Thomas Dolby

Thomas Dolby brings his blend of synths and pop craft to O2 Institute Birmingham on 20 May 2026. A key figure from the British new wave, the London-born songwriter and producer has long folded analogue electronics into funk, ambient shades and cinematic arrangements. His live shows revisit early landmarks like The Golden Age of Wireless and The Flat Earth, from the sharp hooks of his 80s singles to the more soulful, jazz-tinged corners of his catalogue, while leaving space for later pages such as A Map of the Floating City. On stage, songwriting and sound design take the lead, moving between sequencers, keys and stories gathered across studio sessions, film work and collaborations.

Support comes from Martin McAloon, performing the songs of Prefab Sprout. A longtime member of the band, he mines the Sprout songbook with a focused, melodic approach that lets the writing breathe. The pairing makes sense: Dolby’s history with Prefab Sprout runs deep, and this opening set draws a clear line between their worlds before Dolby steps in to connect the dots live in Birmingham.