Fans of Dexys Midnight Runners are being given three chances to see frontman Kevin Rowland in Brighton over the coming months, including two intimate in-store performances and a full concert at Brighton Dome.
The unusual run of Brighton appearances begins on Wednesday, September 9, when Rowland will perform two solo sets at Resident Music.
The first performance is scheduled for 6.30pm, followed by a second at 8.30pm. The shows are being held to coincide with the release of Dexys’ latest album, LOVE.
The 6.30pm performance is already waiting-list only, while tickets for the 8.30pm show are available through DICE, according to Brighton Source.
The intimate shows will give fans a very different experience from the band’s forthcoming full-scale Brighton concert.
Dexys have returned to their full Dexys Midnight Runners name after using the shorter Dexys name for their last three albums. The move has prompted speculation that the group could be approaching the end of a cycle that began with their acclaimed 1980 debut, Searching for the Young Soul Rebels.
Full band returns to Brighton Dome
The main event comes on Sunday, November 1, when Dexys Midnight Runners return to Brighton Dome Concert Hall.
The concert is part of the band’s 2026 UK and Ireland tour and will see Rowland joined by the band for a full live performance.
Brighton Dome lists doors at 7pm, with tickets priced from £47 to £72.
The November concert also marks the band’s return to the name Dexys Midnight Runners for touring purposes. It is their first UK tour under the full name since 2003.
A band with a distinctive live reputation
Dexys are one of Britain’s most distinctive bands, combining soul, folk, pop and new wave influences.
The group enjoyed major success in the 1980s, with “Geno” and “Come On Eileen” both reaching number one in the UK.
Their debut album Searching for the Young Soul Rebels was released in 1980, followed by Too-Rye-Ay in 1982 and Don’t Stand Me Down in 1985.
Their recent live performances have also developed a theatrical character, with songs accompanied by additional dialogue and staged elements. Brighton Source described their previous Dome appearance in 2023 as a theatrical experience.
Rowland has also recently published his autobiography, Bless Me Father, while the new single “My Life In England Pt 1” reflects on his childhood and Irish immigrant background.
Whether the return to the full Dexys Midnight Runners name represents simply another chapter or something more final remains to be seen.
For Brighton fans, however, September and November offer three very different opportunities to experience one of Britain’s most individual musical voices.
Dexys Brighton dates
Wednesday, September 9 – 6.30pm: Kevin Rowland solo, Resident Music – waiting list only
Wednesday, September 9 – 8.30pm: Kevin Rowland solo, Resident Music
Sunday, November 1 – 7pm: Dexys Midnight Runners, Brighton Dome Concert Hall
