simply red on tour uk

Plus very special guests Soul II Soul

• Date 9 Oct - 10 Oct 2025
• Venue The O2 arena
• Availability On sale now

• Thursday 9 Oct 2025 Doors: 6:30 PM Buy tickets + Add to calendar
• Friday 10 Oct 2025 Doors: 6:30 PM Buy tickets + Add to calendar

Event Details

Iconic soul and pop band Simply Red has announced two headline shows at The O2, taking place on Thursday 9 and Friday 10 in October 2025.

"Simply Red are turning 40! We’re looking forward to marking this special milestone with you all in 2025 on our UK tour” says Mick Hucknall.

“Fans can expect to hear all their favourite Simply Red tracks from 1985 to the present and enjoy a memorable night celebrating the incredible journey that we've been on together over the past four decades."

Few bands have enjoyed the success and longevity of Simply Red. With over 60 million albums sold worldwide, five UK #1 albums, 1.8 billion streams across streaming platforms worldwide, and over 1 million YouTube subscribers, Simply Red remain one of the UK’s most successful and well-loved bands. Their 1991 classic Stars was the best-selling album for two years running in Britain and Europe, and all 13 of Simply Red’s studio albums, including their latest release ‘Time’, have been UK Top 10’s.

Mick Hucknall formed Simply Red in 1985 working-class Manchester, and enjoyed early success with first single ‘Money’s Too Tight To Mention’ and the Brit Award nominated album ‘Picture Book’ (the first of 13 nominations, and 3 Brit Award wins). This was followed by a decade of superstardom and global hits. Today Simply Red continue to sell out tours across the globe. Their live show is renowned for its exceptional quality, with Mick Hucknall long-established as one of the great vocalists of contemporary music.

To celebrate this impressive 40-year milestone, Simply Red head back out on the road in 2025, telling the musical story of Simply Red so far – from ‘Picture Book’ to ‘Time’, and everything in between.

Important Information - How to download your tickets on The O2 app

For this show, if you’ve purchased your tickets from theo2.co.uk or AXS.com you’ll need to display your ticket on your phone via The O2 app. Ticket purchasers will receive an email with news and information on  AXS Mobile ID tickets  and how you can download your tickets to your phone. 

If you’ve bought your tickets for this show via AXS then you can re-sell your tickets with AXS Official Resale   which gives you a safe, simple, and fair way to buy and sell tickets.

For more information on re-selling tickets from AXS and other ticket agents  click here .  

Please note:  If you purchase  resale   tickets for this show through any website other than via theo2.co.uk or axs.com, your tickets may not be valid and access to the venue could be refused.

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Simply Red announce only UK show of 2023 at intimate London venue

11 April 2023, 12:03 | Updated: 11 April 2023, 14:55

By Tom Eames

Simply Red will launch their new album with a special one-off show in London this summer.

In what will be the band's most intimate show for nearly 20 years, Mick Hucknall 's group will play at London's O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire on June 5.

Tickets will go on pre-sale on May 2 at 10am, and fans can get access to tickets when they pre-order Simply Red ’s brand new album Time from April 10 via the band’s website ( www.simplyred.com ).

“We’re very happy to be performing our album launch show at Shepherd’s Bush Empire” Mick said.

The 10 best Simply Red songs, ranked

• The Story of... 'Holding Back the Years' by Simply Red

“It’s been 18 years since we’ve played at this iconic venue, and we look forward to performing classics as well as new album material in a very special and intimate environment”.

The show will be the group's only UK gig of the year, before they embark on a world tour in the summer.

Simply Red announce exclusive show to mark new album

Time is Simply Red's 13th studio album, and features 12 tracks recorded with longtime producer Andy Wright, including their recent single 'Better With You'.

The full tour dates are:

• 5th - London, O2 Shepherds Bush Empire
• 9th  – Dubai, Coca-Cola Arena - UAE
• 16th - Sønderborg, Mølleparken - Denmark
• 18th – Werchter, TW Classic – Belgium
• 21st - Pula, Roman Arena - Croatia
• 25th – Nimes, Festival de Nimes – France
• 27th - Trani, Piazza Duomo - Italy
• 28th - Macerata, Sferisterio – Italy
• 30th – Montreux Jazz Festival - Switzerland
• 1st - Lucca Summer Festival 2023 - Italy
• 3rd - Marostica, Piazza Deli Scacchi - Italy
• 4th - Torino, Stupinigi Sonic Park 2023 - Italy
• 7th - Weert, Bospop Festival 2023 - Netherlands
• 8th - Berlin, Zitadelle - Germany
• 9th - Halle Saale, Peißnitz Insel - Germany
• 11th - Kiel, Wunderino Arena - Germany
• 12th - Mönchengladbach, Sparkassen Arena - Germany
• 14th - Bonn, Kunstrasen - Germany
• 15th - Mainz, Zitadelle - Germany
• 16th - Lörrach, Stimmen Festival - Germany
• 19th - Rosenheim, Mangfall Park - Germany
• 20th - Regensburg, Schloß Emmeram - Germany
• 21st - Fulda, Domplatz - Germany
• 23rd - Stuttgart, Jazz Open - Germany
• 25th - Salem, Schloss - Germany
• 28th - Füssen, Barockgarten - Germany
• 30th - Klam, Castle Klam - Austria
• 4th - Murcia, Murcia On Fest - Spain
• 5th - Poblado De Sancti Petri, Concert Music Festival - Spain
• 9th – Zofingen, Magic Night - Switzerland
• 10th - Schaffhausen, Stars in Town – Switzerland

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See more More from Simply Red

Mick Hucknall facts: Simply Red singer's age, wife, children and more revealed

The 100 greatest songs of the 1990s, ranked, only fools and horses: the heartbreaking 'holding back the years' moment at rodney's wedding.

