The Chameleons Triumph in a Powerful Homecoming at Manchester’s Albert Hall

Desh Kapur
10 hours ago
2 min read

THE ALBERT HALL, MANCHESTER – 21st NOVEMBER 2025

WORDS AND IMAGES TONI SLATER

The Chameleons Triumph in a Powerful Homecoming at Manchester’s Albert Hall — Photo Credit Toni Slater

The Chameleons returned to the Albert Hall for their homecoming gig, part of their current Home Is Where the Heart Is… 2025 tour.

Support came from Veldt and Kirk Brandon, the latter performing an acoustic set accompanied by cellist Sam Sansbury.

Veldt opened the night with a short but mesmerising set. Their atmospheric, shoegaze-infused sound combined with fitting lighting made them a worthy opener, setting the tone for the evening ahead. Daniel Chavis barely showed his face beneath a huge hat, adding to the mystery of his performance. The crowd began to fill up as they played, and the set was met with a positive response.

Kirk Brandon followed with his acoustic set, accompanied by the very talented Sam Sansbury on cello. He delivered a mix of Theatre of Hate and Spear of Destiny songs performed in a very different style to how they are usually heard. The crowd happily sang along to the classics, and the set was warmly received.

At 9 p.m., the lights went down and the wait was over. The Chameleons—hailing from Middleton—are regular visitors to Manchester and have played the Albert Hall several times since it reopened as a gig venue in 2014.

The venue’s gothic architecture and huge stained-glass windows provide the perfect backdrop for a band like The Chameleons.

They delivered one of their strongest sets in recent years, filled with classics and new songs that blended seamlessly. Reg Smithies, the band’s original guitarist, was on fine form, and the performance was musically tight, offering both uplifting and melancholic moments.

Mark Burgess was in excellent voice and looked completely in his element, keeping the crowd thoroughly engaged. A standout moment was “View from a Hill,” which Burgess dedicated to Mani of The Stone Roses—who sadly passed away just days earlier—and to original drummer John Lever, whom the band lost in 2017. Classics such as “Second Skin,” “Soul in Isolation,” and “Pleasure and Pain” filled the hall with the special joy and emotion that make this band so timeless and so close to their die-hard fans’ hearts.

The space was alive with fans lost in waves of guitar and bass, finding a genuine connection to Burgess’s lyrical world.

The encore was electric and left the room wanting more. With the release of new music that sits so naturally alongside their older material, it’s clear they’ll be back soon to delight the masses once again.

The Chameleons at the Albert Hall last night proved why they remain vital. Far from a nostalgia act, they showed a real hunger to create, to connect, and to push their legacy forward. The new release, “Arctic Moon,” shows genuine promise and substance—an exciting sign of what’s to come for this well-established post-punk band.

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