Sparks

Sparks, the duo of Ron and Russell Mael, bring their shape-shifting pop to York Barbican in York on 25 August 2026. Formed in late-60s Los Angeles, they’ve spent decades reworking song form: art-pop and glam beginnings, a decisive synth-pop turn with Giorgio Moroder on No. 1 in Heaven, then the chamber-like, loop-driven writing of Lil’ Beethoven. Their UK breakthrough Kimono My House and the single This Town Ain’t Big Enough for Both of Us set the template of Russell’s agile high voice against Ron’s structured keyboards and dry, exact presence, a contrast that still anchors their live shows.

On stage, the Maels trace lines across their catalogue without settling in one era, sliding from disco pulse and electronic sheen to tight, orchestrated builds. The set connects early cornerstones to recent chapters, including The Girl Is Crying in Her Latte (2023) and Mad! (2025), alongside the narrative sense sharpened through FFS and the Annette soundtrack. Expect pop that treats arrangement as drama and repetition as momentum, carried by crisp vocals, precise keys and a taste for wordplay.