Thompson Twins' Tom Bailey

On 13 September 2026 at The Bridgewater Hall in Manchester, Thompson Twins’ Tom Bailey brings his sharp, melodic synth-pop back to the stage. Frontman and songwriter behind era-defining tracks like Hold Me Now, Doctor! Doctor! and You Take Me Up, Bailey blends cool electronics with clear, heartfelt hooks. Live, he threads those classics with more recent material, updating their texture without losing their pulse: crisp drum machines, bright keys, basslines that glide, and vocals that carry the melody straight to the point. It’s a focused tour through his synth-pop craft, from new wave roots to present-day arrangements.

Blancmange joins the bill. Born in Harrow in 1979, the project shaped the early 80s with taut keyboards, danceable rhythms and a taste for Eastern-tinged melodies. Now driven by Neil Arthur, Blancmange has evolved toward a lean, more introspective electronic pop, moving between stripped new wave and instrumental passages. From Happy Families to Private View, and side paths like Fader or Near Future, Arthur keeps the writing spare and direct, all texture and economy, drawing a clear line between past and present.