Busted have announced a massive new arena tour to celebrate their 20th anniversary and greatest hits.
The comeback tour was officially announced this morning after the trio had teased some big news yesterday, sending their fans into a tailspin.
Busted’s new tour will take them across the UK this September, including a night at the First Direct Arena on Sunday 17 September.
The group, consisting of James Bourne, Matt Willis and Charlie Simpson, formed back in 2000 and dominated the charts with songs like Year 3000, Air Hostess, and What I Go To School For.
They released two studio albums before splitting in 2005 when drummer Charlie left to focus on rock band Fightstar.
And although Busted did return with two more albums (Night Driver and Halfway There), this latest arena tour announcement has sent fans wild.
Joining Busted on the 20th Anniversary and Greatest Hits Tour will be fellow boyband royalty Hanson, as well as New Hope Club and The Tyne.
The boys will also release a 15-track album featuring new recordings of their biggest hits, including a new version of Loser Kid with Simple Plan.
In a nostalgic video trailer released this morning, Charlie said: “It’s about celebrating what Busted meant to the fans and it’s about us being able to go out and share that experience with them.”
Frontman Matt added: “I think at the end of the day we just wanna go out and play really f**king cool shows. That’s what I really wanna do.”
Reacting to the announcement, one person wrote: “Not to be dramatic but I’ve waited my whole bloody life for this.”
Another said: “Heart palpitations obsessed as a 8 year old, cried to my local radio when you broke up now 27 with three kids down the line still obsessed still tempted to ring the local radio crying.”
Tickets will go on sale on Friday 31 March.
Busted 20th Anniversary and Greatest Hits tour dates
September 2 – Plymouth, Pavilions September 3 – Cardiff, International Arena September 5 – Swansea, Arena September 6 – Bournemouth, BIC September 7 – Brighton, Centre September 9 – Birmingham, Utilita Arena September 10 – London, The O2 September 12 – Bridlington, Spa September 15 – Nottingham, Motorpoint Arena September 16 – Newcastle, Utilita Arena September 17 – Leeds, First Direct Arena September 19 – Aberdeen, P&J Live September 20 – Glasgow, OVO Hydro September 22 – Liverpool, M&S Bank Arena September 24 – Manchester, AO Arena
The Wombats aren’t just still going strong - they’re getting better. And honestly? Long may they reign.
The Wombats absolutely tore the roof off the First Direct Arena in Leeds last night, Wednesday 26 March and what a night it was.
From the second they hit the stage it wasn’t just a gig, it was a full-blown indie-pop spectacle, packed with infectious energy, nostalgia, and a whole lot of dancing.
They kicked things off with “Moving to New York,” and honestly? The crowd was in from the first note.
Image: The Hoot Leeds
Matthew Murphy’s unmistakable vocals rang through the arena and suddenly, thousands of people were screaming every lyric like it was 2007 all over again. It was one of those moments where you could just feel how much this band still means to people.
Despite the massive venue, The Wombats somehow made it feel intimate. The lights? Pure chaos in the best way - vibrant, colourful, and totally in sync with the band’s wild, bouncy sound.
Murphy’s cheeky banter between songs made it feel less like a polished arena show and more like a jam session with a few thousand of your closest mates.
Setlist-wise, they nailed it. “Let’s Dance to Joy Division” and “Greek Tragedy” had the whole place losing it, while the stripped-down version of “Techno Fan” gave everyone a minute to breathe (and maybe get a little emotional).
Image: The Hoot Leeds
Those quieter moments just made the high-energy choruses hit even harder. It was a rollercoaster - in the best way possible.
Then came the encore. If you thought the crowd was loud before, “Kill the Director” took things to another level. Pure, chaotic indie bliss. The kind of moment you don’t want to end.
Here’s the thing about The Wombats: some might say their older songs hit harder than their newer stuff, but is that just nostalgia talking? Or maybe it’s a generational thing?
Either way, they proved they’re still one of the most exciting live bands out there. They’ve still got the hooks, the humour, and the ability to turn a massive arena into a sweaty, euphoric singalong.
Mumford & Sons add new Leeds show at the First Direct Arena to sell out UK tour
Clementine Hall
Two new arena dates have been added to their forthcoming UK tour, after selling out the entire run within two hours.
Ahead of dropping their fifth studio LP Rushmere at the end of the month, the cult favourite folk-rock outfit announced a brand-new European tour in support of the record, including a limited UK leg.
The now sold-out arena run starts in Europe in November before now arriving in Leeds on Sunday 30 November.
The significance of the band’s return can be found in the title of the new album, as Rushmereis the spot where it all began for the boys: a pond located on Wimbledon Common in south-west London where Marcus Mumford, Ben Lovett and Ted Dwane first hung out.
However, the multi-award-winning acoustic-driven British rockers and folk revivalists are now a trio following the departure of Winston Marshall, who quit the band back in 2021 following controversies surrounding his right-wing beliefs.
Image: Supplied
With that in mind, it’s rather fitting that they have insisted that beyond just a place and a title, Rushmere is alsothebeginning of a new phase.
Following an intense period of creativity, the project was produced by fellow nine-time Grammy winner Dave Cobb and recorded at the famous RCA Studio A in Nashville, as well as in Savannah, Georgia and back home at Marcus’ studio in Devon.
The album itself drops on this Friday 28 March and judging by the little that we’ve heard so far, they’ve been well worth the wait.
As for the arena show, tickets will go on sale this Thursday 27 March at 10am.
Best of all, they’re donating £1 from every ticket sold straight to War Child UK – this sort of stuff should be standard for any big act as far as we’re concerned.
The Hoot -
23rd March 2023 
