On 4th June 2026, 50 years to the day since The Sex Pistols changed the Manchester music scene forever, Peter Hook & The Light are set to perform a retrospective set spanning his lengthy career at the Academy. Playing choice picks from his time in Warsaw, Joy Division, New Order, Revenge, Monaco, and Freebass, it’s a night not to be missed by fans of Hook and his wide-spanning, widely-influential projects.

Hook will be joined by very special guests Buzzcocks, who were instrumental in putting the Sex Pistols on all those years ago. Since that night, the Buzzcocks have carved out their own place in British music history with hits like “Ever Fallen in Love (With Someone You Shouldn’t’ve)”, :What Do I Get?’ and “Harmony In My Head”, winning audiences over with their catchy punk songwriting and lovesick lyrics. Next June, they support Hook and celebrate their own 50-year anniversary in the process. 

2 Band... 2-Tone... 1 Fantastic Night! A Specials Tribute Band and a Madness Tribute Band, all on one stage. That's Special Kinda Madness.

Special Kinda Madness perform a truly authentic set from each band, combining the phenomenally energetic stage presence of The Specials with the wonderful iconic tunes of the Madness ‘Nutty Boys’. With Special Kinda Madness you get a Madness tribute band and a Special tribute band on the same stage!

Playing a set from each band and producing a show that will have the audience up and dancing from the off, Special Kinda Madness will have everyone hankering after that exciting era of 2-Tone and ska.