Between 1987 and 1989 the Happy Mondays played Brighton four times and have been occasional visitors ever since. You can read our reviews of their 2013 show here and 2017 here.
2026 marks the 35th anniversary of their platinum-selling 1990 masterpiece, Pills ‘N’ Thrills and Bellyaches and the Mondays will celebrate this with an all-star show at Brighton Dome, including old pals The Farm and Northside.
Long-time tabloid newspaper favourites due to their legendary drug-fuelled antics, The Happy Mondays have cleaned up their act in recent years and thankfully Sean Ryder and Bez remain in the band and in good health, aside from Ryder’s recent bout of pneumonia. Singer Rowetta Idah left in 2024, with Firouzeh Berry being announced as her replacement in January 2025. With Ryder and Bez popping up on a wide range of TV shows in the past few years, it will be a treat to see them back where they belong; onstage playing tracks from Pills ‘N’ Thrills and Bellyaches and many of their other classics.
The last time The Farm played at the Dome was as the closing act at the People Powered ‘Concerts for Corbyn’, where due to time constraints they were only able to perform one song, but at least it was their anthemic Altogether Now. It’s also the 35th anniversary of their debut album Spartacus and with a full support slot this time, there’ll be plenty of room to work their way through their impressive back catalogue.
Fellow Mancunians and former Factory Records labelmates Northside complete the bill. Northside were formed at the beginning of 1989 in North Manchester by Warren ‘Dermo’ Dermody (vocals) and Cliff Ogier (bass) and Michael ‘Upo’ Upton (guitar) and Paul ‘Wal’ Walsh (drums) joined soon after. They released their only album, Chicken Rhythms, on Factory Records in 1991, which followed their debut single Shall We Take a Trip, which despite a BBC ban due to the song’s drug references, still broke through to the UK singles chart. The band reformed and toured in 2014 and this will be a rare chance to see them live.
With this lineup it promises to be a night of non-stop Baggy bangers so dust off your best 90s gear and get yourself a ticket.
The Happy Mondays, The Farm and Northside play Brighton Dome on Thursday 2nd April 2026.
Tickets and more information can be found online here.
