Wheatus Celebrates 25 Years with UK & Irish Tour Featuring Original Member

Wheatus, the beloved New York band known for their hit song “Teenage Dirtbag,” is gearing up for their much-anticipated 25th anniversary tour across the UK and Ireland. With just one week until the tour kicks off, the group has announced that original member and multi-instrumentalist Philip A. Jimenez will rejoin them for this special 18-date event. This marks Jimenez’s first performance with the band since 2001, adding to the excitement surrounding the tour.

The tour will begin on November 22, 2023, at Dublin Academy and will conclude with a significant night at London’s OVO Arena Wembley on December 13, 2023, where they will perform alongside Bowling For Soup. Each concert will feature Wheatus playing their million-selling self-titled debut album in its entirety, while also allowing fans to request additional songs, creating a unique and interactive concert experience.

Wheatus frontman Brendan B. Brown expressed his excitement about Jimenez’s return, stating, “We’ve discussed properly getting back on stage together many times… but now we’re in rehearsals just like the old days.” Jimenez echoed these sentiments, saying, “After more than thirty years of friendship and musical collaboration, it’s incredible to be reuniting for this tour.”

Tour Details and Fan Engagement

The tour will feature stops in various cities, including Belfast, Newcastle, Glasgow, and Birmingham. Some venues, such as Glasgow SWG3 and Leeds Brudenell Social Club, have already sold out, indicating a strong demand from fans. The full list of tour dates includes:

– November 22: Dublin Academy
– November 23: Belfast Limelight
– November 25: Newcastle Boiler Shop
– November 26: Glasgow SWG3 (SOLD OUT)
– November 28: Manchester O2 Ritz
– November 29: Birmingham O2 Institute
– November 30: Leicester O2 Academy 2
– December 1: Sheffield Foundry
– December 2: Leeds Brudenell Social Club (SOLD OUT)
– December 3: Leeds Brudenell Social Club (SOLD OUT)
– December 5: Oxford O2 Academy
– December 6: Brighton Chalk
– December 7: Southampton 1865 (SOLD OUT)
– December 9: Norwich Epic Studios
– December 10: Nottingham Rescue Rooms (SOLD OUT)
– December 11: Bristol Electric
– December 12: Cardiff Tramshed
– December 13: London OVO Arena Wembley (with Bowling For Soup)

Special guests, the Thomas Nicholas Band, will join Wheatus for all headline shows, excluding the performances in Dublin and Belfast.

A Milestone Celebration for Wheatus

The 25-year journey of Wheatus has been significant, with the band having played to audiences of over 20,000 at the 2024 Download Festival and successfully completing a sold-out 47-date UK & Irish tour in autumn 2023. Reflecting on this milestone, Brown mentioned, “It feels truly strange & wonderful. The feelings of gratitude are overwhelming.”

The enduring popularity of “Teenage Dirtbag” continues to resonate, with the song garnering over 337 million views on YouTube and becoming a central part of a major TikTok trend in 2022. This resurgence has led to the song re-entering the UK Official Top 40 Singles Chart in 2023, a testament to its lasting appeal.

Wheatus aims to celebrate their debut album by performing it in its entirety every night while maintaining a fan-focused atmosphere by taking requests. As Brown noted, “The entire first record is ready to go and will definitely be performed every night, but never in the same order.” This approach ensures that each performance remains fresh and engaging for their audience.

As Wheatus prepares for their tour, they are committed to creating memorable experiences for fans across the UK and Ireland, demonstrating their dedication to live music and the connection they share with their audience. For those interested in attending, remaining tickets can be purchased through the band’s official website.