SIMPLE MINDS GLOBAL TOUR 2024
THE BAND’S BIGGEST TOUR SINCE 1985
THE SSE ARENA, BELFAST: 19th MARCH
WITH VERY SPECIAL GUESTS DEL AMITRI
TICKETS ON SALE FRIDAY 8TH SEPTEMBER 2023 at 9am
Following the huge success of 2022’s rapturously received 40 Years Of Hits Tour – and the recent announcement of Australian and New Zealand tour dates for early next year – today 4th September Simple Minds announce the March UK and Ireland leg of their Global Tour 2024 which includes a date at The SSE Arena, Belfast on 19th March.
In the past decade alone, Simple Minds have played to hundreds of thousands of people around the globe, including their largest US tour to date in 2018. Demand to see the band perform well known hits including ‘Promised You a Miracle’, ‘Glittering Prize’, ‘Someone Somewhere in Summertime’, ‘Waterfront’, ‘Alive and Kicking’, ‘All The Things She Said’, ‘Sanctify Yourself’, ‘Don’t You Forget About Me’, ‘Mandela Day’, ‘Belfast Child’ and ‘See The Lights’ has grown year on year, with the band consistently acclaimed as one of the best live outfits of their generation. Referring to their 2022 Wembley Arena concert The Times newspaper said, “back in fashion and on thrilling form.”
Having sold over 60 million albums, and had number one hits the world over, not only have Simple Minds become a must-see live act, they have rekindled the magic that made them a vital artistic force in their early days and referenced by a slew of younger artists. Their most recent and critically acclaimed album ‘Direction of the Heart’ reached number 4 in the UK album chart and top 10 in multiple territories. Reviewing the album, Mojo described the band’s energy as ‘undiminished’ whilst other critics praised the band’s endurance and consistent creativity.
As already announced, prior to their UK and Ireland tour, Simple Minds will headline the Summer Concert Tour in New Zealand – performing in Taupo, Hamilton and Gibbston – and Australia’s Red Hot Summer Tour, playing Mornington, Rochford Winery, Sandstone and Kings Park.
The UK and Ireland leg of the tour will begin at Leeds First Direct Arena on 15 March. It will be followed by eight more UK shows, culminating in a hometown concert at Glasgow’s The OVO Hydro.
More shows throughout the rest of the world will be announced soon. Across the whole Global Tour 2024 Simple Minds expect to play to over one million people worldwide.
“Concerts are the life blood of Simple Minds, it’s where we and our audience come alive and energised through music. Four decades on from when we first set out, this global tour will demonstrate that Simple Minds are still alive and kicking!” Jim Kerr
March
15 Leeds First Direct Arena
16 Manchester AO Arena
18 Dublin 3Arena
19 Belfast SSE Arena
21 London The O2 Arena
23 Birmingham Utilita Arena Birmingham
24 Nottingham Motorpoint Arena Nottingham
26 Bournemouth Bournemouth International Centre
27 Cardiff Utilita Arena Cardiff
29 Glasgow The OVO Hydro
TICKETS GO ON GENERAL SALE: Friday 8th September at 9am
Notes for editors:
Formed in the seventies, and named after a lyric – ‘so simple minded’ – from David Bowie’s seminal 1972 single The Jean Genie, Simple Minds have become one of the most successful bands ever to come from the UK, selling over 60 million records worldwide, having number one singles on both sides of the Atlantic, and number one albums the world over, including five UK number one albums: Sparkle In The Rain (1984), Once Upon A Time (1985) and Street Fighting Years as well as the concert recording Live In The City Of Light (1987), and the compilation Glittering Prize 81/92.
Over the past 10 years Simple Minds has rekindled the magic that made them a vital artistic force in their early days, found themselves referenced by younger artists and playing to tens of thousands of people every year, all over the world. They have been the recipient of the Q Awards Lifetime Achievement and received universal critical acclaim for their recent albums. 2015’s Big Music was described by MOJO magazine as “their best album in 30 years”, and 2018’s Walk Between Worlds saw Simple Minds play their largest US tour to date and, along with 2022’s Direction Of The Heart, charted at number 4 in the UK.
Simple Minds are: Jim Kerr (vocals), Charlie Burchill (guitars, keyboards), Gordy Goudie (acoustic guitar), Ged Grimes (bass), Cherisse Osei (drums), and Sarah Brown (vocals).