ABC add extra shows to 'The Lexicon of Love' orchestral UK tour

They take place in January and February 2024

ABC's Martin Fry
Author: Scott ColothanPublished 1st Aug 2023
Last updated 1st Aug 2023

ABC have expanded their orchestral tour celebrating their blockbuster debut album ‘The Lexicon of Love’ due to phenomenal demand. Preceding their previously announced shows, Martin Fry and his band will play a third show at the London Palladium and a second show at Manchester's Bridgewater Hall.

Brand new shows have also been added in Wolverhampton, York, Truro and Portsmouth. Tickets for the extra dates are on sale on 4th August at 10am.

A Number 1 smash when it was released in 1982, ‘The Lexicon of Love’ featured the Top 20 singles ‘Tears Are Not Enough’, ‘Poison Arrow’, ‘The Look of Love’ and ‘All of My Heart’.

ABC lynchpin Martin Fry has joined forces with Southbank Sinfonia and long-time collaborator Anne Dudley as conductor for a fresh February 2024 trek featuring a performance of ‘The Lexicon of Love’ alongside other hits from their distinguished back catalogue.

Opening at The Civic at The Halls in Wolverhampton on Thursday 25th January, the tour visits Nottingham, Sheffield, Glasgow, Gateshead, Birmingham, Bath, Liverpool and Manchester before concluding at London Palladium on Thursday 22nd February.

Tickets are on sale from Aloud.com

In June 2022 ABC toured 'The Lexicon of Love' with the full symphonic Orchestra to celebrate 40 years since its original release.

The magic was captured at their hometown gig in Sheffield on the very date of release 40 years on. 'The Lexicon of Love Live’ is available now on multiple formats.

A 4-LP/Blu-Ray celebratory edition of ‘The Lexicon of Love’, overseen by Martin Fry, will be released on Friday 4th August 2023.

The package contains the half-speed Abbey Road remaster by Miles Showell and a further three records putting material on vinyl for the first time including the album performed live at Hammersmith Odeon in 1982 and a premiere commercial release of the ‘Special Remix’ of The Look Of Love.

As if that wasn’t enough, Sky Arts showed a very special concert filmed last year for Greatest Albums Live on Friday 14th July.

ABC - The Lexicon of Love Orchestral Tour

ABC’s February 2024 UK tour dates:

JANUARY 2024:

Wolverhampton The Civic at The Halls - Thurs 25th

Manchester Bridgewater Hall - Fri 26th

York Barbican - Sat 27th

Southend Cliffs Pavillion - Mon 29th

Stoke Regent Theatre - Tue 30th

FEBRUARY 2024:

London Palladium - Thurs 1st

Cardiff St David's Hall - Fri 2nd

Bournemouth Pavillion Theatre - Sat 3rd

Brighton Dome – Mon 5th

Nottingham Royal Concert Hall – Tue 6th

Sheffield City Hall – Thu 8th

Glasgow Royal Concert Hall – Fri 9th

Gateshead Sage – Sat 10th

Birmingham Symphony Hall – Mon 12th

Bath Forum – Tue 13th

Liverpool Philharmonic Hall – Thu 15th

Manchester Bridgewater Hall – Fri 16th

London Palladium – Sat 17th

Truro Hall For Cornwall - Mon 19th

Portsmouth Guildhall - Tues 20th

London Palladium - Thurs 22nd

Buy ABC tickets

Take a look through tours to look forward to in 2023 and beyond:

Stevie Wonder

'Superstition' singer Stevie Wonder is on his 'Songs In The Key of Life Performances - 50th Anniversary Tour', including four UK dates starting in October 2026 and continuing into November. He will be playing at Birmingham, London, Manchester and Glasgow.

Duran Duran

Duran Duran, who released 'Free To Love' with Nile Rodgers earlier this year, are performing five dates in the UK, in Glasgow, Belfast, Birmingham, Liverpool and Leeds, they started in Glasgow on 15th October 2026.

The Stylistics

'Betcha by Golly, Wow' singers, The Stylistics, have started a huge tour in October and November. They are playing 22 dates across the UK.

Transvision Vamp

The band, fronted by Wendy James, will play dates across the UK, starting in Newcastle on 6th October 2026, before continuing to venues in Glasgow, Leeds, Cardiff, Manchester, London and many more. They will end their tour in Belfast on 1st November.

Paul Heaton

Paul Heaton has announced he will be going on tour later this year, in October and November. The former Housemartins and Beautiful South singer also announced a new album called 'Jenius', and the lead single 'Favourite Kind Of Idiot'. He will also be playing several gigs over summer 2027.

