Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark will return to Liverpool for two homecoming gigs.
The synth-pop icons are celebrating their 40th anniversary this autumn and will kick off the year with a pair of concerts at the city’s Philharmonic Hall.
Andy McCluskey’s group will be joined on stage by the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra for the shows on the weekend of October 6 and 7.
OMD and the orchestra previously performed together in June 2009, a collaboration that lead singer McCluskey described as a “voyage of discovery”.
Richard Balcombe will conduct the concerts, which coincide with the anniversary of OMD’s first gig at the city’s legendary Eric’s club back in October 1978.
Fans can expect to hear the band’s biggest hits including their first single ‘Electricity’, which was championed by the late John Peel, and top 10 songs like ‘Enola Gay’ and ‘Souvenir’.
The programme will also include tracks which have never been performed live before, along with rare B-sides.
OMD co-founder, singer and bass guitarist Andy McCluskey said: “The band actually formed to play that gig at Eric’s in October 1978, and it was supposed to be a one-off. So it’s been a remarkable, surprising 40-year career.
“We and the Orchestra will take people on a 40-year journey from the very first song Paul and I ever wrote together, ‘Electricity’, when we were 16, right up to the last single we released, ‘What Have We Done?’, and beyond as we will premiere an as yet unreleased film soundtrack piece entitled ‘And then she saw the Minotaur’.
“We enjoyed the scope and scale of the big majestic Energy Suite songs that we did with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra in 2009. This time the first half will be taking songs that lend themselves well to really big orchestral arrangements.
“And with the big screen again, I think the combination of actually seeing the Stanlow oil refinery lit up behind the 75-piece Orchestra will be stunning. It will be utterly beautiful.”
Tickets go on general sale from 9.30am on Thursday, February 22 and are priced at £45, £55 and £65.
VIP packages cost £115 and include front row stalls or box seats, a signed programme, commemorate lanyard and premium drinks service.
All tickets are available on the booking line 0151 709 3789, from 10am online at liverpoolphil.com, or in person at Liverpool Philharmonic Hall box office.