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Idlewild announce winter 2026 shows celebrating their 30th anniversary
Idlewild have announced two special shows in December 2026 to mark the 30th anniversary of their formation, giving fans in Scotland and England a chance to see the band celebrate three decades together. The Edinburgh-formed alt-rock group made the announcement via Instagram, referencing their debut gig in January 1996, and the news follows a busy year that included touring their new self-titled tenth album and supporting My Chemical Romance in Glasgow.
The two anniversary shows will take place at Edinburgh's Usher Hall on Friday 18 December and London's Shepherd's Bush Empire on Saturday 19 December. Pre-sale tickets go live at 10am on Wednesday 29 July, with general sale following at 10am on Friday 31 July. Frontman Roddy Woomble has previously said the band isn't "massively nostalgic" about anniversary shows, but that such gigs can act as a useful reminder of what's good about the band, as they found with their 20th anniversary tour for 'The Remote Part'.
In short
- Idlewild announce two 30th anniversary shows for December 2026
- Gigs set for Edinburgh's Usher Hall and London's Shepherd's Bush Empire
- Pre-sale starts 29 July, general sale 31 July
Explained simply
Idlewild are a Scottish rock band who formed in Edinburgh in 1996. Over their 30 years together, they have released ten studio albums and maintained an active presence in both touring and recording.
A 30-year anniversary represents a significant milestone in a band's history. Idlewild recently released a new album and continue to tour, maintaining their presence in the music scene.
The band's approach to anniversary shows has been pragmatic rather than purely nostalgic. Frontman Roddy Woomble has previously suggested such occasions serve as useful moments to reflect on what makes the band distinctive.