Ahead of the 35th anniversary of their classic album ‘Pills ‘n’ Thrills And Bellyaches’, the Happy Mondays have confirmed a 22-date tour for 2026, including a show at the Cambridge Corn Exchange.
The band became the pioneers of the Madchester sound after signing to Tony Wilson’s Factory Records in the late ‘80s, blending their love of funk, rock, psychedelia and house with the sounds of the UK’s emerging rave scene.
They were hailed as icons of Britain’s biggest cultural phenomenon for a generation when they crossed over into the mainstream with ‘Pills 'n' Thrills And Bellyaches’, which reached number four in the UK Albums Chart following its release in November 1990.
It remained on the albums chart until the end of May 1991, establishing itself as one of the decade’s defining albums.
The Happy Mondays’ reputation as one of Britain’s most influential and loved bands was recognised in 2016 when they won the Ivor Novello Inspiration Award.
At the Cambridge gig, on March 26, Happy Mondays frontman Shaun Ryder, Bez (freaky dancing and percussion), Mark Day (guitar), Gary Whelan (drums), Dan Broad (MD/guitar/keys) and Firouzeh Berry (backing vocals) will perform the album’s highlights.
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This will include the massive hit singles, ‘Step On’, ‘Kinky Afro’ and ‘Loose Fit’, in addition to other hits and fan favourites, such as ‘24 Hour Party People’, ‘Hallelujah’, ‘Judge Fudge’ and ‘W.F.L.’.
Joining the tour as special guests are The Farm and Northside, who were both on the bill for the Happy Mondays’ legendary 1991 concert at Elland Road in Leeds.
The Farm made their breakthrough in 1990, with the first of their nine Top 40 singles being the huge hits ‘Groovy Train’ and ‘All Together Now’, both of which featured on debut album ‘Spartacus’, which topped the Official UK Albums Chart following its release in March 1991.
Completing the bill will be the Happy Mondays’ fellow Mancunians and former Factory Records labelmates Northside, whose association with the burgeoning Madchester scene was cemented when their singles ‘Shall We Take A Trip’ (which was banned by the BBC for its references to LSD), ‘My Rising Star’ and ‘Take 5’ all made the UK Top 50 Singles Chart in 1990.
The following year, Northside’s debut album ‘Chicken Rhythms’ reached number 19 in the UK Albums Chart.
Tickets will be available from the websites for the band and venue.
A venue pre-sale will take place on Wednesday, before going on general sale on Friday September 19.
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