Sparks – The Barbican, York – 25th August 2026

MORE THAN A TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE

An extra ‘due to demand’ date finds us in the historic city of York at a fave venue for what turns out to be a rather fine evening in the company of Ron, Russell and their three piece band. Their Wiki ‘years active’ entry reading at 1968-present, perhaps in need of an ‘and showing no signs of stopping’ addition.

They’ve just released their Live On The Moon album which might prove a nice little souvenir of 2026 Sparks and while Russell’s idea that there may be “about 700 albums” could be a tad exaggerated, there are a lot. We get the legacy trimmed down to nineteen songs from thirteen albums. And not all from the glorious Kimono My House Seventies, which many certainly do remember but brave the standing areas to get up close and personal. Sparks – Russ and Ron – avoid falling into the trap of being one of the fashionable heritage acts and trade on making new and equally relevant new music. The most recent MAD! is peppered, but not overdone, through the evening.

AGE IS BUT A NUMBER

The duo do a fine job in the case for Rock stars in their seventies and eighties. Russell looking the part in spotted suit and pink shoes, dancing and prancing in a sprightly fashion and doing a deft hip swerve or two as he dodges past Ron’s keyboard table; Ron sitting serenely, playing his role and sitting hands on his lap during moments when his keyboards take a back seat.

And it’s Ron who’s responsible for the dah-dah-dah-dah keyboard line as they drop into So May We Start that’s pure Sparks and instantly identifiable. The only missing thing is an enigmatic sideways glance from Ron. The trip through the genres gets started, Reinforcements is pure music hall cabaret – almost a propaganda themed wartime stomp that fits the bill of (different kinds of) music you can dance to that hits a fist home run with the Moroder fuelled Beat The Clock and the chug of Mickey Mouse.

There’s a dark side too as Running Up A Tab At The Hotel For The Fab sees the dancefloor moves parked; a Psycho movie soundtrack for the modern age and followed by Ron’s lead vocal on Let’s Get Funky where the duo engage in a little side by side bout of carefully plotted brotherly love. Of course it receives an ovation. In fact most of the songs get equally loving ovations – some more than others – and it’s quite touching to see the shared appreciation between fans and band that has roots which creep back decades.

WHAT DO THEY CALL PEOPLE FROM YORK?

The banter and mid song repartee makes for an interesting diversion.. Russell ponders over the demonym for the good folk of York. Fortunately he’s not quite able to make out the suggestions, while of course they’ve visited Betty’s (wonder they had to join the lengthy queues?) and “enjoyed your Shambles...”

The hits – let’s call them bigger hitters – see Ron’s famous and much copied dance moves and Russell hitting some rather high notes. They’re not saved as an encore treat which only goes to show the confidence that one hit wonders, Sparks are not. And as we hit the encores, there’s no let up. Baby Baby Can I Invade Your Country is a wonderful glee filled hoedown. You can almost feel a grand Copland string arrangement slipping though.

All That is a perfect farewell. AI, for once proving on the ball, tells us that the song is a reflection on enduring love, shared history, and the simple beauty of growing old together. A rather emotional serving that’s all swaying arms and reflection. Even a twist of nostalgia. The sharing of love in the prolonged ovation at the conclusion means we can nip to the loo and still be back in time to join in the appreciation. Bravo Ron and Russ.

Here’s Whippings & Apologies from the Live On The Moon album:

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