Thomas Dolby

Thomas Dolby takes the stage at O2 Academy Bristol on 17 May 2026. A key voice of the early UK new wave, the London-born songwriter and producer forged a distinct pop language, blending analogue synths, funk accents, ambient drift and a taste for cinematic detail. From The Golden Age of Wireless and The Flat Earth to Aliens Ate My Buick, Astronauts & Heretics and A Map of the Floating City, his catalogue moves between playful electronics and elegant, song‑led writing. On stage, Dolby navigates keyboards and machines with ease, revisiting staples like She Blinded Me with Science and Hyperactive! alongside deeper cuts, and letting his stories and sound design set the mood.

Opening the night, Martin McAloon performs the songs of Prefab Sprout. The longtime band member brings that literate, melody-first pop into a focused, stripped-back format, letting the craft of the songwriting take center stage. A fitting prelude that also nods to Dolby’s past collaborations with the group.