In October A Certain Ratio will be hitting the road to celebrate the anniversary of their classic and beloved albums, ‘Sextet’ and ‘Force’. Both albums will be played in full with an interval in between and some surprises thrown in.
The full list of dates are shown below, including a performance at Lewes Con Club, courtesy of Love Thy Neighbour promoters, with tickets going on sale 10am Friday 6th February.
It’s 45 years since ACR went into Revolution Studios in Cheadle Hulme, Stockport to record the 1982 album ‘Sextet’ and it’s 40 years since the release of the 1986 album ‘Force’ which was also recorded in Stockport but at Yellow 2.
‘Sextet’ is ACR’s most critically acclaimed album and it was the first album they produced as ACR, it includes the majestic Lucinda and the live favourite ‘Knife Slits Water’. ‘Sextet’ spent 11 weeks on the UK independent chart and reached No.1.
Sounds 5 star review “Sextet is an album of the present, killing the past and agreeably ignoring the future. It is an after-rock record. This is one of the most strategically tired albums you’ll hear all year. It is also one of the best.”
NME praised ‘Sextet’ for its “taut, abrasive swagger” and its unique blend of Afro-Brazilian rhythms, dance-funk, and avant-jazz, with tracks like ‘Knife Slits Water’ and ‘Lucinda’ recognized as masterful, rhythmic post-punk.
‘Force’ is one of their most commercial albums, produced by ACR and the late Stuart (Jammer) James and is their last album on Factory Records, it includes funky masterpiece ‘Mickey Way’ and live party favourite ‘Si Firmo O Grido’. ‘Force’ spent 9 weeks on the UK independent charts peaking at No.2.
Each album is starkly different to each other yet very clearly ACR.
“We’re celebrating these two milestones with this tour to say we are very excited is an understatement. It will be a real challenge, which we’ve already started preparing for, with nine months to go! We will be playing two sets with no support”
A Certain Ratio October 2026 Tour Dates:
7 Birmingham – Castle and Falcon
8 Bristol – Exchange
9 London – Dingwalls
10 Lewes – Con Club
13 Newcastle – The Cluny
14 Edinburgh – The Voodoo Rooms
15 Glasgow – Oran Mor
16 Blackpool – Bootleg Social
17 Leeds – Brudenell Social Cub
22 Hebden Bridge – The Trades
23 Stoke – Sugarmill
24 Manchester – Band on The Wall
Tickets for the tour will go on sale at 10am on Friday 6th February and can be found HERE.
