Squeeze set for Swansea Arena date on 2026 UK tour – with Billy Bragg joining the bill
The band, founded in 1973 by Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook, will play the Swansea Building Society Arena on Monday 30 November 2026 as part of their 16‑date Tried, Tested and Trixies Tour.
The show comes hot on the heels of their new album Trixies, due out in March 2026, and promises a set packed with classics like Up The Junction, Tempted, Cool For Cats and Labelled With Love.
Arena debut for Squeeze
The Swansea date marks one of several arena debuts for the band, who will also headline London’s O2 Arena for the first time. Tilbrook said:
“The reaction to the 50th anniversary tour in 2024 was amazing. We have never sounded better and it feels really special to be looking forward to playing the biggest headline shows of our career. And having Billy Bragg on the same bill, what’s not to love!”
Difford added:
“It’s going to be amazing to show off songs from our album Trixies and, of course, all the hits and some surprises. I’m also excited that Billy Bragg will be joining us for all the shows.”
Supporting grassroots and tackling poverty
As with previous tours, Squeeze will use their shows to support good causes. Fans attending Swansea Arena are invited to bring food donations for the Trussell Trust, which runs food banks across the UK. Collection points and buckets will be available inside the venue.
In addition, £1 from every ticket sold will go to support grassroots music venues, artists and promoters. Tilbrook has recently become a patron of the Music Venue Trust, saying:
“The grassroots is where it all starts for so many musicians and where local communities can access affordable and exciting live music. We need to protect these venues and nurture the artists so that our great culture can thrive for generations to come.”
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Dear, lovely #Edinburgh book people, thank you for making our first festive frenzy in our new bookshop so fabulous.
You also helped us raise £1000 for the Trussell Trust, & donate 150 books to Craigmillar Literacy Trust, so again thank you all ❤️
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Food donation bags boost Tesco winter food collection as charities prepare for tough season.
This comes as stores in Swansea are taking part in the 12th annual Tesco Winter Food Collection, with donated items going directly to the charities Trussell and FareShare.
Both charities expect to see extremely high demand for their services this winter, and the Food Collection provides vital extra donations.
Ken Murphy, Tesco Group CEO, said:
“Our partners tell us they’ve seen even more families needing their help and they expect demand to increase this winter, so we’re encouraging Swansea customers to donate whatever they can to our Winter Food Collection.
With frontline charities and foodbanks facing exceptionally high demand this year, pre-packed donation bags make it easy to make a big difference to someone else’s Christmas.
“We’ve boosted our ongoing support to FareShare and Trussell with a donation of £500,000 each this year to help them meet additional demand through the summer and winter holiday periods when family finances are facing the most strain.”
Trussell research shows that almost a quarter of children under four are now facing hunger and hardship – making them the age group most at risk – while a record 9.3 million people in the UK are facing hunger and hardship.
FareShare is reporting a similar story in its annual impact report, with the 8,000 charity partners and community groups they support having seen an 86% increase in people accessing their services, and more than two in three of their partner charities are seeing more people accessing their support for the first time.
In response to this, Tesco is making its pre-packed customer donation bags available at even more stores in an effort to top the 2 million meals donated at last year’s collection.
All large stores already offer them during the supermarket’s Winter Food Collection, but this year 86 of the largest Express stores will also stock them to make donating even easier no matter where you shop.
The bags, which typically cost between £2 and £3, are pre-filled with healthy and nutritious long-life items and can be picked up by Swansea customers in store and paid for at the checkout. The donated food is passed to FareShare and Trussell, who will distribute it to charities and food banks to help families who need it most.
Tesco’s Winter Food Collection, the biggest in the UK, runs in Express stores from 25-30 Novemberand in large stores from 28-30 November.
According to FareShare and Trussell are UHT & powered milk, the most-needed items tinned meat and fish, and sponge/rice pudding.
Emma Revie, Trussell Chief Executive, said:
“Food banks are a last resort for people who’ve been left facing hunger and hardship. They’re a lifeline, offering a warm welcome and space to be heard. But with so many people unable to afford the essentials right now, food banks are having to purchase record amounts of emergency food.
“I know times are tough for everyone at the moment but, the Tesco Winter Collection is the perfect opportunity to donate. Options like the pre-packed donation bags and round-up-at-till make it easier than ever to support your local food bank today and help end hunger for good.”
Winter is typically the busiest time of year for Tesco’s charity partners, which see a marked increase in the number of people needing to turn to them for support. Between December 2023 and January 2024, Trussell’s community of food banks distributed more than 600,000 food parcels, and they are expecting another tough winter as levels of need remain high.
Kris Gibbon-Walsh, FareShare Chief Executive, said:
“For more than 12 years, Tesco has been a brilliant partner, providing vital support to FareShare and communities across the UK, giving food and funding to ensure we can continue getting supplies to over 8,000 charities and community groups.
“The Tesco Winter Food Collection enables us to collect long-life, staple ingredients that complement the fresh surplus food we redistribute. If you’re able to donate just one item at your local store, you’ll be helping to provide a meal for someone in hardship this winter.”
Throughout the year, Tesco donates surplus food from its distribution network and stores through its charity and community partners, FareShare and Olio. Since 2012, Tesco has donated the equivalent of more than 220million meals through its Community Food Connection programme.
More than 9 million Britons vulnerable to reliance on food banks, research finds | Food banks | The Guardian
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2024/oct/09/britons-vulnerable-reliance-food-banks-research-finds
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Number of food bank parcels handed out in Test Valley revealed | Hampshire Chronicle
https://www.hampshirechronicle.co.uk/news/24322751.number-food-bank-parcels-handed-test-valley-revealed/
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