Pop fans have a whole host of live shows to add to their gig-going diaries for 2024 as a raft of new tours are announced.
Kenny Thomas – also interviewed in this issue on page 18 – heads out on his biggest theatre tour in more than 20 years. The blue-eyed soul star and Thinking About Your Love hitmaker said: “Live gigs are one of the most enjoyable aspects of being a musician and it’s where my fans come together for a night of soul music and serious partying. So to announce the HIM 2024 tour is really exciting for me and the band. It’s also an opportunity for us to play songs from my third album HIM, which was never commercially released.” Thomas’ nine-date UK jaunt sees him visit cities including Edinburgh, York, Bristol and Portsmouth.
Also keeping the soul music flag flying, Imagination’s Leee John is marking 40 years of the band with the 10-date Flashback Greatest Hits 2024 Tour. Kicking off at Glasgow’s Saint Luke’s on 8 May, the tour includes shows at London’s Indigo2 on 11 May and concludes at Manchester’s RNCM on 19 May. The tour is part of a variety of anniversary celebrations for the singer, which has included the release of the 189-track 17CD 40 Years boxset. A live album recorded at the Olympia in Paris last year is promised by John, too.
Also in reflective mode are Classic Pop favourites Blancmange with Neil Arthur unveiling his first ever Best Of tour in 2024. Beginning in Newcastle on 16 May, the 11-date tour will head to a string of major cities across the UK and include a show at London’s Islington Assembly Hall as well as a Scottish date in Glasgow.
Elsewhere, Wet Wet Wet and Go West are joining forces for the much-anticipated co-headlining 12-date Best Of Both Worlds tour, which runs from 21 January to 7 February 2024 and traverses England, Wales and Scotland.
Wet Wet Wet bassist Graeme Clark commented: “This is a first for us, it’s our debut co-headline tour and we are super vibed about it. It’s always great to be on the road and this will be something special.”
The band’s new frontman Kevin Simm adds: “Go West are great guys and their hits speak for themselves. Being a vocalist, I’ve always greatly admired Peter Cox’s unique tone and soul so I’m looking forward to hearing it every night on the tour.”
For more details on the shows, visit ticketma
