Heaven 17 « Penthouse and Pavement »

On 19 October 2026 at The Adrian Flux Waterfront in Norwich, Heaven 17 bring their debut album Penthouse and Pavement back to the stage. Formed in Sheffield in 1980 after the first split of The Human League, the group built its identity around Glenn Gregory’s voice and the production vision of Martyn Ware, mixing electronic programming with sharp basslines, funk inflections and a pop sense shaped by early-80s club culture. For this show, they focus on the record that set the tone: a set built around Penthouse and Pavement, from the social charge of (We Don’t Need This) Fascist Groove Thang to the sleek title track, Play to Win, The Height of the Fighting and beyond.

Heaven 17’s writing on that album wove political and everyday themes into precise hooks and machine grooves, a balance they refined across the decade with The Luxury Gap and How Men Are. Today the project is steered by Gregory and Ware, who carry that original palette to the stage with clear vocals, synth textures and tight rhythms. Expect the album’s arc played front to back or closely traced, with the contrast between penthouse polish and pavement grit rendered through crisp electronics and punchy arrangements, revisiting the sound that defined their early years in a focused live format.