Simple Minds are about to hit the road for the Alive & Kicking Tour, marking four decades since their seminal album Once Upon a Time shook the airwaves. This spring, they’ll light up stages across the US and Canada, joined by synth-pop stalwarts Soft Cell and post-punk veterans Modern English.
The tour kicks off on May 16 at the Cascades Amphitheater in Ridgefield, WA, and makes its way through key cities like Los Angeles, Austin, Phoenix, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Toronto, and more! The Once Upon A Time tour wraps on June 22 at the Ruoff Music Center in Noblesville, IN.
To honor the milestone, a freshly remastered edition of Once Upon a Time has also been announced, boasting classics like Alive and Kicking, Sanctify Yourself, and a new addition: the monster hit Don’t You (Forget About Me), immortalized in The Breakfast Club soundtrack.
“Hindsight is a glorious thing!” says frontman Jim Kerr. “Forty years on and it now feels right for Simple Minds to have Don’t You (Forget About Me) included in this classy new nine track edition of Once Upon A Time.”
Simple Minds burst forth from Glasgow in the late 1970s, their sound a storm of post-punk urgency and swelling synth-driven ambition. Led by Jim Kerr, they conjured an electrified grandeur, marrying raw fervor with sweeping, cinematic intensity. Their live performances shimmered with theatrical energy, while their lyrics grappled with the pulse of a restless world, forging a legacy both urgent and enduring.
Soft Cell emerged in the early 1980s as Marc Almond and Dave Ball took synth-pop to darker, decadent depths. Their minimalist electronic experiments collided with deeply felt tales of hedonism and heartbreak. The duo’s theatrical flair and their unmistakable aesthetic hit the status quo like a timebomb. While most of us are familiar with their iconic cover of Gloria Jones’ Tainted Love, they were far ahead of the game with their provocative lyrics and performance art-based videos.
Modern English arose from Essex, their angular guitars and lush arrangements gliding between intimacy and intensity. Their sound, steeped in emotional depth, remains a beacon of early alternative music’s transformative spirit. Their newer work, including the single, Not My Leader, channels their rebellious spirit and enduring vitality.
Tickets for all shows go on sale Friday, January 31 at 10 AM local time.
Tour Dates:
May 16 – Ridgefield, WA – Cascades Amphitheater
May 17 – Seattle, WA – Climate Pledge Arena
May 20 – Concord, CA – Toyota Pavilion
May 22 – Inglewood, CA – Kia Forum
May 23 – Greater Palm Springs, CA – Palm Desert Acrisure Arena
May 24 – Chula Vista, CA – North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre
May 25 – Phoenix, AZ – Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre
May 27 – Denver, CO – Ball Arena
May 30 – Austin, TX – Moody Center
May 31 – Woodlands, TX – Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
Jun 01 – Irving, TX – The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory
Jun 04 – Rogers, AR – Walmart AMP
Jun 05 – St. Louis, MO – Hollywood Casino AMP
Jun 07 – Atlanta, GA – Cadence Bank AMP, Chastain Park
Jun 10 – Columbia, MD – Merriweather Post Pavilion
Jun 11 – Holmdel, NJ – PNC Bank Arts Center
Jun 13 – Wantagh, NY – Northwell at Jones Beach Theater
Jun 14 – Philadelphia, PA – The Mann Center
Jun 15 – Mansfield, MA – Xfinity Center
Jun 17 – Montreal, QC – Centre Bell
Jun 18 – Toronto, ON – Budweiser Stage
Jun 20 – Chicago, IL – Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island
Jun 21 – Clarkston, MI – Pine Knob Music Theatre
Jun 22 – Noblesville, IN – Ruoff Music Center
Simple Minds will also play a series of UK and Ireland summer shows performing their 1985 album Once Upon A Time, along with a selection of greatest hits. Special guests will include Future Islands, KT Tunstall and Hamish Hawk.
27 June at Bellahouston, Glasgow
28 June at Lincoln Castle
29 June at Southampton Summer Sessions
01 July at Trinity Summer Series, Dublin
03 July at Bedford Summer Sessions
06 July at Lytham Festival, Lytham St. Annes *Already on sale
07 July at Live At Piece Hall, Halifax
08 July at Derby Summer Sessions
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