BRITs Week 26, delivered by DHL for War Child, launched in spectacular fashion last night at Newcastle’s Boiler Shop. The legendary, Grammy-winning DJ Fatboy Slim headlined the opening night, bringing his signature energy to an ecstatic crowd in "The Toon."
The set was a masterful tour of his biggest career hits. Fans were treated to iconic tracks like "Praise You" and "Right Here, Right Now" before the night reached its peak with a dazzling finale of "Satisfaction Skank." Support came from rising star Max Jones, who set the tone with a slick selection of dance bangers.
The intimate concert series is designed to give fans a rare chance to see global superstars in small-scale venues. This year marks a new era for the event, expanding to cities including London, Edinburgh, Nottingham, Brighton, and Manchester as the main BRIT Awards ceremony prepares to move to Manchester for the first time.
The shows serve a vital purpose beyond entertainment. All proceeds benefit War Child, an organization providing life-changing aid, education, and mental health support to the 520 million children globally currently affected by conflict. With 1 in 5 children living in war zones, the charity describes this as the deadliest time in history to be a child.
The schedule continues on February 16th at The Garage in London, featuring punk sensations Lambrini Girls supported by RuPaul’s Drag Race UK icon Bimini. Other upcoming highlights include Spiritualized, Myles Smith, and a unique pairing of Jack Savoretti with Katherine Jenkins OBE.
The series concludes with high-profile sets from Olivia Dean and Robbie Williams just ahead of the main awards on February 28th. While many dates are sold out, a limited number of tickets remain for select shows at britsweekforwarchild.co.uk.
Photo credit: Aaron Parsons Photography
