40 years deep and still running on pure punk energy, Shonen Knife are back on North American soil this summer for a tour that pairs them with 2 of the most beloved acts of the era. Men At Work and Toad the Wet Sprocket join the Osaka pop-punk legends across 20 dates kicking off July 16 at Pompano Beach Amphitheater in Florida.
The routing covers the continent from Florida to Los Angeles, with stops in Atlanta, Nashville, Detroit, Bangor, Council Bluffs, Salina, and more. The trek also features 2 special “Osaka Ramones” shows, Shonen Knife headlining sets built entirely around their love of punk icons The Ramones, at New York City’s Le Poisson Rouge on July 31 and Indianapolis’ Hi-Fi on August 4.
Since forming in Osaka in the early 1980s, Shonen Knife have released over 20 albums and earned the admiration of Nirvana, Redd Kross, The Ramones, and Sonic Youth. Their blend of punk rock and pop, loaded with humor and the textures of everyday life, has kept them one of the most distinctive acts in the game for 4 decades.
Founding member and lead vocalist Naoko didn’t hold back her excitement: “I’m very excited to tour with rock legends. This tour will be gorgeous and I hope you enjoy the chemical reaction of these 3 bands!”
She also spoke directly about her tourmates: “I really respect Colin Hay and love the songs of Men At Work. I always sing their songs at karaoke because the melody lines are so fantastic. Toad The Wet Sprocket is also a very cool band. Their music touches my heart.”
The tour also gives fans a chance to pick up the reissued debut cassette, Minna Tanoshiku, available exclusively at the merch table at Shonen Knife’s concerts. Originally released in 1982 with only 70 copies pressed, it’s one of the rarest artifacts in the band’s catalog. Last year the group also released an expanded vinyl edition of 2023’s ‘Our Best Place’, featuring new cover art and 4 new songs.
Tickets are on sale now.
2026 Tour Dates:
July 16 — Pompano Beach Amphitheater, Pompano Beach, FL
July 17 — The St. Augustine Amphitheatre, St. Augustine, FL
July 18 — The BayCare Sound, Clearwater, FL
July 21 — Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, Atlanta, GA
July 22 — BankPlus Amphitheater at Snowden Grove, Southaven, MS
July 23 — The Pinnacle, Nashville, TN
July 24 — Masonic Temple, Detroit, MI
July 26 — The Music Circus, Cohasset, MA
July 28 — The Whittemore Center, Durham, NH
July 29 — Maine Savings Amphitheater, Bangor, ME
July 31 — Le Poisson Rouge, New York, NY (Osaka Ramones)
Aug 1 — Delaware State Fair, Harrington, DE
Aug 4 — Hi-Fi, Indianapolis, IN (Osaka Ramones)
Aug 6 — Grossinger Motors Arena, Bloomington, IL
Aug 7 — Performing Arts Pavilion at The Commons, New Lenox, IL
Aug 8 — Stir Cove at Harrah’s Casino, Council Bluffs, IA
Aug 10 — Stiefel Theatre, Salina, KS
Aug 14 — Remlinger Farms, Carnation, WA
Aug 18 — Silver Legacy Resort Casino, Reno, NV
Aug 20 — The United Theater on Broadway, Los Angeles, CA