Starsailor is set to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of their critically acclaimed, multi platinum debut album ‘Love is Here’ with a special tour featuring a string ensemble arranged and conducted by Joe Duddell. This is an exciting new chapter in the band’s story, building on their latest collaboration with Duddell earlier this year. The ‘Starsailor with Strings: Love is Here 25th Anniversary UK Tour’ will be a six date run beginning at the historic London Palladium on Friday, October 2, 2026. Earlier this year, the band marked their 25th Anniversary by playing two special shows with Duddell and the Up North Session Orchestra at Liverpool’s Tung Auditorium, which resulted in the subsequent release of the ‘Starsailor with Strings: Live from Liverpool’ album in October. Duddell’s impressive list of credits also includes work with New Order, Elbow, James, and Richard Hawley.
The original release of ‘Love is Here’ back on October 8, 2001, cemented Starsailor’s reputation as one of Britain’s most exciting new bands. NME described it as “a debut album of real emotional depth… a lyrically deft record… partly thanks to James Walsh’s remarkable tuning fork of a voice,” and Rolling Stone commended it for its “irresistible, expansive melodies.” The album reached number two on the UK Album Chart and sold over a million copies worldwide, including more than 500,000 in the UK alone. Lead singer and guitarist James Walsh shared his enthusiasm, saying, “The response to the Starsailor with Strings: Live from Liverpool gigs and, more recently, the album release has been incredible, so it made sense to continue working with Joe and the Up North String Orchestra as we celebrate the 25th Anniversary of Love is Here.” He added, “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!” Adding to the 25th Anniversary celebrations, the band has never previously played any headline gigs at any of the six stunning venues that make up the UK Tour.
Starsailor with Strings: Love is Here 25th Anniversary UK Tour Dates:
- Friday 2 October London Palladium, London
- Saturday 3 October De La Warr Pavilion, Bexhill
- Saturday 17 October Usher Hall, Edinburgh
- Sunday 18 October Bridgewater Hall, Manchester
- Thursday 22 October Lighthouse, Poole
- Friday 23 October Town Hall, Birmingham