“I’m not blaming other artists,” the reliably rainwear-clad Paul Heaton is saying on BBC Breakfast ’s big red sofa. Ever thoughtful and eloquent, a musician all his adult life and a socialist even longer, the singer, songwriter and fan advocate is getting on his high horse about the spiralling cost of concerts. He’s definitely not blaming – or even naming – other artists.
But the ghosts in the TV studio are Oasis , and the extortionate ticket prices for their 2025 reunion that fans will still be paying off the next time the Gallagher brothers fall out. “If you want control of that, you have to be at the meeting – the meetings to decide ticket prices and whether there’s dynamic pricing ,” Heaton tells presenter Naga Munchetty . “I always think of people I know – could they afford tickets? I argue low quite often.
It’s the same with everything, if you want a good deal for your fans, you’ve got to be in the room.” Tonight, those fans are in the room with the former Housemartin and Beautiful South frontman at Yorkshire’s Bridlington Spa, on the opening night of his tour in support of his 10th solo album, the Ian Broudie-produced The Mighty Several . All tickets – £35.
All dates, including the venues that scaled up to arenas – sold out. Already on sale and filling up fast – a spring 2025 stadium show at Bramall Lane, home of Sheffield United, Heaton’s boyhood-and-forever football club, where tickets are £39.50.
Sure, Heaton’s shows are.
