Haircut 100

Haircut 100 play Albert Hall, Manchester on 9 May 2026 with the lineup that sparked their sound: Nick Heyward, Les Nemes, Graham Jones and Blair Cunningham, joined by Phil Smith and Marc Fox. Formed in Beckenham at the start of the 80s, the band shaped a brisk British pop where new wave, new pop, jazz-funk and Brit-funk meet — bright guitars, elastic bass, sax lines and percussion pushing songs forward.

Their early singles and the 1982 album Pelican West laid down sharp, melodic writing with a restless groove. After a long break and a few one-off comebacks, Haircut 100 have been back on stage since 2023 with Heyward at the mic, reconnecting with that tight, dance-ready energy. In Manchester, expect a set that draws deep on Pelican West and their 1981–84 period, with arrangements that keep the rhythm section upfront and the hooks clear, letting the sax and percussion add colour without crowding the guitars. It’s a chance to hear those choruses live again, carried by the original voices and players who gave this London pop its snap and swing.