Eighties chart stars announce massive 40th anniversary arena tour

Nation.Cymru staff

One of the much-loved bands of the ’80s will celebrate the 40th anniversary of their platinum-selling debut album with a UK arena tour, including a show in Cardiff.

Scottish popsters Deacon Blue have announced that they will be performing 15 shows across the UK and Ireland in October 2027 to mark the 40th Anniversary of Raintown.

These shows will feature a performance of the iconic debut album in full, and much more.

Ricky Ross said, “When we made our first record none of us imagined there would be an audience still wanting to hear it played live forty years on. To recreate the songs and the atmosphere of that debut album will be a great joy for us. Although each night will feature Raintown as the first part of the concert, the second act will include songs from all our albums and we aim to make each night a unique experience. We are thrilled you are all still there to be part of another adventure and we are excited about coming to a city near you in 2027”.

Deacon Blue have created a legacy of potent and uplifting songs and their creative trajectory continues undimmed to this day, their last album The Great Western Road gave them yet another album hit, reaching No.3 in the UK chart.

Their roots however grow from Raintown, that first album in 1987, which is celebrated on this huge 40th anniversary tour next year. These songs were taken to the fans’ hearts, and remain there: Dignity, When Will You (Make My Telephone Ring). Chocolate Girl, Loaded, and more. Raintown itself is now a Platinum album, as are the two that followed it.

Deacon Blue have now sold over seven million records, and had twelve UK Top 40 singles and two Number One albums, When The World Knows Your Name, and the compilation album Our Town.

‘Raintown – The 40th Anniversary

UK & Ireland Tour’, October 2027

WED 6 OCT Belfast O2 Arena

THU 7 OCT Dublin 3 Arena

SAT 9 OCT Liverpool M&S Bank Arena

SUN 10 Oct Leeds First Direct Arena

TUE 12 Oct Hull Connexin Live

WED 13 Oct Nottingham Motorpoint Arena

THU 14 Oct Newcastle Utilita Arena

SAT 16 Oct Cardiff Utilita Arena

SUN 17 Oct Brighton Centre

TUE 19 Oct Bournemouth International Centre

WED 20 Oct Birmingham Utilita Arena

FRI 22 Oct Manchester co-op LIVE

Mon 25 Oct London Eventim Apollo

Wed 27 Oct Aberdeen P&J Live

FRI 29 Oct Glasgow OVO Hydro

With hundreds of sold out shows and a cycle of albums running right up to the recent success of The Great Western Road, this is a band with an almost unrivalled catalogue, but also an undimmed creative spark. Whilst Deacon Blue will never tire of playing those hits that mean so much to so many, and are proud to be marking the anniversary of Raintown next year, their eye is always on the horizon for what is next.

The Raintown tour shows will go on sale at 9AM BST on 18 September 2026 from livenation.co.uk

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