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Simply red announce special 40th anniversary uk and ireland tour: dates, venues and ticket details, latest music news.

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40th Anniversary

Tuesday 30 September 2025, 19:30 PM

Tuesday, 30 September 2025

£86.50 & £97.95

Utilita Arena Club

 our hospitality experiences include perks such as prime location seats, early entry and pre-show dinner.  .

Hospitality Suites

 our hospitality suites  are the perfect place to impress. suites  are available for hire for up to 12 guests.  .

Utilita Lounge Upgrade

  already got your ticket  why not upgrade to our utilita vip lounge and make your experience one to remember.

Get ready to celebrate the remarkable legacy of one of the UK’s most treasured bands.  Iconic soul and pop band   Simply Red   earmark their forthcoming 40th anniversary by announcing an incredibly special UK & Ireland arena tour for September & October 2025. "Simply Red are turning 40! We’re looking forward to marking this special milestone with you all in 2025 on our UK tour” says Mick Hucknall . “Fans can expect to hear all their favourite Simply Red tracks from 1985 to the present, and enjoy a memorable night celebrating the incredible journey that we've been on together over the past four decades." To celebrate this impressive 40-year milestone, Simply Red head back out on the road in 2025, telling the musical story of Simply Red so far – from Picture Book  to Time , and everything in between. A limited number of VIP packages available:-

Front Row Experience (£226.95) includes -   Seated ticket in the front row, Tour Programme, Exclusive piece of Simply Red VIP merchandisem, Commemorative VIP laminate and lanyard and a Simply Red tote bag . Gold Package (£176.50)   includes -   Seated ticket in the first 7 rows, Tour Programme, Exclusive piece of Simply Red VIP merchandise, Commemorative VIP laminate and lanyard and a Simply Red tote bag . Silver Package (£142.95)   includes -     Seated ticket in the first 11 rows, Tour Programme, Exclusive piece of Simply Red VIP merchandise, Commemorative VIP laminate and lanyard and a  Simply Red tote bag . Under 14s to be accompanied by an adult and a maximum of 8 tickets per person.

Ticket Resale Restrictions: 1. Your ticket purchase constitutes a personal, revocable license and, at all times, remains the property of the promoters. This ticket must be surrendered to the promoters upon request. 2. Your ticket/s are sold by the promoters directly to you the consumer. Any tickets purchased by business or traders in breach of the terms and conditions of ticket sale will be cancelled. By accepting these terms and conditions you confirm that you are a consumer. 3. Your ticket/s will IMMEDIATELY BECOME INVALID if resold OR OFFERED FOR SALE unless the sale is through the Artist’s official re-sale channels as advertised, or ticket agent fan to fan exchange (where applicable). Tickets sold via third parties and other unauthorised outlets, including online auction sites, are not valid for admission. The resale of a ticket renders it invalid and may lead to refusal of entry. 4. Ticket sales are limited to a maximum of 8 per person. 5. Only tickets purchased through approved ticket agents are valid for admission. The venue reserves the right to refuse admission.

Parking Information

If you wish to park on site at the venue we strongly recommend you pre-book your parking space..

Accessible Seating

Please give us a call on our accessibility line on 0114 256 5593 and we will assist with your booking..

Safety & Security

The safety & security of our customers has always been, and continues to be, our highest priority..

Tuesday 30th September 2025, 6pm doors

£86.50 & £97.95

Plus special guests Blue

Tickets on sale NOW!

• What's On

3 October 2025

£77.50 / £89.00

VIP packages available at an additional cost. (price incl. administration and facility fee) plus £2.95 Order Processing Fee per order.

Simply Red - 40th Anniversary

Get ready to celebrate the remarkable legacy of one of the UK’s most treasured bands.  

Iconic soul and pop band Simply Red today earmark their forthcoming 40th anniversary by announcing an incredibly special UK & Ireland arena tour, coming to Liverpool on October 3 2025! The band will be telling the musical story of Simply Red so far – from ‘Picture Book’ to ‘Time’, and everything in between.

"Simply Red are turning 40! We’re looking forward to marking this special milestone with you all in 2025 on our UK tour” says Mick Hucknall.

“Fans can expect to hear all their favourite Simply Red tracks from 1985 to the present, and enjoy a memorable night celebrating the incredible journey that we've been on together over the past four decades."

