Manchester-formed Alternative Rock / Post-Punk legends CHAMELEONS will play their final festival date of the summer on 23rd August with a mainstage set at the Beautiful Days festival at Escot Park in Devon. It will be followed a day later by their latest BBC 6 Music session, to be broadcast live on the Riley & Coe show from 9pm. The group commence an extensive autumn European tour in mid-October as they continue to promote their widely acclaimed 2025 album ‘Arctic Moon’. Starting with five UK dates that feature special guest Lol Tolhurst (playing The Songs of The Cure), it then includes shows in France, Spain, Italy, Hungary, Austria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Germany, Netherlands and Luxembourg.
CHAMELEONS return to the UK in early December to host their annual homecoming event, ‘Home Is Where The Heart Is 2026’, over the weekend of 4th-5th December at New Century Hall in Manchester. The first night is a full electric performance with B-Movie and Kahula as support acts, with the second being a unique orchestral collaboration featuring live strings by the Manchester Camerata and special guests Patrick Fitzgerald and Evi Vine. They end the year with a return visit to London for a show at the Roundhouse on 13th December as special guests of NEW MODEL ARMY.
Although signalling a departure from the sound of previous CHAMELEONS albums, ‘Arctic Moon’ nevertheless remains rooted in the same emotional depth, spirit and intensity that has always defined their output. It features seven songs that include ‘Saviours Are A Dangerous Thing’, released as a single ahead of the album, plus longer compositions such as the slow-burning epic ‘David Bowie Takes My Hand’.
“While we’re proud of the band’s legacy, we really wanted to forge something fresh while retaining that profound and imaginative quality we’re known for,” bassist and singer Vox (Mark Burgess) has previously stated. “We think we managed to do that and deliver a very strong record!”
Long cited as a hugely influential act, having inspired the likes of (THE) VERVE, OASIS, INTERPOL, THE KILLERS, EDITORS and WHITE LIES, CHAMELEONS are renowned for their transformative catalogue and intense, emotionally charged live performances, creating a legacy that extends far beyond their four previously issued studio albums. Their widely acclaimed debut, ‘Script of the Bridge’ (1983), has been cited by many as a masterpiece way ahead of its time, and was followed by ‘What Does Anything Mean? Basically!’ (1984), ‘Strange Times’ (1986) and ‘Why Call It Anything?’ (2001).
Their unique sound swiftly gained an audience with its mix of melancholic yet energetic and powerful tunes, hypnotic, ethereal riffs and a potent, timeless lyrical style. They are considered one of the most influential guitar bands of the ‘80s and ‘90s, contributing substantially to the post-punk, shoegaze and indie scenes. Their current album, ‘Arctic Moon’, was released in September 2025.
Tour Dates
20.10.26 - GLASGOW SWG3 (UK)
21.10.26 - LEEDS Stylus (UK)
22.10.26 - BRISTOL The Prospect Building (UK)
23.10.26 - LONDON Koko (UK)
24.10.26 - SOUTHAMPTON EngineRooms (UK)
27.10.26 - CAEN Big Band Cafe (FR)
29.10.26 - BORDEAUX Krakatoa (FR)
30.10.26 - BILBAO Kafe Antzokia (ES)
01.11.26 - LISBON RCA Club (PT)
03.11.26 - SEVILLE Sala X (ES)
04.11.26 - GRANADA Planta Baja (ES)
05.11.26 - VALENCIA 16 Toneladas | Rock Club (ES)
06.11.26 - VALENCIA 16 Toneladas | Rock Club (ES)
07.11.26 - MADRID Sala Mon (ES)
08.11.26 - BARCELONA Razzmatazz 2 (ES)
10.11.26 - PERPIGNAN El Mediator (FR)
11.11.26 - TOULOUSE Le Bikini (FR)
13.11.26 - GRENOBLE La Belle Électrique (FR)
15.11.26 - ROME Largo Venue (IT)
16.11.26 - BOLOGNA Locomotiv Club (IT)
18.11.26 - BUDAPEST Analog Music Hall (HU)
19.11.26 - VIENNA Szene Wien (AT)
20.11.26 - ZAGREB Boogaloo Club (HR)
22.11.26 - PRAGUE Cargo Gallery (CZ)
23.11.26 - BERLIN Lido (DE)
24.11.26 - HAMBURG Knust (DE)
26.11.26 - HANOVER Faust (DE)
27.11.26 - COESFELD Fabrik (DE)
29.11.26 - BOCHUM Zeche (DE)
30.11.26 - BIELEFELD B Movie (DE)
01.12.26 - AMSTERDAM Melkweg (NL)
02.12.26 - LUXEMBOURG Rockhal (LU)
04.12.26 - MANCHESTER New Century Hall (UK) Electric show
05.12.26 - MANCHESTER New Century Hall (UK) Strings show
13.12.26 - LONDON Roundhouse (UK) w/New Model Army
Tickets for German Shows: https://tidd.ly/4x50zMl
Line-up
Vox (Mark Burgess) - Vocals, Bass
Reg Smithies - Guitar
Stephen Rice - Guitar
Danny Ashberry - Keyboards
Todd Demma - Drums
