2025-10-22 -> 2025-10-25
North of England Tour 2025

Wed 22nd - Preston
The Snug was actually a really nice room off the side of the pub, and it came with lovely decor, tables and chairs, a couple of sofas, and an interesting young lady with a puppy in a pram. She was equal parts brilliant and bonkers, but made herself a fundamental part of the evening. Fittingly it was a lovely event, with an undercurrent of surrealism, maybe even sadness. Technical issues early in the set seemed to represent the broken-ness in everything and everyone, but normal service was quickly resumed in the same way that most things that go wrong can be fixed or at least made "better" in some way, and so we're all actually very lucky (most of the time). Your nearest and dearest are the toughest, most nerve-wracking audience and we had stress headaches from worrying about it all day on the m6, but it went as well as can be expected. The people who really matter gave the impression it was all good, which we will take at face value and gladly accept. Leaving behind the rest of the nearest and dearest has been tougher than expected though.

Thursday 23rd - Wigan
A grand old building given a new lease of life with money from the cultural sector, tastefully done with a blend of exposed masonry and sleek neon. The intention was clearly to build a thriving hub of the arts, and it's early days but being able to experience live music and an art exhibition under one grand old roof was nice, and the art was... interesting... marigolds full of paste to resemble ejaculating udders anyone? Anyway, it was nice to be able to have a conversation mid-set about Wigan cuisine. Learnt a lot. Also well worth turning up to hear Mike the busker, what a voice. You won't hear it anywhere on the internet, only round Wigan's streets.

Friday 24th - Darwen
So for Friday Night Dinner (tea) the choice was between a Darwen kebab (a normal kebab), or a vegetarian hot pizza (no vegetables or heat). Sunbird is a fantastic venue with amazing sound, a dedicated bunch running it, and clientele who are way wittier than us who also managed to rustle up a little conga line. So we all know Ribble are amazing at summery festivals when everyone's been on it all day, but can they do it on a wet Friday night in Darwen? Yes.

Sat 25th - Ramsbottom
So by the time we turned up at our fourth and final show of the Northern Tour we were well and truly sick of all the warm welcomes, chirpy positivity, fantastic food and cheap beer, but we soldiered on like proper heroes and did it all again for the good people of Irwell Brewery. What a great place, like a blast from the past where people of all generations and all walks of life mingling together, having a good time and enjoying the face-painted suited freaks playing their dance-folk-glam-hop. Like every place we stopped at, this was a case of nice place, nice beer, nice people. Thank you very much Lancashire, we love you. This tour is over but the next one is already being planned.


And this was our fridge in the airbnb we stayed in for 4 days and nights

Northern Tour in numbers
Nights away - 4
Miles covered - loads
Ribble shows - 4
Fry-ups - 1
Chippy teas - 1
Bombay bad boys - 2
Not-hot vegetarian hot Pizzas - 1
Wiganese dialect lessons - 1
Hours watching TV - 0
Hours doom-scrolling - 2
Voices lost - 1
Entertained northern folk - countless