Two decades since its release, Mike Skinner is revisiting the album that changed everything. In summer 2026, The Streetswill tour the UK performing ‘A Grand Don’t Come for Free’ in full, a rare chance to experience the album’s full narrative arc live on stage.
Originally released in 2004, the album told the story of one man’s lost £1,000, but it was always about much more than that: love, miscommunication, paranoia, and working-class frustration, all filtered through Skinner’s deadpan delivery and brutally honest lyricism..
Speaking to Radio X Mike Skinner sounded apprehensively excited for the gigs:
“We’ve been looking for something bold to do with the live show, and we landed here: some tracks have never been played live, others haven’t surfaced in years.”
“It’s a new challenge to bring the whole journey to life on stage, but I have an incredible band and we always give everything every night. So I’m certain we’ll make finding out what happened to that thousand quid a party every night.”
Now, for the first time, the album’s full narrative will unfold on stage. It’s a bold move many of the songs, on man album featuring hits like ‘Dry Your Eyes’, ‘Fit But You Know It’ and ‘Blinded By The Lights.’ have either never been played live, or have long since left The Streets’ set lists.
The album is a moment in British history which can always be looked back on as Skinner defining an era. An album that captures his unique storytelling ability. This of course comes with a huge range of lyrics, which in typical Streets fashion, can vary incredibly line to line, and at times make little sense.
Aa playful instagram post Skinner posted a video of him in the studio rehearsing, captioned:
“you might be excited about me performing ‘a grand don’t come for free’ start to finish but i’ve got to learn the words!!. see you next year!”
UK Tour Dates — Summer 2026
June 26 – Dreamland, Margate
June 27 – Bristol Sounds, Bristol
July 11 – Castlefield Bowl, Manchester
July 18 – Alexandra Palace Park, London
July 23– Ludlow Castle, Ludlow
July 24 – Kirkstall Abbey, Leeds
August 7 – Audley End Estate, Essex
August 21 – Rock n Roll Circus, Norwich
Artist presale opens Tuesday October 14 at 10am BST, with general sale beginning Friday October 17 at 10am BST.
All ticket information can be be found here.
