There are some bands whose songs don’t simply remind you of a particular time – they seem to have become part of the fabric of British life. Squeeze most definitely belong in that category.
This autumn, the legendary South London band are heading back out on the road for their Tried, Tested and Trixies Tour, and Birmingham is firmly on the itinerary.
Squeeze arrive at Utilita Arena Birmingham on Saturday 28th November, bringing with them more than five decades of extraordinary songwriting – and, as if that wasn’t enough, they’ll be joined by very special guest Billy Bragg.
Tried, Tested – and Something New
Anyone expecting a straightforward greatest-hits nostalgia show might be in for a surprise.
Of course, a Squeeze concert without the likes of Cool For Cats, Up The Junction, Tempted, Another Nail In My Heart and Labelled With Love would be almost unthinkable. But this latest tour also celebrates Trixies, the band’s first studio album in eight years.
And there’s quite a story behind it.
The roots of Trixies stretch all the way back to 1974, when teenage songwriting partners Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook recorded demos for a collection of songs set around a fictional nightclub called Trixies. More than 50 years later, those early ideas have finally been properly realised.
That gives the upcoming tour a rather lovely full-circle quality: two songwriters revisiting ideas created when their remarkable partnership was only just beginning.
Tilbrook has described the reaction to Squeeze’s 50th anniversary tour in 2024 as “amazing”, adding that the band had “never sounded better”. Difford, meanwhile, has promised audiences songs from Trixies, the hits and a few surprises along the way.
And Then There’s Billy Bragg…
The choice of Billy Bragg as special guest feels particularly inspired.
One of Britain’s most distinctive singer-songwriters, Bragg’s combination of storytelling, social observation, humour and instantly recognisable guitar style should sit perfectly alongside Squeeze.
For anyone who grew up with songs such as A New England and Levi Stubbs’ Tears, his appearance makes an already impressive Birmingham date feel much more like a double bill than a conventional support slot.
Glenn Tilbrook seems equally pleased with the pairing, asking simply….
“And having Billy Bragg on the same bill, what’s not to love!”
Five Things You Might Not Know About Squeeze
1. Their name came from The Velvet Underground
Squeeze took their name from Squeeze, the somewhat infamous 1973 album released under The Velvet Underground name – despite featuring none of the band’s original members.
2. Glenn Tilbrook answered an advert that wasn’t entirely truthful
Chris Difford placed an advert in a local sweet shop looking for a guitarist for a band with a “record deal and tour”. There was just one slight problem: there was no record deal – and there wasn’t actually a band yet. Tilbrook answered it anyway, and one of British music’s great songwriting partnerships began.
3. The songs on Trixies are more than 50 years old
The foundations of the new album were written by Difford and Tilbrook when they were just 19 and 16 respectively. The teenage pair recorded demos in 1974, but the project remained unrealised for decades.
4. They’ve had 12 Top 40 singles – and 12 Top 40 albums
Squeeze’s catalogue is deeper than the handful of songs that regularly dominate greatest-hits compilations. Their long career has produced 12 UK Top 40 singles and 12 UK Top 40 albums, alongside an Ivor Novello Award for Outstanding Contribution to British Music.
5. Their music keeps finding new generations
Difford has spoken about being surprised by increasingly young faces at Squeeze concerts, suggesting streaming has helped a new generation discover the band by following connections from other artists and records.
A Birmingham Night Worth Putting in the Diary
More than 50 years after Difford and Tilbrook first started writing together, Squeeze remain that relatively rare thing: a heritage British band that still has something new to say.
The Birmingham show promises the songs everybody wants to hear, material from Trixies, a few deeper cuts and the added attraction of Billy Bragg opening the evening.
There’s a charitable element too. Squeeze are continuing their support for Trussell, with fans invited to bring food donations to collection points at the shows. The band has also announced that £1 from every ticket sold will support grassroots music venues, artists and promoters.
For Birmingham music fans, it all adds up to a pretty special Saturday night.
Squeeze – Tried, Tested and Trixies Tour
Very Special Guest: Billy Bragg
Saturday 28 November 2026
Utilita Arena Birmingham
Doors: 6pm | Show: 7:30pm
Tickets: £33.50–£66 plus fees at time of writing.
Tickets and event information – HERE
Squeeze – Official Websitw HERE
