Paul Heaton to play Liverpool M&S Bank Arena this November

Music legend Paul Heaton has announced a brand new album, a huge UK arena tour and a Liverpool date at the M&S Bank Arena Liverpool later this year.

The former Housemartins and Beautiful South frontman will release his 23rd studio album, Jenius, on 21 August 2026, alongside a major UK tour that lands in Liverpool on Wednesday 11 November.

Liverpool fans can also expect a proper homegrown touch, with rising singer songwriter Rianne Downey joining the tour as Paul’s guest vocalist, while Liverpool icons Lightning Seeds will appear as special guests on every date.

Produced by Lightning Seeds frontman Ian Broudie and recorded in Manchester, Jenius features 15 brand new songs from Paul and his band, with additional vocals from Irish singer songwriter Declan O’Rourke on the track The Whisky Did.

Alongside the album announcement, Paul has also released new single Favourite Kind Of Idiot, a feel good love song he describes as celebrating people’s flaws rather than perfection.

Speaking about the track, Paul said: “It’s a love story between two people who see the same fallibilities, the same daftness, in each other.

“It’s a song in favour of the idiotic people and how charming they can be. Even though it’s a bit silly, I think it’s probably the most romantic song on the album.”

Fans heading to the Liverpool show can expect songs spanning Paul’s four decade career, including hits from The Beautiful South and The Housemartins, alongside brand new material from Jenius.

The album arrives almost exactly 40 years after Paul released his debut album London 0 Hull 4 with The Housemartins in 1986.

Over the years, Paul has become one of the UK’s most successful songwriters, with five number one albums, more than 15 million album sales and an Outstanding Song Collection award at the Ivor Novellos.

His Liverpool date forms part of an 11 stop UK arena run, which also includes Manchester, London, Glasgow and Leeds.

Tickets for the tour are priced at £39.50 plus fees and go on sale at 9.30am on Friday 5 June.

For tickets and album pre orders visit Paul Heaton official website.

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