The K’s to open King George’s Hall’s £13.5m makeover this weekend

The K’s are set to headline King George’s Hall’s grand reopening in Blackburn this weekend, with the band due on stage on Saturday, September 26.

The gig marks the return of the historic venue after a £13.5m transformation, described as the biggest investment in the Grade II listed building since it first opened in 1921.

The venue has hosted acts including Queen, The Beatles and David Bowie, along with more recent names such as Liam Gallagher and Florence + The Machine.

The K’s have risen fast since releasing their debut album I Wonder If The World Knows?, with sold-out UK tours, major festival appearances and a Best Breakthrough Act award at the 2024 Nordoff Robbins Northern Music Awards.

Their second studio album, Pretty On The Internet, was released in July 2025 and reached No. 1 on the UK Albums Chart. The band have also had support from BBC Radio 1, BBC 6 Music, Radio X and Absolute Radio.

When the show was announced, the band said they were “buzzing” to be part of such a special night and called it a “real honour” to be the first band back on stage after the work.

The concert will also support local homelessness charity Nightsafe.

The refurbishment has brought upgraded bars, improved seating, new lifts, lighting and bathrooms, along with a new roof, new windows and heating and cooling systems.

Councillor Quesir Mahmood, Deputy Leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council and Executive Member for Growth and Development, said: “We are hugely excited for this headline gig with The K’s – what a way to mark King George’s Hall’s grand reopening.

“For more than a century, this incredible venue has played host to some of the biggest names in music and entertainment, and it’s fantastic that The K’s will be the first band to take to the stage following its £13.5m transformation.

“King George’s Hall is an iconic venue for the whole region and to have a North West band headlining feels truly fitting.”

He added that King George’s Hall welcomes more than 100,000 visitors a year, and said the council is determined to build on that by bringing more big names to the borough while supporting the town centre and nighttime economy.

He also said the investment at King George’s Hall is part of more than £50m of new investment in Blackburn’s Cultural Quarter, and that there is more to come.

Both the early release and general sale tickets have sold out, but a small number of extra tickets are now being released after successful events at the newly reopened venue.

Final tickets are available via See Tickets.

King George’s Hall will also host Gabrielle, comedian Paul Smith, a new panto and more in the months ahead.

For the latest announcements, follow King George’s Hall on Facebook and Instagram, and check what’s on at bwd.venues.com.

For people heading into Blackburn for the gig, Discover Blackburn has a guide to places to eat, drink and stay in the town centre.