Twenty-five years after their debut album Love Is Here cemented them as one of Britain’s most compelling new bands, Starsailor are returning to the stage with a fresh twist: a six-date UK tour accompanied by a full string ensemble, arranged and conducted by acclaimed composer Joe Duddell.
The Starsailor with Strings: Love Is Here 25th Anniversary UK Tour kicks off at the historic London Palladium on Friday 2 October 2026, before visiting Bexhill, Edinburgh, Manchester, Poole, and Birmingham. For the band, it’s not just a celebration of their landmark debut — it’s also a chance to revisit the emotional depth of the record with orchestral grandeur.
Earlier this year, Starsailor joined forces with Duddell and the Up North Session Orchestra for two special Liverpool shows, later released as Starsailor with Strings: Live from Liverpool. The collaboration was met with rapturous response, prompting the band to extend the partnership into this anniversary tour.
Duddell’s pedigree speaks for itself: his credits include work with New Order, Elbow, James, and Richard Hawley. His arrangements promise to amplify the sweeping melodies and lyrical poignancy that made Love Is Here a multi-platinum success.
Frontman James Walsh reflected:
“Fans continue to tell us how much our debut album means to them, so we’re excited to be playing it in full for them next year, this time with the added power and emotion of the strings.”
Released in October 2001, Love Is Here reached #2 on the UK Album Chart and sold over a million copies worldwide. Critics hailed it as a debut of rare emotional resonance — NME praised its “real emotional depth” and Rolling Stone admired its “irresistible, expansive melodies.”
The record spawned five UK Top 40 singles, including Alcoholic, Good Souls, and Fever, all of which became staples of early-2000s indie playlists. Its impact was immediate: NME crowned Starsailor “Britain’s best new band,” while Q Magazine named them Best New Act.
Two decades on, the album continues to resonate, with more than 56 million streams on Spotify to date.
Adding to the sense of occasion, Starsailor will headline venues they’ve never previously played, many of which carry their own storied legacies. From the grandeur of Birmingham Town Hall (opened in 1834) to the seaside modernism of the De La Warr Pavilion, the settings promise to elevate the orchestral reimagining of Love Is Here.
Tour Dates
Fri 2 Oct – London Palladium, London
Sat 3 Oct – De La Warr Pavilion, Bexhill
Sat 17 Oct – Usher Hall, Edinburgh
Sun 18 Oct – Bridgewater Hall, Manchester
Thu 22 Oct – Lighthouse, Poole
Fri 23 Oct – Town Hall, Birmingham
Tickets are available now via artist pre-sale, with a Spotify Fans First presale opening Wednesday 26 November at 10am, and general sale from Friday 28 November at 10am.