Following on from the hugely successful extended 50th anniversary celebrations of Mike Oldfield’s Tubular Bells, which toured throughout the UK, Europe, Australia and New Zealand in 2023 and 2024, The Best of Tubular Bells I, II & III, which celebrates the brilliance of these iconic and seminal musical pieces, will tour across the UK throughout February and March 2026.
One of the most pioneering and influential musicians of all time, Mike Oldfield’s visionary Tubular Bells series spans three albums and 17 years, with Tubular Bells created in 1971 and released in 1973, Tubular Bells II released in 1992, (the filming of the premier from Edinburgh Castle is one of the most viewed and streamed musical events ever) and Tubular Bells III released in 1998, (with the excerpt of Far above the Clouds featured in the 2012 London Olympic Opening Ceremony) . With each album, Oldfield expands on the incredible themes and theatrical variations he first composed at 17 years old, continually innovating and pushing boundaries.
The Best of Tubular Bells I, II & lll 26-date UK tourwill feature an expansive live group, led and arranged by Oldfield’s long-term collaborator Robin Smith, which will see extended sections of each iconic Tubular Bells album performed, as well as worldwide hit single Moonlight Shadow.
‘Hearing the timeless music performed with such passion and love brought tears to the eye as the audience rode on waves of Oldfield’s magic. For fans of live music this was pure joy and, for fans of Oldfield, this was perfection.’ Lancashire Evening Post
‘The whole show was huge fun, every musician was entertaining in their own way, all were massively talented and we left with enormous smiles on out faces, safe in the knowledge that we’d watched something very special indeed.’ Birmingham Live
Tubular Bells, created in 1971 and released in 1973,was the debut studio album by English multi-instrumentalist, composer, and songwriter Mike Oldfield. At just 17 years old when he started composing the music, Oldfield recorded and played almost all the instruments on the album, gained worldwide recognition when the opening theme was used for the soundtrack of the horror film, The Exorcist and went on to become the highest selling instrumental album of all time.
A bold and progressive fusion, Tubular Bells is a journey through classical, jazz, folk, progressive rock, and electronica and went on to win a Grammy for Best Instrumental Composition in 1974.
Tubular Bells II was released in 1992 and, like its predecessor, charted at No.1 in the UK Albums Chart. Featuring the top 10 single ‘Sentinel’, Tubular Bells went 2x Platinum in the UK.
The third instalment in the Tubular Bells series was released in 1998 and draws on inspiration from the electronic music popular in bars and clubs in Ibiza, where Oldfield moved to in 1996.
Since the premiere of Tubular Bells 50th celebration it has been obvious the huge love that there has been for Mike’s music. Smith says, “In The Best of concert we get to perform excerpts from all 3 masterpieces and highlight the musical brilliance and technical advancements that have occurred between the first and the third albums. It will be an unforgettable evening and a great challenge for the wonderful musicians.”
Robin A. Smith, the Grammy-nominated Musical Director of the tour show, was completely mesmerised by Tubular Bells the moment he heard it. He studied Composition at the Royal College of Music, spent several years touring the world as a piano player and was the principal pianist of the National Youth Jazz Orchestra, before meeting Mike Oldfield over 30 years ago.
Smith has collaborated with Oldfield for more than three decades, with performances of various Tubular Bells albums at iconic locations such as Edinburgh Castle, Horse Guards Parade and the 2012 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony.
On the tour, Smith says:
“I have been lucky enough to work with Mike since the premiere and the conception of Tubular Bells II. All of these epic works in the Tubular Bells series are filled with music of the utmost creativity and continually take the listener on extraordinary journeys of imagination.
We have been lucky enough to tour our new reimagined version of Tubular Bells extensively around the world, a show that has been embraced by so many. We thought how wonderful it would be to incorporate music from all of Mike’s three major works so everyone can delight in his sensational themes and dramatic episodes.
Night after night we have huge pleasure in knowing that we are continuing to keep the legacy of Mike’s music alive for the people who love it already and for new listeners. So we delight in bringing you this new show – it is so full of energy, so full of life, and will be an incredible spectacle.”
Tour dates:
7th February Oxford New Theatre
8th February Birmingham The Alexandra
10th February Edinburgh Usher Hall
11th February Glasgow Royal Concert Hall
12th February Perth Concert Hall
13th February Gateshead Glasshouse
15th February York Barbican
16th February Liverpool Philharmonic
17th February Manchester Bridgewater Hall
19th February Bradford St Georges Hall
20th February Sheffield City Hall
22nd February Warwick Arts Centre *On-sale 13th June
23rd February Cardiff New Theatre
24th February Leicester De Monfort Hall
25th February Dartford Orchard West Theatre
26th February Croydon Fairfield Halls
27th February Basingstoke The Anvil
1st March Ipswich Regent Theatre
2nd March Wycombe The Swan
3rd March Truro Hall For Cornwall *On-sale 14th July
6th March Poole Lighthouse
7th March Guildford G Live
8th March Milton Keynes Theatre
9th March Cambridge Corn Exchange
10th March Bath Forum
12th March Portsmouth Guildhall