Level 42

Level 42 play Nottingham on 2 December 2026 at Theatre Royal & Royal Concert Hall. Formed in 1979 on the Isle of Wight, the band forged its sound between jazz-funk and pop, starting with instrumental fusion before leaning into melodic new wave, polished dance-rock and unmistakable 80s synth-pop. At the core: Mark King’s rapid, percussive bass and voice, and Mike Lindup’s keyboards and high harmonies, with longtime studio ally Wally Badarou helping shape textures and arrangements.

On stage today, Level 42 draw on a catalogue that runs from Love Games and the early albums to World Machine and Running in the Family, then Staring at the Sun, Guaranteed, Forever Now and Retroglide. The set leans on groove and hooks, tight rhythms and glossy keys, with a jazz imprint never far from the surface. Reformed in the 2000s around King, and with Lindup back in the fold, the group keep the material focused and nimble, letting that bass-and-keys partnership carry the show and bridging their jazz roots with their pop craft.