Tour Details
- Example will embark on his “Bangers, Hits and a Couple of New Bits Tour” across the UK & Ireland in February 2024. (NME)
- The tour covers 17 dates across major cities, celebrating his career-spanning hits and new tracks. (TheFestivals)
- Sample tour dates:
- 2 Feb – Bridlington, Spa (TheFestivals)
- 4 Feb – Lincoln, The Engine Shed (NME)
- 5 Feb – Buckley, The Tivoli (NME)
- 10 Feb – Manchester, O2 Victoria Warehouse (TheFestivals)
- 24 Feb – London, The Roundhouse (NME)
- Tickets went on general sale Friday 8 September 2023 at 10 am. (NME)
- It’s billed as a high-energy show featuring hits like “Kickstarts”, “Changed The Way You Kiss Me”, “Stay Awake” plus newer material from his latest album. (TheFestivals)
Significance & Commentary
- The tour underscores Example’s staying power: having released his 8th studio album (We May Grow Old But We Never Grow Up) in June before the tour announcement, this tour acts both as a greatest-hits set and a showcase of new material. (TheFestivals)
- From a strategic standpoint:
- Choosing February for a UK/-Ireland run can capitalize on a less-crowded live-music calendar post-holiday season.
- The mix of classic songs + new tracks helps bridge his long-time fans and newer audiences.
- Featuring venues like The Roundhouse in London signals a focus on quality live experience rather than just maximum volume.
- From the fan-perspective:
- The promise of “a full celebration of all my hits, my many career highlights whilst incorporating all the best of my recent output” (as Example said for a previous tour) sets expectations for a deep-cut set list, not just the obvious singles. (TotalNtertainment)
- For fans who have followed him for years, this offers a moment to revisit older favourites alongside his latest.
- For the live music market:
- A 17-date tour is substantial yet not over-extended; it can allow for production quality, burnout management, and maintaining high performance.
- In a time where artists either do mega arena tours or very short runs, this mid-scale model is noteworthy: large enough to cover key geography, but still intimate enough to keep connection with core fans.
Why It’s Worth Watching
- It will be interesting to see how the new songs are received in the live environment, and whether they will become future staples.
- Monitoring ticket sales and venue upgrades may reveal how strong Example’s live demand remains — given his long career, this tour could either reaffirm his continued draw or signal shifting dynamics.
- How the production is handled (visuals, lighting, set-list structure) may indicate how legacy acts adapt to the live-experience economy where audiences expect more than just a greatest-hits show.
- The choice of locations (e.g., stepping beyond just major metropolitan areas) can reflect on his strategy to maintain roots and broad regional reach.
Here are detailed case-study insights and commentary on the recently announced headline tour by Example, along with what it could mean for his career and the live music market.
Case Study: Example’s “Bangers, Hits & a Couple New Bits” UK & Ireland Tour
Overview
- Example announced his 2024 UK & Ireland headline tour titled “Bangers, Hits And A Couple New Bits”. (NME)
- The tour spans 17 dates across the UK and Ireland, beginning on 2 February 2024 in Bridlington and concluding on 24 February in London at The Roundhouse. (NME)
- The purpose is two-fold: celebrate his major hits (e.g., “Kickstarts”, “Changed The Way You Kiss Me”, “Stay Awake”) and showcase newer material from his recent album. (TheFestivals)
- Ticketing: pre-sale access opens early for fans; general sale began Friday 8 September at 10 am. (NME)
Strategic Significance
- Legacy & catalogue focus: By focusing on “bangers” (i.e., his well-known hits) plus “new bits”, the tour is designed to appeal both to long-time fans and newer listeners. For an artist with a sustained career like Example, this type of tour acknowledges past success while still looking forward.
- Geographic coverage & venue size: The tour isn’t exclusively big arenas; venues such as The Engine Shed (Lincoln), De La Warr Pavilion (Bexhill) show a mix of mid-size venues. This suggests a strategic balancing of reach versus exclusivity.
- Timing: February is a less crowded month for touring (compared to summer festival season), which can help with media attention, lower production competition and stronger fan engagement.
- Brand reinforcement: Example has been active over many years in dance/pop charts; a headline tour that emphasizes his back-catalogue helps reinforce his brand identity in live performance.
Potential Risks & Challenges
- Set-list expectations: When fans are promised both hits and new material, managing expectations is crucial. Some fans may feel the newer songs get less attention or the show skews “greatest hits” only.
- Venue fit: The choice of venue sizes and towns is important. If demand exceeds capacity in certain markets, there may be pressure to add dates or upgrade venues. Conversely, smaller than expected show attendance may raise questions of momentum.
- Competition & market saturation: In the post-pandemic touring era, there are many headline acts, legacy artists, and festival commitments. Standing out will depend on production quality, fan experience, and promotion.
- Ticketing & accessibility: With tickets going on sale early, ensuring fair access (presales, fan clubs) and avoiding fan discontent (with pricing or availability) is important.
Why It’s A Useful Case Study
- It illustrates how an established artist realigns their live strategy: rather than chasing larger arenas or purely new album tours, Example is combining legacy hits with new content, and choosing a carefully scoped tour.
- It shows a balancing act between reach (covering UK & Ireland) and maintainable scale (17 dates vs 30+).
- It demonstrates the importance of message: the tour title itself signals “we know what you want (the hits), but we’re still evolving (new bits)”.
- It offers insight into modern touring economics: mid-size venues, regional cities, a compact schedule may reduce risk and increase per-show quality.
Commentary & Broader Implications
- From a fan-perspective: This kind of tour is often well-received because fans get to hear the songs they recognise and love, and at the same time discover new work. Artists who neglect their catalogue risk alienating long-time supporters.
- From an industry perspective: This tour could be seen as part of a broader trend where artists carefully calibrate touring scope. Rather than huge stadium runs, more curated smaller-to-mid size tours with strong fan-engagement can yield better experiences and profitability.
- From a live-music market view: Example’s strategy indicates that value isn’t solely in scale. Quality of show, fan experience, regional coverage, and smart scheduling can pay dividends.
- Artist branding: By re-emphasising his hits, Example reaffirms his position but also invites new listeners who perhaps weren’t there for his earlier chart peak. For legacy artists, this dual-approach is increasingly common.
- Ticketing & fan access: The advance announcement and presale access reflect modern expectations. Fans expect to know dates early, get pre-sale access, and expect transparency. How well Example’s team executes this will impact fan satisfaction.