Image by Ed Miles.
After the recent announcement of their forthcoming new studio album, synth pioneers Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark (OMD) have revealed details of their return to the stage, with the band taking to the road next year, bringing them to Portsmouth in March.
Across February and March 2024, OMD will play 22 dates across the UK & Ireland, including their biggest ever London headline show at London’s O2 Arena with support coming from the legendary Howard Jones (London only) and Walt Disco (all other dates).
“We are so excited to be able to tour again with a brand new album to showcase,” says Andy McCluskey. “It’s been six years since we learned new songs for live performances. The songs from Bauhaus Staircase will fit beautifully into our setlist – we just have to choose which five to play, as we have to treat people to the hits as well!”
The band release ‘Slow Train’ – the second installment from their forthcoming new studio album Bauhaus Staircase – out October 27th.
“Slow Train is a bonkers song and the video is stunningly crazy!” Andy reflects. “It feels nice to be able to challenge people’s expectations of the band after 45 years of creating music”
The new album sees the band’s most explicitly political record and the crowning achievement of their desire to be both Stockhausen and Abba – born from the impetus to kickstart new explorations during lockdown. A broad, electronic, sonic masterpiece that lyrically tackles the topics of the future, it was predominantly written, recorded, and mixed by both McCluskey and Paul Humphreys (who has recently become a second-time father).
OMD have sold an astonishing 25 million singles and 15 million albums, which has established them as electronic synthesiser pioneers and one of Britain’s best-loved pop groups. Their 13 albums include reissued ‘Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark’ (1980), ‘Organisation’ (1980), ‘Architecture & Morality’ (1981) and ‘Dazzle Ships’ (1983).
OMD could easily rely on their back catalogue, performing classics like Enola Gay and Maid Of Orleans on the nostalgia festival circuit. Instead, they’ve created brand new landmark album.
OMD play the following UK dates across February & March 2024:
February 2024
Tue 27th Belfast, Ulster Hall
Wed 28th Dublin, 3Olympia Theatre
March
Fri 1st Manchester, O2 Apollo
Sun 3rd Liverpool, M&S Bank Arena
Tue 5th Leeds, First Direct Arena
Wed 6th Edinburgh, Usher Hall
Fri 8th Glasgow, Royal Concert Hall
Sat 9th Newcastle, O2 City Hall
Sun 10th Sheffield, City Hall
Tue 12th Leicester, De Montfort Hall
Wed 13th Nottingham, Royal Concert Hall
Fri 15th Wolverhampton, Civic Hall
Sat 16th Swansea, Arena
Sun 17th Southend-On-Sea, Cliffs Pavillion
Tue 19th Bristol, Beacon
Wed 20th Oxford, New Theatre
Fri 22nd Portsmouth, Guildhall
Sat 23rd Ipswich, Regent
Sun 24th London, The O2*
Tue 26th Brighton, Dome
Wed 27th Eastbourne, Winter Gardens
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