Few bands have enjoyed the success and longevity of Simply Red. With over 60 million albums sold worldwide, five UK #1 albums , 1.8 billion streams across streaming platforms worldwide, and over 1 million YouTube subscribers , Simply Red remain one of the UK’s most successful and well-loved bands. Their 1991 classic Stars was the best-selling album for two years running in Britain and Europe, and all 13 of Simply Red’s studio albums, including their latest release ‘Time’, have been UK Top 10’s.

Mick Hucknall formed Simply Red in 1985 working-class Manchester, and enjoyed early success with first single ‘Money’s Too Tight To Mention’ and the Brit Award-nominated album ‘Picture Book’ (the first of 13 nominations, and 3 Brit Award wins). This was followed by a decade of superstardom and global hits. Today Simply Red continue to sell out tours across the globe. Their live show is renowned for its exceptional quality, with Mick Hucknall long-established as one of the great vocalists of contemporary music.

Website / Socials: https://www.simplyred.com/ https://twitter.com/SimplyRedHQ https://www.facebook.com/simplyred https://www.youtube.com/user/simplyredvideo https://www.instagram.com/simplyredofficial/

Under 14's must be accompanied by an adult. 

VIP PACKAGES

Ticket Resale Restrictions: The following information is to be provided to all ticket purchasers at the point of sale and should appear on all event and sales pages on your websites:

1. Your ticket purchase constitutes a personal, revocable license and, at all times, remains the property of the promoters. This ticket must be surrendered to the promoters upon request. 2. Your ticket/s are sold by the promoters directly to you the consumer. Any tickets purchased by business or traders in breach of the terms and conditions of ticket sale will be cancelled. By accepting these terms and conditions you confirm that you are a consumer. 3. Your ticket/s will IMMEDIATELY BECOME INVALID if resold OR OFFERED FOR SALE unless the sale is through the Artist’s official re-sale channels as advertised, or ticket agent fan to fan exchange (where applicable). Tickets sold via third parties and other unauthorised outlets, including online auction sites, are not valid for admission. The resale of a ticket renders it invalid and may lead to refusal of entry. 4. Ticket sales are limited to a maximum of 8 per person. 5. Only tickets purchased through approved ticket agents are valid for admission. The venue reserves the right to refuse admission.

Set Reminder

Hospitality

One night only, getting here.

Most Liverpool city centre bound buses will call at either Queen Square bus station (a 15-minute walk) or Liverpool ONE Bus Station, which is only a five minute walk to M&S Bank Arena.

For further information on bus routes within Merseyside, you can visit https://www.merseytravel.gov.uk/customer-information/routes-and-maps/

For up-to-date information on all bus, train and ferry services, call Traveline Merseyside on 0871 200 22 33, open 8am – 8pm, 364 days a year or visit  www.merseytravel.gov.uk

For all car journeys it's best to follow the white on brown tourist route signs for the Waterfront. These signs are visible on the major routes into the city. Exhibition Centre Liverpool is situated on the Kings Dock directly adjacent to the south side of the Albert Dock. Upon arrival, the Kings Dock entrance is clearly sign posted.

From the North...

Leave the M6 at junction 26 and follow signs for M58 Liverpool. Follow to end of M58 and then take signs for A59 Liverpool. Continue to follow Liverpool City Centre until picking up signs for the Waterfront. 

From the South...

Leave the M6 at junction 21A and take the M62 to Liverpool. At the end of the M62 follow signs for Liverpool City Centre along Edge Lane, picking up and following signs for Waterfront. 

From the south...

Avanti West Coast operates hourly, direct services from London Euston to Liverpool Lime Street (with a journey time of just over two hours). Other long-distance rail services also operate into Liverpool Lime Street station.

M&S Bank Arena is a 20-minute walk from Lime Street or a short taxi ride. You can also transfer at Lime Street onto the underground Wirral Line trains to James Street station (10 minute walk) or catch the CityLink Route C4 (7am – 8pm) directly to the venue. If travelling from outside Merseyside, you can catch an underground train to James Street station from Lime Street station, inclusive of the cost of your train ticket.

Flying into Liverpool John Lennon Airport...

A taxi from the airport to the city centre will take approximately 20 minutes or the express bus service Route 500 will take approximately 25 minutes, dropping you off within a five minute walk of M&S Bank Arena, while Manchester’s international airport is just 45 minutes away by car.

Seating Plan - Full Arena Seated

This is a full arena seated event. This is a standard seating layout for M&S Bank Arena for guidance only, as each event layout is unique, so please refer to the individual plan provided when booking your tickets online as the actual layout may differ from this image.  

You can find more venue layout plans here.

Accessibility Map

Useful Links

• Merseytravel  (rail, ferry and bus timetables)
• Liverpool John Lennon Airport
• Manchester Airport
• Visit Liverpool  (Tourism website)
• Virgin Trains  (mainline services from Liverpool Lime Street)

Frequently Asked Questions

• Transport/Parking
• Food and Drink
• Smoking Policy
• Use of electronic devices
• Accessibility
• Babies and young children

Our   new on-site temporary multi-deck car park is now open.

Kings Dock Car Park

There are  1450 parking spaces  available in the on-site Kings Dock Car Park, with accessible bays and electric charging points on every floor.

There is plenty of parking nearby too, more information on driving to the venue and parking can be found here.

