The Pretenders are touring the UK and Ireland in May

Virgin Radio

22 Mar 2023, 11:43

Legendary band The Pretenders are hitting the road this spring. 

The Relentless tour is named after the band's 12th studio album, which is due to land at some point later this year. The upcoming new record follows their last LP, 2020’s Hate For Sale.

The band - formed in 1978 and led by iconic vocalist Chrissie Hynde - will raise the roof at Nottingham's Rescue Rooms, before heading to Cambridge, Frome and Stoke. They will then head over to Limerick, Cork, Dublin and Belfast. 

Before those dates, they will kick off the tour with a headlining performance at The Great Escape festival in Brighton. They will play an exclusive set on The Independent Stage at The Old Market on Friday 12th May, and access to this show will be via a festival wristband, subject to the venue’s capacity. As well as The Pretenders turning up for a very special appearance, The Great Escape will see hundreds of the hottest new acts playing in venues across the city over three music-packed days. 

Tickets are on sale for The Pretenders' tour now, with the band sharing the dates and the ticket links via Twitter: 

In the imagery accompanying the tour dates, Chrissie Hynde is quoted as saying: “As yet unreleased songs and absolutely no hits whatsoever. Well, maybe a few.”

The tour will be bookended by festival dates as, along with kicking off at The Great Escape, the band will play at the inaugural Midnight Sun Weekender in Stornoway on 25th May, with Primal Scream and Ocean Colour Scene also set to appear, along with Spiritualized, John Fogerty, Edwin Collins and more.

The Pretenders are also set to appear at Bearded Theory festival, which takes place between 25th - 28th May at Catton Hall in Derbyshire, as well as Kite Festival in Kirtlington Park, Oxfordshire, on Sunday 11th June, and the Black Deer Festival in Kent on Saturday 17th June.

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