The Sunshine Underground have returned to the stage, performing their first full live show since 2016 as they prepare for a major hometown reunion at Kirkstall Abbey this weekend.
Warm-up in Manchester ahead of Leeds date
On the evening of 23 July the band played an intimate warm-up at Gorilla in Manchester, their first full performance since a December 2016 show at the Brudenell Social Club in Leeds. The set comprised 17 tracks and revisited the material that established them on the Leeds scene.
They opened with "Wake Up" and performed all 11 tracks from their 2006 debut album Raise The Alarm, though not in the original running order. Selections from later releases featured too, including five songs from 2010’s Nobody’s Coming To Save You and one from 2014’s self-titled album. The main set closed with breakthrough single "Put You In Your Place", followed by an encore of "The Messiah" and "Raise The Alarm".
“Well, would you look at this… The Sunnies are coming back together for a special one-off reunion. Saturday 25th July 2026, live at Kirkstall Abbey, Leeds.”
What to expect at Kirkstall
The Manchester performance functions as a final rehearsal of sorts before the band return to their adopted hometown for the planned one-off show at Kirkstall Abbey on 25 July. The reunion is billed as a celebration of the 20th anniversary of Raise The Alarm, which the band intend to perform in full.
- Date: 25 July 2026
- Venue: Kirkstall Abbey, Leeds
- Special guests: White Lies, Hard-Fi, The Futureheads, The Twang and The Whip
Setlist highlights from Gorilla warm-up
The Manchester setlist gives a clear indication of what fans might hear in Leeds, balancing early material with fan-favourite singles:
| Album | Representative tracks performed |
|---|---|
| Raise The Alarm (2006) | "Wake Up", "Put You In Your Place", "Raise The Alarm", "The Messiah" |
| Nobody’s Coming To Save You (2010) | "Coming To Save You", "Here It Comes", "We’ve Always Been Your Friends", "In Your Arms", "The Messiah" |
Organisers previously described the reunion as a special, one-off event and the Manchester show underlined the band’s intent to mark the anniversary by revisiting the record that helped define their early following. For Leeds audiences, the return of The Sunshine Underground will be both a nod to the city’s indie heritage and a chance to see a band perform core material live after a long hiatus.
Any remaining tickets for Kirkstall Abbey had been listed by promoters; fans hoping to attend should check official ticketing channels for availability and entry information.
