Ahead of a full UK tour and the 12th anniversary of their ‘HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS’ annual homecoming shows this autumn, the cult Middleton band will take stage at XOYO in the heart of Birmingham on Friday 7th August. The band will be joined by very special guest Ian McNabb from The Icicle Works.
Formed in Greater Manchester in 1981 by singer and bassist VOX, Chameleons have remained one of the city’s most revered bands among musos ever since their inception. With notable fans including the likes of Noel Gallgher to Interpol, The Charlatans to Moby, their music has been passed down through the generations like an elixir of eternal inspiration. And here in 2025, a growing fandom of their immense canon sees Chameleons finding immortality as something of a cult phenomenon.
With their dedicated advocates finding awe in the “sonic cathedrals” in which they have constructed over the past four decades, Chameleons have released iconic studio albums including ‘Script of the Bridge’ (1983), ‘What Does Anything Mean? Basically’ (1985), ‘Strange Times’(1986), ‘Why Call It Anything’ (2001)), plus many Peel sessions, live records, compilations and an EP (‘Tony Fletcher Walked on Water…. La La La La La-La La-La-La’ (1990)).
And last year, Chameleons delighted the faithful with their first album in two decades. ‘Arctic Moon’ which was met with high praise from titles including MOJO (4*) and UNCUT (8/10), with the latter hailing “Mark Burgess reaches for the stars again… [‘Arctic Moon’] illustrates their 21st Century relevance”. Featuring seven new tracks, including majestic long-form compositions, ‘Arctic Moon’ arrived as the successor to 2001’s ‘Why Call It Anything’, and was notably the first of the band’s discography to date to feature their current lineup, including: Vox (Mark Burgess), Reg Smithies, Stephen Rice, Danny Ashberry, and Todd Demma. Shimmering, shadowy, and shrouded in deepest mysteries, the distinctive and towering post-punk sound of Chameleons is as vital today as the moment they were built.
Acknowledging their supporters with an annual homecoming, a typically breathtaking pre-Christmas celebration of their music entitled ‘Home Is Where The Heart Is’, this year’s plans include two unmissable dates at Manchester’s New Century Hall in 2026, featuring special guests B-Movie, Kakula, and The Manchester Camerata.
With demand for the Chameleons on the live stage at an all time high, the band will also be embarking on a further stretch of headline shows across the country in the Autumn (full dates below).
As formidable now as they ever have been, Chameleons (and special guests) will play the Birmingham XOYO on Friday 7 August. Tickets are on sale now here.
Chameleons – Headline UK Live Dates
25th July – The Rockin’ Chair, Wrexham
7th August – XOYO, Birmingham
20th October – SWG3, Glasgow
21st October – Stylus, Leeds
22nd October – The Prospect Building, Bristol
23rd October – Koko, London
24th October – Engine Rooms, Southampton
4th December – New Century Hall, Manchester
5th December – New Century Hall, Manchester
Tickets available here.