'80s Rock Band Announces Exciting News Ahead of 2026 Tour
- - '80s Rock Band Announces Exciting News Ahead of 2026 Tour
Madz DizonFebruary 12, 2026 at 11:59 PM
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Iconic 1980s rock band Squeeze has thrilled fans worldwide with an exciting announcement: the band will headline the Gŵyl Portmeirion Festival in Wales this summer on July 4, 2026, and tickets are already on sale.
This news comes alongside the release of their highly anticipated album, Trixies, their first studio collection in eight years, but composed of songs originally written as teenagers in 1974.
The London-based group, famous for hits like “Tempted,” “Cool for Cats,” and “Up the Junction,” is also gearing up for a massive UK arena tour starting in November 2026, marking some of the largest headline shows in their career. Special guest Billy Bragg will open for all dates, including a hometown show at London’s O2.
Glenn Tilbrook of Squeeze performs on the Pyramid Stage during day three of Glastonbury Festival 2024 at Worthy Farm, Pilton.Photo by Samir Hussein/WireImage (Photo by Samir Hussein/WireImage)
Trixies represents a unique time capsule in Squeeze’s storied career. Songwriting duo Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook rediscovered the original cassette of songs they composed as teenagers in 1974, years before Squeeze’s 1978 debut album.
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“These are very much the same songs that we wrote then,” Tilbrook said, per Best Classic Bands. “The only difference is that now I can teach the songs to the rest of the band. Back then, I didn’t even know the names of the chords!”
Difford added, “It really fills me with joy that at my age we can discover that we wrote such great songs when we were teenagers. I’m very proud of that.”
The album, set for release on March 6, 2026 via BMG, features tracks like “You Get the Feeling,” “Don’t Go Out in the Dark” and “Why Don’t You,” all set in the fictional nightclub Trixies.
The songs were written with the youthful energy and storytelling style that made Squeeze famous, and now finally receive the polished production they deserve, led by bassist Owen Biddle.
Squeeze’s 2026 tour, dubbed “Tried, Tested & Trixies: 53 Years of Classic Songwriting,” kicks off in Glasgow on Nov. 12 and travels through major UK arenas including Blackpool, Nottingham, Newcastle, Liverpool, Manchester and concludes in Brighton on Dec.5. Fans can expect a mix of new Trixies tracks alongside classics such as Pulling Mussels (From the Shell), Black Coffee in Bed and Hourglass.
The band also recently paid tribute to longtime drummer Gilson Lavis, who passed away in Nov. 2025 at age 74. Lavis, a member of Squeeze from 1975, played on all of the band’s first ten albums and contributed to classics like “Tempted” and “Up the Junction”.
Difford reflected, “I was heartbroken to hear that Gilson had passed away. His playing was the deep thread that kept our verses and choruses firmly on the tapestry of our Squeeze journey.” Tilbrook added, “He was so great and inventive, there is no one else like him. My thoughts are with his family.”
With over five decades of iconic music, Squeeze proves that their clever lyrics, catchy melodies, and powerful storytelling are timeless.
Related: Lost ’70s Album Finally Gets Release Date From Beloved Rock Band
This story was originally published by Parade on Feb 13, 2026, where it first appeared in the Pop Culture section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
