Thompson Twins' Tom Bailey

Thompson Twins’ Tom Bailey takes over The Forum in Bath on 11 September 2026. Fronting the bill under his own name, he revisits the synth-pop DNA that made him a defining figure of the 80s while keeping a clear, contemporary edge. Expect sleek electronic textures, crisp hooks and a measured sense of rhythm, carried by songwriting that favors economy over excess and melodies that stick without forcing it. Bailey’s approach is precise, focused and rooted in the essentials of pop crafted with machines, built for a live room rather than the museum shelf.

Blancmange joins the night with Neil Arthur at the helm. Born in late-70s Harrow with Stephen Luscombe, the project carved its place in early British synth-pop and new wave with dry keyboard lines, danceable patterns and melodic detours tinged with Eastern shades. Revived in the late 2000s, Blancmange now moves in a leaner, more introspective direction: electronic pop stripped to the bone, nervy grooves, and instrumentals that leave space for texture. On stage, Arthur keeps it direct and minimal, focusing on pulse, grain and words that cut close to the everyday. Two distinct takes on the same era’s machinery, sharing one room in Bath.