Robert Smith has tapped a host of beloved acts for his first stint curating the lineups for the U.K.’s annual Teenage Cancer Trust charity concert series, including My Bloody Valentine, Garbage, CHVRCHES and Manic Street Preachers.
The seven shows will be held at Royal Albert Hall in London beginning March 23 with Elbow and MRCY, followed by “Robert Smith’s Comedy Favorites” the next night with Maisie Adam, Bridget Christie, Jack Dee, Andy Hamilton, Dom Joly, Miles Jupp, Athena Kugblenu, Stewart Lee and Dara Ó Briain.
Mogwai, Craven Faults and Annika Kilkenny perform on March 25, with Manic Street Preachers and the Joy Formidable taking the stage on March 26. My Bloody Valentine, who just played their first gigs in seven years, will take the stage on March 27 in tandem with CHRVCHES, who will play a “stripped-back performance.” Placebo will do the same when joining Garbage on March 28.
The series, which had been curated for decades by the Who’s Roger Daltrey, wraps March 29 with Wolf Alice and Nilüfer Yanya.
“I wanted to make it a truly unforgettable, unmissable week – a run of shows to dream about – and I am so grateful to all the artists who accepted my invitation to perform,” Smith says. “These will be very special events; every band, both headliners and special guests, and every comedian too, is either legendary or at the top of their game. Indeed, in most cases, they are both! It is going to be a fabulous seven nights, and I can hardly wait to experience it all. See you there!”
Adds Garbage’s Shirley Manson, “When Robert Smith reached out to us about the possibility of performing for Teenage Cancer Trust, we were all utterly thrilled, as he is a highly revered figure in our world. We are honored to serve at his behest and look forward to helping raise funds for Teenage Cancer Trust, a cause very close to our own hearts.”
The Cure have only played three times since wrapping an extensive 2023 tour but are planning a major European summer trek next year, beginning the first week of June with a headlining performance at Barcelona’s Primavera Sound festival.