Happy Mondays bring Pills ‘n’ Thrills and Bellyaches with 35th anniversary tour

Pioneers of the iconic Madchester sound, the Happy Mondays, are heading down under to celebrate the 35th anniversary of their seminal album, Pills ‘n’ Thrills and Bellyaches.

The alternative dance rock band will kick off the anniversary tour at Astor Theatre on Wednesday, September 2, before heading to Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide and Brisbane.

Fronted by Shaun Ryder, with Bez (dancing and percussion), Mark Day (guitar), Gary Whelan (drums), Mikey Shine (bass), Dan Broad (musical director/guitar/keys), and Firouzeh Berry (backing vocals), the band will perform hits from the album such as Step On, Kinky Afro, and Loose Fit, alongside fan favourites 24 Hour Party People, Hallelujah and W.F.L.

It will be the band’s first visit to Australia since the departure of vocalist Rowetta, who left Happy Mondays in December 2024 after 34 years with the group.

“Always a great buzz when we play Australia and New Zealand,” said Shaun Ryder. “Looking forward to bringing the Happy Mondays Pills ‘n’ Thrills party there in September.”

Formed in 1980, Happy Mondays blended funk, rock, psychedelia and house influences, helping define the ‘Madchester’—or ‘Baggy’—scene in the UK. Their 1990 release, Pills ‘n’ Thrills and Bellyaches, spent over six months on the UK Albums Chart, with their influence on British music formally recognised in 2016, when they received the prestigious Ivor Novello Inspiration Award. The band also previously secured festival slots at Coachella, Camp Bestival and Splendour in the Grass.

Happy Mondays bring their Celebrating 35 Years Of Pills ‘n’ Thrills and Bellyaches Tour to Astor Theatre on Wednesday, September 2, 2026. Tickets go on sale Friday, January 30, from destroyalllines.com