Relive the 1980s in Liverpool in 2022
Whether you were there in person the first-time round or you’re a teenager who just loves the music, the 1980s remain a hugely popular and influential decade.
And you could be forgiven for wondering where the last four decades have gone during 2022 with Liverpool welcoming a veritable feast of 80s acts throughout the next 12 months.
The nostalgia-fest includes the annual Let’s Rock Liverpool retro festival, taking place at Wavertree Playing Fields in July when the line-up is expected to include The Human League, Level 42, Billy Ocean, Belinda Carlisle and Scritti Politti among others.
Ahead of that, Martin Kemp is due at Camp and Furnace in March with his Back to the 80s DJ set.
And throughout the year, you can enjoy some of the best songs of the 80s from the bands and artists who wrote and performed them – with a host of 40th anniversary tours coming to city venues.
They include:
China Crisis – Philharmonic Hall
February 6
Liverpool’s China Crisis celebrate the 40th anniversary of their debut album with a special concert at the Philharmonic Hall complete with a full band.
Guitarist Eddie Lundon and keyboard player and singer Gary Daly formed the band as teenagers in Kirkby, and released Difficult Shapes and Passive Rhythms, Some People Think It’s Fun to Entertain in 1982.
During their career they’ve enjoyed five top 40 singles, including Wishful Thinking, Black Man Ray and King in a Catholic Style, and five top 40 albums along with success in Australia, Europe and the Americas.
Book HERE
Echo & The Bunnymen – Philharmonic Hall
February 14
If you haven’t already secured your seat then you may be in for a disappointment because the Bunnymen’s Valentine’s Day date at the Phil is already sold out.
If you HAVE got a ticket then prepare to enjoy a celebration of the songs that have made the band one of the most famous of the famous musical names to emerge from the banks of the Mersey.
A four-decade career has included 20 top 20 hits (including The Killing Moon, Seven Seas and Bring on the Dancing Horses) and nine top 20 albums.
Adam Ant – Philharmonic Hall
March 3
The dandy highwayman himself rides in to Hope Street in March as part of his new Antics UK tour.
Adam Ant (aka Stuart Goddard) is promising a blistering set list from his nine albums and numerous hit singles which is guaranteed to get the Philharmonic Hall crowd on its feet.
Expect numbers including Good Two Shoes, Friend of Foe, and of course those timeless Adam and the Ant classics like Antmusic and Stand and Deliver.
Book HERE
Tony Hadley – Philharmonic Hall
March 12
One of the most recognisable voices in the business is marking an amazing 40 (plus) years of making music with a tour in 2022.
Tony Hadley, smooth singing frontman of Spandau Ballet and solo artist, will be performing all those New Romantic classics (we’re talking True, Gold and the sublime Through the Barricades to name just three), as well as songs from his solo career.
A special VIP package includes a meet-and-greet, premium seat, merchandise and signed tour print.
Book HERE
Midge Ure – Philharmonic Hall
April 2
The voice of Ultravox and co-founder of Band Aid and Live Aid brings his Voice and Visions tour to Liverpool ahead of Easter.
Ure will be joined by Band Electronica to celebrate 40 years since Ultravox’s Rage in Eden and Quartet albums, recalling the decade of ‘electronics, experimentation, synthesisers and great songwriting’.
Along with tracks from the two albums (including Reap the Wild Wind and Hymn), fans can expect songs from throughout the singer’s back catalogue. And yes, you know that means Vienna.
Book HERE
Simple Minds – M&S Bank Arena
April 16
They’ll hope fans won’t have forgotten about them after their Liverpool show was postponed not once but twice because of the ongoing pandemic.
Now, after originally planning a tour in summer 2020, then putting it off for 12 months, Simple Minds will be counting on it being third time lucky with this new date at the arena.
Expect all their biggest hits from 40 years of making music including Waterfront, Sanctify Yourself, All The Things She Said, Don’t You Forget About Me, and, perhaps aptly, Promised You a Miracle.
Book HERE
80s Live! – M&S Bank Arena
April 29
It’s billed as the biggest 80s party show to tour the UK, and while there are no famous faces on stage this retro concert does feature some of the most famous songs of the decade.
Electric Dreams will perform more than two dozen chart-toppers from names like Duran Duran, Rick Astley, Madonna, Soft Cell, The B-52s, The Human League and the Weather Girls.
Book HERE
Go West and Paul Young – Philharmonic Hall
May 16
Two 80s acts for the price of one? What’s not to love?
This postponed and rearranged show pairs Peter Cox and Richard Drummie’s Go West (formed in 1982 so yet another 80s act celebrating their ruby anniversary) and Paul Young – who burst into the charts the following year with Wherever I Lay My Hat (That’s My Home).
Expect that, plus Young classics like Love of the Common People and Every Time You Go Away, while Go West’s back catalogue includes We Close Our Eyes, Call Me, and The King of Wishful Thinking.
Book HERE
A-ha – M&S Bank Arena
May 25
Another touring show that’s been postponed and rearranged from 2020 and then 2021, Norway’s finest synth popsters will be hoping to finally get in front of the Liverpool crowd this spring.
Morten, Pal and Magne will be playing their seminal 1985 debut album, Hunting High and Low, live – including The Sun Always Shines on TV, Train of Thought, Love Is Reason and, of course, their biggest hit Take On Me.
The album went triple platinum when it was released, and the songs sound just as good today as they did 37 (eek) years ago.
Book HERE
Erasure – M&S Bank Arena
May 29
Synth pop duo Andy Bell and Vince Clarke formed Erasure in the mid-1980s, and they’ve been making music ever since with a staggering 18 studio albums and some fantastic hit singles to their name.
Their latest album, Neon – released in 2020 – entered the UK official album chart at number 4.
Liverpool is a new date added to an already sold-out UK tour.
And if that wasn’t enough, support comes from the brilliant Blancmange.
Book HERE
ABC – Philharmonic Hall
June 27
If all these 40th anniversaries haven’t made you feel old – or nostalgic – enough yet, another is on the horizon in June which marks 40 years since ABC released the seminal smash hit Lexicon of Love.
The band played the album in full at the Philharmonic Hall a few years ago, and now Martin Fry and co are coming back to do it all again.
The Look of Love, All of My Heart, Tears Are Not Enough, Show Me, Poison Arrow…every one of them a classic.
Will there be a return for the gold lamé suit? You’ll have to wait and see.
Book HERE
Kim Wilde – Philharmonic Hall
September 11
Postponed from September 2021, Kim Wilde brings her Greatest Hits tour to the Phil in September 2022.
Featuring singles from 1981 onwards (including Hangin’ On, You Came and Kids in America), the show will also feature a fantastic live band, visuals, and support from Liverpool favourites China Crisis – paying their second visit to the hall in eight months.
Book HERE
Calling Planet Earth – M&S Bank Arena
October 10
Ever wondered what a New Romantic Symphony would sound like? Now’s your chance to find out with this evening which takes a melodic trip through the 1980s.
The music of stars like Wirral’s OMD, Tears for Fears, Depeche Mode, Japan, ABC and Duran Duran is transformed with incredible symphonic arrangements and played by a live band accompanied by top vocalists.
And if you can’t wait to see it, the show is also calling at St Helens Theatre Royal for one night only on February 25.
Book HERE