Book with confidence

We want our customers to have confidence in booking tickets to attend events at the M&S Bank Arena. This includes refunds on tickets for cancelled or rescheduled events. More Information.

Accessibility Bookings

Accessible Bookings

To book accessible tickets please call our box office on 0344 8000 400 on the day that the event goes on sale - this applies to both presale and general sale. 

Our contact centre is open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.

The M&S Bank Arena has recently partnered with Nimbus Disability and The Access Card to ensure customers' needs are met at events. Nimbus is one of the country’s leading providers of disability-related advice and support to professional organisations and is recognised as a leading authority on accessible ticketing in the UK.

To ensure the right tickets are sold to the right people, we will require all access bookers for events at ACC Liverpool to provide us with a Nimbus registration number to qualify for any accessible tickets or discounts available at the time of booking. Registering is free to Ticket Quarter customers with an option to upgrade for £15 to have access to all participating venues. For more information please visit here .

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40th Anniversary Tour

• Date 26 Sep , 2025
• Event Starts 7:30 PM
• Doors Open 6.00PM
• On Sale On Sale Now

Seated Ticket's - are open to any age but those aged under 14  must be accompanied by an adult (a person aged 18 and over)

Event Details

Get ready to celebrate the remarkable legacy of one of the UK’s most treasured bands.  

Iconic soul and pop band Simply Red earmark their forthcoming 40th anniversary by announcing an incredibly special UK & Ireland arena tour for September & October 2025.   

"Simply Red are turning 40! We’re looking forward to marking this special milestone with you all in 2025 on our UK tour” says Mick Hucknall.

“Fans can expect to hear all their favourite Simply Red tracks from 1985 to the present, and enjoy a memorable night celebrating the incredible journey that we've been on together over the past four decades."

Few bands have enjoyed the success and longevity of Simply Red. With over 60 million albums sold worldwide, five UK #1 albums, 1.8 billion streams across streaming platforms worldwide, and over 1 million YouTube subscribers, Simply Red remain one of the UK’s most successful and well-loved bands. Their 1991 classic Stars was the best-selling album for two years running in Britain and Europe, and all 13 of Simply Red’s studio albums, including their latest release ‘Time’, have been UK Top 10’s.

Mick Hucknall formed Simply Red in 1985 working-class Manchester, and enjoyed early success with first single ‘Money’s Too Tight To Mention’ and the Brit Award-nominated album ‘Picture Book’ (the first of 13 nominations, and 3 Brit Award wins). This was followed by a decade of superstardom and global hits. Today Simply Red continue to sell out tours across the globe. Their live show is renowned for its exceptional quality, with Mick Hucknall long-established as one of the great vocalists of contemporary music.

To celebrate this impressive 40-year milestone, Simply Red head back out on the road in 2025, telling the musical story of Simply Red so far – from ‘Picture Book’ to ‘Time’, and everything in between.

The Mixer is our brand-new premium space. With its own private bar, bar tender and table service you won’t need to leave your seat or miss a moment of the action. Find out more about The Mixer  here.

Please note this package is suitable for 18+ due to package inclusions. 

Our awesome Suite Experiences gives up to 16 people an unforgettable time. Welcome drink. Suite host to look after your every whim. Pre-show drinks and dining. Private seats and dancing area.  More on Suites here .

Elevate your evening with our Luxury Experience. Access the arena via our VIP entrance. Sip a flute of the finest Champagne. Savour three courses of fine dining. Luxury all the way.  More on Luxury Experiences here.

September 2025

• Tue 23 Sep SSE Arena, Belfast Simply Red View tickets
• Fri 26 Sep Leeds, first direct arena Simply Red View tickets
• Sat 27 Sep Manchester, Co-op Live Arena Simply Red View tickets
• Sun 28 Sep Glasgow, The OVO Hydro Simply Red View tickets
• Tue 30 Sep Utilita Arena Sheffield Simply Red View tickets

October 2025

• Wed 1 Oct Motorpoint Arena Nottingham Simply Red View tickets
• Fri 3 Oct M&S Bank Arena Liverpool Simply Red View tickets
• Sat 4 Oct Utilita Arena Birmingham Simply Red View tickets
• Sun 5 Oct Utilita Arena Cardiff Simply Red View tickets
• Tue 7 Oct Brighton Centre Simply Red View tickets
• Thu 9 Oct London, The O2 Simply Red View tickets
• Fri 10 Oct London, The O2 Simply Red View tickets

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40th Anniversary

• Sun 28 Sep / 25 DOORS: 6.30pm Showtimes will be released approximately 3 days before the date of the event. Find Tickets

*Event timings issued are a guideline only and may be earlier or later than originally published.

Get ready to celebrate the remarkable legacy of one of the UK’s most treasured bands. 

Iconic soul and pop band Simply Red today earmark their forthcoming 40th anniversary by announcing an incredibly special UK & Ireland arena tour.  

"Simply Red are turning 40! We’re looking forward to marking this special milestone with you all in 2025 on our UK tour” says Mick Hucknall.

“Fans can expect to hear all their favourite Simply Red tracks from 1985 to the present, and enjoy a memorable night celebrating the incredible journey that we've been on together over the past four decades."

