New wave icon Howard Jones is very proud to announce the “Things Can Only Get Better” North American tour for summer, 2026 including a stop in downtown Indianapolis at Everwise Amphitheater at White River State Park on Friday, August 7, 2026 as part of the Jack Daniel’s Concert Series.
The feel-good 80s event of the summer features a bill curated and headlined by Jones himself with support from fellow British 80s greats Wang Chung, The English Beat and Modern English and will be hosted by SiriusXM’s Richard Blade. All four artists will perform full sets. Fans can expect to hear the biggest hits from the decade including “Things Can Only Get Better,” “What Is Love, “No One Is To Blame,” “Dance Hall Days,” “Everybody Have Fun Tonight,” “Save It For Later,” and “I Melt With You”.
In other imminent Howard Jones news, he will be appearing on SiriusXM’s First Wave Hollywood Happy Hour with Richard Blade on Friday, April 10th. The segment will feature both a live interview and performance in front of a studio audience. Tune in to First Wave (channel 33) on SiriusXM at 4:00PM, PST/7:00PM, EST that day to listen.
Of the upcoming tour, Howard Jones commented, “I dreamed of curating a tour with my favourite bands that could bring some positivity in our troubled times. I’m thrilled that this is actually happening this summer with the Things Can Only Get Better Tour. Joining me are my friends Wang Chung, The English Beat, Modern English, and Richard Blade. I’m so excited to be touring with these amazing talents. Our aim is to bring some joy with the banging pop anthems that we all know and love. “Things Can Only Get Better” is a message of hope for a future that we can create, when we stand up for the world we want to live in. Can’t wait to see you this summer!
Wang Chung’s Jack Hues and Nick Feldman stated, “We are very excited to be joining Howard on this tour. We have known each other since the 80s but have never toured extensively together before. We have worked with Dave Wakeling and the English Beat and Modern English more recently. They are all great guys and exciting bands – 4 British bands bringing their hits and that unique 80s energy to your hometown – don’t miss it!” Modern English’s Robbie Grey added, “Will be great touring with old friends again. Every night will be a top night. We will play songs from our latest album 1234 and of course the classic early material and that song “I Melt With You”.
About the lineup:
Howard Jones has been a constant presence on the international touring scene for the past four decades, playing live in several different configurations including intimate solo shows and dates with his full high-tech band set-up. He first burst upon the contemporary music scene in 1983, with his very English songwriting and pioneering synthesizers with “New Song”. His first two albums HUMAN’S LIB and DREAM INTO ACTION were worldwide hits. HUMAN’S LIB reached #1 in 1984 in the UK and featured the hits “New Song,” and “What Is Love?” In 1985, Jones released the follow-up, DREAM INTO ACTION, which quickly became a Top Ten Platinum album in the United States and featured the smashes: “Things Can Only Get Better,” “Life In One Day,” “No One Is To Blame,” and “Like To Get To Know You Well.”
Wang Chung came out of the post-punk, New Wave scene in the UK, going on to achieve global success, selling millions of records. Throughout their 40 plus year career they have released 7 albums and 3 Greatest Hits compilations. They have had 6 US Top 40 hits including a number 1 and other international smash hits including ‘Dance Hall Days’ and “Everybody Have Fun Tonight.” They achieved cult status with their soundtrack for legendary director William Friedkin’s movie “To Live and Die in LA,” as well as their original song contribution to John Hughes’ legendary movie, “The Breakfast Club.”
The English Beat is a band with an energetic mix of musical styles and a sound like no other. The band’s unique sound has allowed it to endure for nearly four decades and appeal to fans, young and old, all over the world. The English Beat (known as The Beat in their native England) first came to prominence as
founding members of the British Two-Tone Ska movement, with their classic first album “Just Can’t Stop It” fitting squarely in that genre. Band leader Dave Wakeling never felt constrained by the movement. The band crossed over fluidly between soul, reggae, pop and punk, and from these disparate pieces they created an infectious dance rhythm.
Modern English, formed in Colchester, England, remain one of the defining bands of the post-punk era, with their original core lineup of Robbie Grey (vocals) and Michael Conroy (bass), intact since 1977. Widely regarded as innovators of the genre, the band is best known for their iconic hit “I Melt With You” which became a defining song of the ’80s and continues to resonate with new generations of listeners. MTV era songs like “Hands Across The Sea” and “Someone’s Calling” still thrill audiences. Modern English continue to bring both their enduring catalog and renewed creative energy to audiences worldwide. Their most recent album, 2024’s 1234, remained in the Top 20 at college radio for six months.
Richard Blade is one of the most popular and best-known DJs in America, hosting a daily radio show on both SiriusXM 1st Wave Ch. 33 and middays on KCBS, Jack FM. In the 1980s, he was the top-rated morning drive DJ on KROQ, Los Angeles, and hosted and directed numerous TV shows and series including Video One, MV3 and VideoBeat. In 1991 he created Richard Blade’s Flashback Lunch which aired daily at noon and was copied by many stations across North America.
For more information, please visit: www.howardjones.com
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SPONSORS: The 2026 concert series at the Everwise Amphitheater at White River State Park is possible through the support of its sponsors including Everwise Credit Union, Jack Daniel’s, Coors Light, Hoosier Lottery & more.
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