Tony Hadley

Tony Hadley will be heading out on 'The Christmas Big Band Tour 2026', taking place in November and December 2026. Announcing news of his new tour, Tony told his fans: 'Following the huge success of last year's sold-out tour, The Fabulous TH Band and I are heading back out on the road this November and December for the Christmas Big Band Tour!'


He will perform songs by legendary artists including Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett and Elvis Presley, along with big band versions of Spandau Ballet's 'True', 'Gold', and 'Through The Barricades'.

Del Amitri

The tour, called 'Past to Present - Four Decades of Their Greatest Music', will open at Leeds O2 Academy on Monday 9th November, and wrap up with two homecoming shows at Glasgow Royal Concert Hall and Glasgow Barrowland Ballroom on Sunday 6th and Tuesday 8th December. They will also be supporting Texas on tour in 2027.

Culture Club

In May 2026, Culture Club announced they would be heading out on 'The Singles Tour' with very special guests ABC and Haircut 100. The band start their tour in Bournemouth on Monday 7th December, continuing throughout the month, ending at The O2 Arena on Saturday 19th December 2026.

Jack Whitehall

Jack Whitehall hosted the BRIT Awards in February 2026, and will be going on his 'Bad Influence' tour in January and February 2027 across the UK. The tour will start in Newcastle on 7th January 2027, and will see the comedian perform across the UK, finally ending a month later in Derby.

Kim Wilde

Kim Wilde has announced a 13-date UK tour in March 2027. She will be joined by 'I Think We're Alone Now' singer Tiffany. Kim will start her tour in Bristol on 12th March, before travelling across the country and finishing her tour in York on 28th March 2027.

Gabrielle

Gabrielle will be going on a headline tour in March and April 2027, performing at locations such as Portsmouth, Glasgow, Bradford, Newcastle, Bath, London, Nottingham, Birmingham, Manchester and many more. This new tour will mark an exciting new chapter for the singer, who rose to fame following the success of her debut single 'Dreams' in 1993 and her landmark 1999 album 'Rise'.

Wet Wet Wet

Wet Wet Wet will celebrate the 40th anniversary of their debut album 'Popped In Souled Out' with a 40-date UK tour in 2027. The run is split across February and October, beginning on 7th February in Watford and wrapping up on 29th October in Portsmouth, with one October date still to be announced.


Across the shows, they'll perform songs from the milestone album alongside a set packed with career favourites, including hits that helped define their pop success. Select dates will also feature special guests including Roachford, Nick Heyward, Rebecca Ferguson, Heather Small, Johnny Hates Jazz, The Christians and The South.

Francis Rossi

Status Quo legend Francis Rossi has extended his 'Songbook: Quo – Past, Present, Future' UK tour into 2027. He has announced dates throughout March, April and May 2027.

Simple Minds

Simple Minds have announced a May 2027 UK arena tour with very special guest Gary Numan. The band's 'V Tour' 2027 is billed as a 'panoramic live music experience' and 'an all-encompassing celebration of music across five decades.'

Chris De Burgh

Chris De Burgh has announced a new tour for 2027. The 'Lady In Red' singer will be starting his eight-date tour in Bath Forum, on 6th May, before he visits Bournemouth, London (for two dates), Leicester, Basingstoke, and Harrogate before ending his tour on 17th May in Liverpool.

John Bishop

Comedian John Bishop is set to go on tour in 2027, and the tickets are still available to buy now. John will start his 2027 UK and Ireland tour in April in Leeds, continuing across the country including gigs in Glasgow, Birmingham, Manchester, Newcastle and more. Finally he will end his tour in Ireland on 16th May 2027.

Don Mclean

'American Pie' singer Don Mclean has announced he will be doing one last tour across the UK. 'The Farewell Tour' will take place in May 2027, starting in Glasgow on Tuesday 11th May, before moving onto Birmingham, Bristol, Manchester and more, finishing in London.

Rod Stewart

Rod Stewart has announced a four-date tour for April and May 2027. The 'Maggie May' singer will be starting his UK tour in Glasgow on Thursday 29th April, before moving onto Birmingham, Manchester and London – finishing at The O2 on Tuesday 11th May.

Erasure

Erasure have announced a huge tour for 2027. The 'Radio!! Radio!! Tour' will be starting in Cardiff on Sunday 25th April, and continuing for three weeks, ending in The O2 arena in London on Wednesday 12th May.

Rewind-On-Sea at Dreamland Margate

Rewind-On-Sea, taking place at Dreamland Margate next year, has a huge line-up including Marc Almond, Nik Kershaw, Heather Small, Roland Gift, Chesney Hawkes and Altered Images.

Texas

Texas have announced they will be going on a UK tour in October 2027, starting in Aberdeen on Friday 15th October, continuing across Scotland, England and Wales, ending in Birmingham on Saturday 30th October.

Now read:

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