Few bands have enjoyed the success and longevity of Simply Red. With over 60 million albums sold worldwide, five UK #1 albums, 1.8 billion streams across streaming platforms worldwide, and over 1 million YouTube subscribers, Simply Red remain one of the UK’s most successful and well-loved bands. Their 1991 classic Stars was the best-selling album for two years running in Britain and Europe, and all 13 of Simply Red’s studio albums, including their latest release ‘Time’, have been UK Top 10’s.

Mick Hucknall formed Simply Red in 1985 working-class Manchester, and enjoyed early success with first single ‘Money’s Too Tight To Mention’ and the Brit Award-nominated album ‘Picture Book’ (the first of 13 nominations, and 3 Brit Award wins). This was followed by a decade of superstardom and global hits. Today Simply Red continue to sell out tours across the globe. Their live show is renowned for its exceptional quality, with Mick Hucknall long-established as one of the great vocalists of contemporary music.

To celebrate this impressive 40-year milestone, Simply Red head back out on the road in 2025, telling the musical story of Simply Red so far – from ‘Picture Book’ to ‘Time’, and everything in between.

Digital Tickets

We are launching Safetix on events with mobile ticketing. For more information on Safetix click here . 

Your digital tickets are unique to you. They can’t be copied, stolen or used as a screenshot and are always stored in your online account, safe and secure, wherever you are.

Your mobile is now your ticket.

Delivering the best purchase experience, digital tickets removes the inconvenience of visiting the box office in person or making a call to book. Purchase via OVOhydro.com or sec.co.uk and your tickets will be delivered straight to your device, when available. Your tickets will be stored in your TM account and can be accessed via the TM mobile app.

No more worrying if tickets will arrive in the post or hoping you get them in time for that important gift. The stress of losing or forgetting your tickets will be replaced with the confidence of knowing that they are stored securely on your device and are available for you at any time.

Transfer tickets quickly and easily to all members of your party, giving you the freedom to plan your journey to the venue. No need for everyone to arrive together or wait for that friend who is held up.

For more information about digital tickets, please click  here .

Accessible Ticket Booking

Customers who wish to buy tickets for accessible positions can do so online via our websites (ticketing powered by Ticketmaster), or by using our accessible booking line on 0141 576 3230 (open Mon-Fri 9am-2pm).

Disclaimer: Please note that Level 3 is accessible by stairs only. Some areas of Level 2 and Level 3 may not be suitable for those with mobility difficulties, those who are not comfortable with heights or those who experience vertigo.

We anticipate you should receive your tickets approximately one week prior to the event you are attending. Thank you for your patience.

• Sun 28 Sep / 25

£75.50 - £228.70

(inc admin fee) +  fulfilment

Ticket limit: 8pp

• On Sale On Sale Now
• Age Restrictions ALL UNDER 14s WITH ADULT + ONLY PERMITTED IN RESERVED SEATS

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Simply Red is an English pop band emphasizing genres ranging from reggae rock, New Romantic, and Jazz. Perhaps the band’s biggest source of inspiration is soul music. They frequently cite monolith artists like Otis Redding and Marvin Gaye as influences, having incorporated many of their recording techniques into their sound.

Before lead singer Mike Hucknall formed Simply Red he was in a punk band called the Frantic Elevators. This project was largely spawned as a reaction to the inspirational 1976 Manchester Sex Pistol’s concert of which members of the Fall, the Smiths, and Joy Division were also in attendance. The group had a 7 year career, but never broke into the mainstream; however, their final single “Holding Back the Years” was a critical sensation and was revived by Hucknall’s new group Simply Red.

Simply Red was assembled by both Hucknall and manager Elliot Rashman. Hucknall acted as the key creative figure behind the project acting in conjunction with a variety of session and touring musicians. The harsher textures and barren structures of Hucknall’s punk group seemed to be flipped inside out with Simply Red. The sound typified by this project was lushly produced and exhibited a certain smoothness heard from artists like Barry White, The Temptations, and even crooners like Tom Jones.

In addition to Hucknall, the lineup was initially comprised of keyboardist Fritz McIntyre and ex-The Drutti Column band mates: bassist Tony Bowers, brass player Tim Kellett, and drummer Chris Joyce.

The band signed a record deal with Elektra and released two singles “Red Box” and The Valentine Brother’s cover “Money’s Too Tight (To Mention)”. The latter single was a worldwide commercial success and entered the UK and Irish Top 20. It also appeared on the band’s studio debut “Picture Book” along with the Talking Head’s cover “Heaven” and a revamping of “Holding Back the Years”, which went on to top the Irish charts and place at No. 2 on the UK charts.

Simply Red’s 2nd studio album saw release in 1987 and adopted a cleaner, sophisticated soul sound. The standout single “The Right Thing” was another boost in the band’s career, reaching #11 on the UK and #26 on the Billboard Hot 100. The band’s shift towards sophisticated pop was becoming even more evident with their cover of Cole Porter’s jazz-pop standard “Ev’ry Time We Say Goodbye”.

