GIG-ANTIC 2025
Amazing summer of incredible gigs will give multi-billion pound boost to economy – which show are you most excited for?
There are also plenty of nostalgia-driven shows
OASIS, Coldplay and Dua Lipa will help drive a predicted £7billion into the UK economy next year.
The British acts’ huge tours are contributing to what people in the industry are dubbing the biggest year ever for live music.
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The massive appetite for tickets means concerts in the UK will help trounce the £6.1billion brought to our economy in 2023.
And it is even ready to top the boost given to Britain by Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour this summer, which is now the highest-grossing tour of all time.
Leading talent manager Professor Jonathan Shalit OBE, whose company Chosen Music has worked with many international artists, said: “People are embracing the live music experience more than ever before.
“With the rise of social media, many younger people are spending more time online and less time together in person.
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“As a result, the demand for shared, memorable, communal experiences, such as live concerts, has never been higher.
“The UK’s 2025 live music calendar is already packed with huge names such as Dua Lipa, Oasis, Katy Perry, Sabrina Carpenter, Coldplay, Gracie Abrams, Teddy Swims and Billie Eilish, all contributing to the anticipation for what will surely be a landmark year for live music.
“Moreover, record companies are recognising the power of live shows to boost music sales by offering bundled concert tickets with album purchases, catering to passionate fans eager for exclusive experiences.
“With so much competition in the market, artists are being forced to be more creative with their offerings and their performances, ensuring their live shows are an unforgettable experience.”
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Lana Del Rey, Sabrina Carpenter, Olivia Rodrigo, 50 Cent, Sam Fender and Iron Maiden have already helped drive huge revenues with their shows for 2025.
R&B stars including Nelly, Sean Paul, Ashanti and Eve will also be helping to boost takings with nostalgia-driven shows.
Coldplay frontman Chris Martin stops show in Sydney to save young boy in heartwarming
A music industry source said: “Billions have already been generated in ticket sales, but there will be even more added from hotels, travel, food and drink.
“It is becoming an increasingly lucrative market and 2025 will be the biggest year ever for live music.
“The industry is braced for a bumper year.”
Billy Joel
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THE Piano Man will play his only Europe shows of 2025 in Edinburgh on June 7 and in Liverpool on June 21 – his first appearances in both cities for 46 years.
Iron Maiden
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MARKING 50 years as a group, Iron Maiden’s Run For Your Lives world tour includes shows in Birmingham, Manchester, London and Glasgow in June.
Billie Eilish
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TOURING the nation in July for the Hit Me Hard And Soft tour, beginning at Glasgow’s OVO Hydro.
Her final night is at Dublin’s 3Arena on July 27.
Katy Perry
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SEVEN years after her last arena tour, she is back here in October for the Lifetimes Tour, hitting Glasgow, Manchester, Sheffield, Birmingham and London.
Imagine Dragons
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ONE of the most popular pop-rock bands around, they will bring their LOOM World Tour to London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for two nights in July, with support from Declan McKenna.
Scissor Sisters
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CELEBRATING the 21st anniversary of their self-titled debut album, the American Take Your Mama group will reunite for a UK tour in May.
Dua Lipa
June 20 – 27
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SHE sold out her Future Nostalgia arena tour last year and this time is upgrading to stadiums.
Dua has two nights at London’s Wembley Stadium and will play a further two dates at Liverpool’s Anfield Stadium, plus another at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium.
It follows her Glasto headline performance this summer.
Coldplay
Aug 22–Sep 8
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THEY are the first band ever to sell out ten nights at Wembley Stadium in a single year – and they follow six sold-out shows there in 2022 on the same tour.
Coldplay will kick off the final swansong of their Music Of The Spheres world tour with two nights at Hull’s Craven Park, before their residency in London.
The tour has grossed more than £1billion.
Olivia Rodrigo
Jun 24–Jul 1
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SHE only completed the Guts World Tour in October, but Olivia will now keep the party going into 2025.
As well as two rescheduled shows in Manchester, she will top the bill at Dublin’s Marlay Park and is heavily rumoured to be a headliner at Glastonbury.
The singing sensation, who has had hits including Deja Vu, Vampire and Drivers License, will also headline her own day at BST Hyde Park in London.
Robbie Williams
May 31–Jun 14, Aug 23
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ROBBIE will be embarking on a huge tour, 30 years after his departure from Take That.
Fresh from his biopic Better Man hitting cinemas, he will headline Newcastle’s inaugural Come Together Festival on June 4.
Then there will be two nights at London’s Emirates Stadium and concerts in Manchester, Bath and Dublin.
Sabrina Carpenter
March 3 -14, Jul 5
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AFTER an incredible 21 weeks at number one this year, Sabrina is ready to take the UK by storm with her Short 'N' Sweet tour.
She sold out all eight arena shows in Dublin, Birmingham, London Glasgow Manchester as well as a 65,000 ticket headline concert at BST Hyde Park in July.
The Espresso singer's tour which began in the states in September has received rave reviews.
Lana Del Rey
Jun 23-Jul 4
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THE brooding American will play her first stadium tour here in the UK.
She will start in Cardiff, before shows in Glasgow, Liverpool and London, most of which has sold out.
Fans will also get to hear new music from the six-time chart-topper as she will release her record, The Right Person Will Stay, in May before hitting the road.
Oasis
Jul 4-Aug 17, Sep 27-28
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IT is the reunion that no one thought would ever happen.
Noel and Liam Gallagher have put aside their 16-year rift to kick off Oasis’s comeback at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium on July 4.
They then play shows in Manchester, London, Edinburgh and Dublin, and return to London in September for two more shows following a stint in the US.
Bruce Springsteen
May 14-20 and Jun 4, 7
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HE has been in music for more than 50 years and The Boss will continue to bring in the crowds.
Hundreds of thousands of fans are ready to turn out for three shows at Manchester’s Co-op Live Arena and a further two nights at Liverpool’s Anfield Stadium.
Bruce will be accompanied by his E Street Band for the shows.
Usher
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THE American R&B superstar will play ten nights at London’s O2 Arena between March and May as part of his Past Present Future tour.
Busted v McFly
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THE two Noughties pop-rock groups will go head-to-head on a 32-show tour across the UK and Ireland, kicking off in September.
Kylie Minogue
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SIX years after her last tour, the Aussie pop princess will return to the stage for her Tension Tour, in the UK from May to early June.
ELO
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JEFF LYNNE’s Electric Light Orchestra will bow out of music for ever in July, with gigs in Birmingham and Manchester and their final show at BST Hyde Park on July 13.
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Olly Murs
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X FACTOR’s cheeky chappy will tour the length and breadth of the country from April to May before a packed schedule of summer shows from June to August.
Sam Fender
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HIS album People Watching will be out in February, which gives fans plenty of time to learn it before he headlines London Stadium on June 6, and three nights at Newcastle’s St James’ Park later in the month.
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