followed by a show at the Olympia venue in Paris on the 12 of May. Simple Minds have always been popular across the whole of Europe so one can only imagine that these concerts will be lively. Their anthemic songs can be easily marketed in different countries and cultures.
Possible North American Dates
The details have not been disclosed, but insiders suggest that perhaps, later in the current year, there might be a second leg in North America. If that happens, Simple Minds will perform both at theaters and arenas in the major US and Canadian cities.
They have not toured North America as a complete tour for several years now. In 2015, they embarked on a successful co-headlining tour with The Psychedelic Furs. A return trek would allow the band to come back to their loyal fans and maybe engage with those who saw their songs in movies or TV shows. Just to play songs such as ‘Don’t You (Forget About Me)” live would be great.
What songs are they playing?
They have recorded over 20 albums to date since their debut in 1979 with the album Life in a Day. As of now, there are no details of what specific songs will be featured in the setlists but at most of the 2023 concerts, one could anticipate the band's popular radio hits. It’s “Don’t You (Forget About Me),” “Alive and Kicking,” “Sanctify Yourself,” “Waterfront,” and the rest.
As for the longtime fans, they do not forget that Simple Minds concerts always include new songs and the band’s latest material. The band’s most recent album is Walk Between Worlds released in 2018. Songs from that record and Big Music that came out in 2014 should be included in setlists as well. The combination of popular songs, old favorites, and current material keeps the audience interested and satisfied.
Which Performers Are in the Current Lineup?
Simple Mind's lineup has evolved over the decades; however, Jim Kerr on vocals and Charlie Burchill on instruments are still part of the band. The group was first formed in Glasgow in 1977. Kerr and Burchill are considered the leaders of the band as they both write songs and contribute to the band’s distinctive style.
The rest of the members include drummer Cherisse Osei, bassist Ged Grimes, and keyboardist Sarah Brown. This is a compact ensemble of five musicians who have been acting together since 2015. They work it out very well in terms of chemistry and musicianship as well to make sure that the energetic levels are maintained throughout their concerts. Having Kerr’s distinctive voice at the forefront, audiences are set to witness a performance that encapsulates the essence of Simple Minds.
Why 2023?
But why did Simple Minds embark on this massive tour in 2023? The following year would be significant in several ways for the band. 2023 also marks 40 years since the production of their debut album, Life in a Day. Their successful album Once Upon a Time will also be celebrating its 35th anniversary next year. Perhaps the biggest one is that their iconic song ‘Don’t You (Forget About Me)’ will celebrate its 40th birthday in 2023.
These milestones make next year the opportune time for Simple Minds to go back on tour. The anniversary framing enables them to look back and move forward in equal measure, thus presenting new material. It presents itself as an exciting combination between reminiscing and their work beyond it. Considering how active the band is on the stage and how much the fans love them, of course, these performances will also produce some new legendary moments.
How to Get Tickets
Tickets to Simple Minds’ 2023 tour will probably be available for purchase from the public in the last quarter of 2022 or early 2023. As for fans, they should look forward to pre-sales for those who sign up to the band’s mailing list and other platforms in the preceding weeks. Once sales commence, tickets will be sold directly on the band’s website as well as all standard ticket selling platforms.
There will be high demand and fans are advised to prepare for ticket purchasing, especially for such shows as London and Glasgow. Tickets prices will depend on the market though most of the arena shows will probably cost between £50 and £100. It might begin at a lower level for more intimate theater going and specific festival bookings. Considering Simple Minds’ current popularity and that this is their first proper tour in years, these 2023 concerts are something that fans of the band and newcomers should not skip out on.
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