By the time the group released their third album “A New Flame”, it seemed that they were striving to take the charts by storm even if that meant risking artistic experimentation. Their leap into the homogeny of adult-contemporary seemed to be an advantageous career move. They scored another No.1 hit with their cover of “If You Don’t Know Me By Now” and established themselves as one of the biggest pop acts in the UK.

When Simply Red’s next album “Stars” was released in 1991 the band didn’t necessarily identify as a band. Rather Simply Red was perceived as the music project of Hucknall. At this point most of the original members of the group had left including Bowers and Joyce who were replaced with Shaun Ward and Gota Yashiki. Despite the major reconstruction in the line up “Stars” proved to be the most commercially successful album of Simply Red’s career, becoming the best selling album in Europe for 2 years and producing a whopping 5 Top 40 singles in the UK.

Simply Red saw their first UK No. 1 single with “Fairground”, which spearheaded the release of their 1995 studio album “Life”. This record became a massive hit as well and was documented as the 4th best selling album in the UK at the time. A greatest hits collection followed in 1996, featuring the Aretha Franklin cover “Angel” on which the neo-soul group the Fugees made an appearance. The trend of releasing covers clearly seemed to work for the group and in 1998 they put out the album “Blue”, which contained revisions of Neil Young, Albert Hammond, and Gregory Isaacs tracks.

The album “Love and Russian Winter” followed a year later, but did not produce any significant hits (at least comparative to their prior releases). Though the group continued to tour they delayed album production for a while (which can possibly be attributed to their expulsion from East West Records).

Simply Red’s next studio album “Home” came out in 2003 and went Platinum twice over in the UK and reached Gold status in many other countries. 2005’s “Simplified” consisted primarily of re-workings of the group’s older material, but also contained 4 newly written songs as well as a cover of Leon Russell’s “My Perfect Love”. “Stay” came out 2 years later, reaching gold status in the UK, Poland, and Italy. One year later the band offered another retrospect of their career, releasing their second greatest hits album “Simply Red 25: The Greatest Hits”.

Live reviews

Simply Red was, strangely, the soundtrack to my childhood summer holidays, not really your typical teenage confession, but it’s true. To be fair, this was my parents’ doing - and something that I resented for quite some time before I finally just accepted the fact that I love the enigma that is Mick Hucknall. There – I said it; I love him, he is one smooth ginger fox. So in 2010 when his Simply Red farewell tour came to the Birmingham NIA, I was there, along with all the family. Mick being the only original Simply Red band member left, it made sense that the name should retire after a final tour but the audience seemed sad and sentimental nonetheless. I, too, was glad and sad in equal measure knowing that this was my first and last experience of Simply Red live. The show reflected this nostalgic tone; the set included all the hits like “Your Mirror,” “If You Don’t Know Me By Now” and, my personal favourite, “Stars;” the audience sang along as best they could but Mick’s slick and soulful vocals rang out above it all. It goes without saying that the musical talent of the backing band was second to none and the subtle, sophisti-pop supported Mick’s voice impeccably. Perhaps the best part of the show, though, was with the last track, “Holding Back The Years,” as a montage of social and political images, news footage and historic events that spanned the same time frame as Simply Red’s career made up the back drop of the stage. - The perfect way to commemorate a hugely successful career in a way that was wholly relatable and sentimental for each audience member, too.

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Simply Red is one of the UK's most recognisable bands who enjoyed massive success globally in the late 80s to early 90s. Fronted by the ginger haired Mick Hucknall, the group successfully merged the genres of new romantic, rock, reggae and jazz into an overall radio friendly, easy listening sound. Years later they continue to tour and although the original lineup may have changed quite dramatically, Mick remains the ever present force and he is accompanied by some fantastic musicians this evening.

Although it is almost thirty years since Simply Red began performing, Mick's silky smooth vocal does not appear to have aged one bit and should he need any break this evening there is a 1000 strong choir ready to help him out with the choruses to classics such as 'If You Don't Know Me By Now'. The setlist is made up of hits and this means the audience feel included throughout as they bellow back the well known new romantic classics. Hucknall is a wonderfully warm frontman and keeps the stage chatter going all evening before bidding a final farewell as the introduction to the much loved 'Fairground' begins.

A beautifully played music concert, in a poorly managed commercial scheme:

Music: 10/10

Mick Hucknall has excelled once again, communicating well with the audience, with his great songs, lyrics and his voice still in great shape. The excellent and talented Simply Red band conveys a great deal of emotion with great musical arrangements, all wrapped up in a tight, engaging rhythm, never boring! To top it up, the sound quality was very good, with low distortion and ear-friendly volume levels.

Organization and venue: 3/10

The Citibank Hall and the commercial production team in São Paulo have done an unacceptable job, selling more (expensive) tickets than the place can handle in comfort and security. Parking lot overflowed, blocking Marginal Pinheiros avenue, people took forever to get in/out. Inside the venue, an enormous crowd stood in all entrances and exits, making it impossible to get a drink or go to the restroom and return. Citibank Hall employees ignored it all and didn't move to help organize people or cars. Police and city traffic officials were also absent, or invisible.

From the moment I arrived at the O2 I had a great experience!

Simply Red were absolutely fantastic, Mick's voice as usual was brilliant the band were fabulous too.

