Thomas Dolby

Thomas Dolby plays The Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh on 27 May 2026. A key name from the early British new wave, the London-born songwriter, musician and producer forged a pop approach where synths sit alongside funk, ambient shades and a taste for cinematic arrangement. His first albums, The Golden Age of Wireless and The Flat Earth, set the tone, with songs like She Blinded Me with Science and Hyperactive! becoming part of his signature. Over the years he has widened the palette while keeping a focus on melody, storytelling and meticulous sound design. On stage, Dolby draws from across his catalogue, moving between keyboards and electronics with the ease of a studio-honed performer.

Plus Martin McAloon. The Prefab Sprout co-founder steps out solo to open the night, bringing the melodic sense and understated finesse that shaped his band’s DNA. In an intimate format, McAloon highlights the songwriting detail and harmonic turns that have long defined his playing, offering a thoughtful counterpoint to Dolby’s electronic pop.