The music and sound and light show were spot on, I was 3 rows from the front in the middle and I had a great view.

The security was good and the attendants were helpful.

My friend and I danced and sung the night away and were treated to 2 encores words are not enough!

Thank you to Mick and the O2 for such a fun and professional evening, heres hoping to get tickets in the very near future!

The show was fantastic. It is five years since Simply Red toured so this show was long overdue and it did not disappoint. Hit after hit was the order of the evening and Mick had the audience in the palm of his hand right from the start. A funny moment was when Mick forgot the running order of the songs. Hopefully this will give them a flavour of how much they are loved and they will tour again soon. It was a brilliant show and was well worth the tricky journey into the Hydro

Fantastic show worth the trip over from the states. Mick’s voice and performance was just as good as when he was young. We would do it again in a heart beat, wish they’d tour the United States, or maybe do one of the wildly Popular music cruises

Wow... Utterly amazing! Clever setlist playing the ballads at the opening then the boogie hits all the way through. Hucknall's voice was spot on. Great to see a band of 30 years plus still delivering its music with plenty of honesty live.

This was about the seventh time I have seen Simply Red in concert and they still smash it every time. The band was awesome, the crowd were awesome, Mick Hucknall was beyond awesome. It was a perfect night at the Manchester Arena.

Thursday 14th June 2016, Edinburgh Castle. Great gig, Mick's voice is amazing and still as powerful and soulful as ever, Band were also fab. All the best songs, real crowd pleasers - would delicately see them again.

Amazing concert! Simply Red are in excellent shape! I was truly surprised how good they sound live! They played most of their most recognizable songs. The concert lasted almost 2 hours. Great experience! :)

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Simply Red is not due to play near your location currently - but they are scheduled to play 22 concerts across 5 countries in 2024-2025. View all concerts.

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Simply Red - 40th Anniversary Tour

Belfast : The SSE Arena, Belfast

Dublin : 3 Arena

VIP SOLD OUT

Leeds : First Direct Arena

Manchester : Co-op Live

Glasgow : The OVO Hydro

Sheffield : Utilita Arena Sheffield

Nottingham : Motorpoint Arena

Liverpool : M&S Bank Arena

Birmingham : Utilita Arena

Cardiff : Utilita Arena

Brighton : Brighton Centre

+ Soul II Soul

London : The O2

Get ready to celebrate the remarkable legacy of one of the UK’s most treasured bands.  

Iconic soul and pop band Simply Red today earmark their forthcoming 40th anniversary by announcing an incredibly special UK arena tour for September & October 2025, culminating in two nights at London’s O2 Arena on October 9th & 10th, 2025. 

Mick Hucknall formed Simply Red in 1985 working-class Manchester, and enjoyed early success with first single ‘ Money’s Too Tight To Mention ’ and the Brit Award-nominated album ‘ Picture Book ’ (the first of 13 nominations, and 3 Brit Award wins). This was followed by a decade of superstardom and global hits. Today Simply Red continue to sell out tours across the globe. Their live show is renowned for its exceptional quality, with Mick Hucknall long-established as one of the great vocalists of contemporary music.

To celebrate this impressive 40-year milestone, Simply Red head back out on the road in 2025, telling the musical story of Simply Red so far – from ‘ Picture Book ’ to ‘ Time ’, and everything in between.

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Sep 27, 2025.

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Simply Red announce special 40th anniversary celebrations

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2023 shows announced

Simply Red have announced 20 summer shows in Europe next year. Tickets for most go on general sale on Friday at 10am CET (or Saturday at 10am CET for the 5 Italian shows) but you can take part in pre-sales from 10am CET tomorrow (Tuesday 8th). Check out our tour dates section for more information.

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Simply Red tickets out now - here's where to get 2025 tour tickets now

Simply Red just announced an enormous arena tour taking place throughout the UK in 2025 . Over more than ten dates, the iconic band are going to thrill British music lovers throughout September - and you can buy tickets right now from here . 

Where to buy Simply Red tickets

Simply red uk tour 2025 dates - full list, where to buy simply red presale tickets.

Simply Red fans have just been gifted something spectacular to look forward to: A 12-date arena tour throughout the UK.

Even more exciting is that it's taking place in 2025 (that's two years away!), so fans can buy tickets and have plenty of time to pay them off, and make plans to get there and back.

The tour, which kicks off on September 23, 2025, will see Simply Red venturing from Belfast to Dublin and Leeds before eventually making it to London's O2 Arena where they will end their tour (with visits to a whole host of other cities along the way).

In London, they'll be playing two consecutive nights to round off their tour in October, 2025 .

The band's frontman, Mick Hucknall, confirmed this tour has been organised to celebrate the band's 40th anniversary, after originally launching into the music industry in 1985 with their debut single Money's Too Tight (To Mention).

Hucknall said: "Simply Red are turning 40! We’re looking forward to marking this special milestone with you all in 2025 on our UK tour.

"Fans can expect to hear all their favourite Simply Red tracks from 1985 to the present, and enjoy a memorable night celebrating the incredible journey that we've been on together over the past four decades."

"Fans can expect to hear all their favourite Simply Red tracks from 1985 to the present" - Mick Hucknall

Simply Red previously held a short presale event that fans could get involved with, but that has now come to an end. 

Now, general onsale tickets are fans' only hope, and they are on sale right now.

Here's all the information you need:

General onsale Simply Red tickets are out right now , after being released  Thursday, September 21, 2023, at 10am .

Buy Simply Red tickets here

These tickets are available to every person who wants to buy them. As a result, they are likely going to sell out extremely quickly - especially considering Simply Red are celebrating their 40th anniversary.

Every single Simply Red arena tour date is featured on See Tickets, but there are also tickets available directly from Ticketmaster here .

Scroll down for a full list of when and where Simply Red are playing arena shows in the UK in 2025:

September 2025

• Tuesday 23rd - Belfast SSE Arena - [ BUY TICKETS HERE ]
• Wednesday 24th - Dublin 3 Arena   - [ BUY TICKETS HERE ]
• Friday 26th - Leeds First Direct Arena   - [ BUY TICKETS HERE ]
• Saturday 27th - Manchester Co-op Live   - [ BUY TICKETS HERE ]
• Sunday 28th - Glasgow OVO Hydro Arena   - [ BUY TICKETS HERE ]

October 2025

• Wednesday 1st - Nottingham Motorpoint Arena   - [ BUY TICKETS HERE ]
• Friday 3rd - Liverpool M&S Bank Arena   - [ BUY TICKETS HERE ]
• Saturday 4th - Birmingham Utilita Arena   - [ BUY TICKETS HERE ]
• Sunday 5th - Cardiff, Utilita Arena   - [ BUY TICKETS HERE ]
• Tuesday 7th - Brighton Centre   - [ BUY TICKETS HERE ]
• Thursday 9th - London The O2   - [ BUY TICKETS HERE ]
• Friday 10th - London The O2   - [ BUY TICKETS HERE ]

Simply Red's presale event has now come to an end.

The Simply Red Presale tickets were only available to certain fans, including those part of the O2 Priority scheme, and those who signed up to the Simply Red newsletter ahead of time.

Buy Simply Red presale tickets from Ticketmaster here.

If you missed out on the presale event, have no fear. The general onsale tickets are just about to come out, and every fan in the country will have a chance to grab theirs while seats last.

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About the Event

Get ready to celebrate the remarkable legacy of one of the UK’s most treasured bands.

The iconic soul and pop band will kick off the 40th Anniversary Tour at The SSE Arena, Belfast on Tuesday 23 September 2025.

"Simply Red are turning 40! We’re looking forward to marking this special milestone with you all in 2025 on our UK tour” says Mick Hucknall. “Fans can expect to hear all their favourite Simply Red tracks from 1985 to the present, and enjoy a memorable night celebrating the incredible journey that we've been on together over the past four decades."

Few bands have enjoyed the success and longevity of Simply Red. With over 60 million albums sold worldwide, five UK #1 albums, 1.8 billion streams across streaming platforms, and over 1 million YouTube subscribers, Simply Red remains one of the UK’s most successful and well-loved bands. Their 1991 classic ‘Stars’ was the best-selling album for two years running in Britain and Europe, and all 13 of Simply Red’s studio albums, including their latest release ‘Time’, have been UK Top 10’s.

Mick Hucknall formed Simply Red in 1985 working-class Manchester, and enjoyed early success with first single ‘Money’s Too Tight To Mention’ and the Brit Award-nominated album ‘Picture Book’ (the first of 13 nominations, and 3 Brit Award wins). This was followed by a decade of superstardom and global hits. Today Simply Red continue to sell out tours across the globe. Their live show is renowned for its exceptional quality, with Mick Hucknall long-established as one of the great vocalists of contemporary music.

To celebrate this impressive 40-year milestone, Simply Red head back out on the road in 2025, telling the musical story of Simply Red so far – from ‘Picture Book’ to ‘Time’, and everything in between.

Why not make a night of it?

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• Relax in your VIP box for up to an hour after the show (excludes morning and matinee shows)

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Simply Red - 40th Anniversary

Join Simply Red on this anniversary tour celebrating this iconic band who formed in Manchester nearly 40 years ago.

Few bands have enjoyed the success and longevity of Simply Red. With over 60 million albums sold worldwide, five UK #1 albums, 1.8 billion streams across streaming platforms worldwide, and over 1 million YouTube subscribers, Simply Red remain one of the UK’s most successful and well-loved bands. Their 1991 classic Stars was the best-selling album for two years running in Britain and Europe, and all 13 of Simply Red’s studio albums, including their latest release ‘Time’, have been UK Top 10’s.

Simply Red - Something Got Me Started (Top of The Pops 1991)

TICKET UPGRADES

To book an upgrade for this event, add to your basket when purchasing your show ticket, or call  029 2022 4488 .

For more information on ticket upgrades, click HERE

If you already have your show ticket, click the links below:

L2 Restaurant Upgrade

Enjoy table service, starter & main course from a delicious seasonal menu. Main show ticket also required.

Pre-Show Bar Upgrade (includes main queue jump)

Upgrade your main show ticket for exclusive access to our Exit 7 bar, with a DJ set and drinks discounts pre-show.