The 1975‘s Matty Healy will play an intimate 2026 gig for Newcastle charity Sunday For Sammy.
For Sunday For Sammy’s 25th anniversary, Matty Healy has been announced to join the list of esteemed performers at Newcastle’s Utilita Arena next year on February 15. He also shared the news during a Q&A with students at Gateshead College yesterday (December 2), adding that Sam Fender had agreed that morning to also play the charity gig.
First held in 2000, Sunday For Sammy is a “biennial entertainment extravaganza” held in honour of Auf Wiedersehen, Pet actor Sammy Johnson, who died in 1998.
The charity gigs have previously showcased actors like co-star Tim Healy (who is also Matty’s father), along with Denise Welch (Matty’s mother) and Timothy Spall. Meanwhile, surprise guests in recent years include AC/DC‘s Brian Johnson and Mark Knopfler. All proceeds go towards supporting young performing artists in the North East.
Matty has said he will play a mix of The 1975’s catalogue and “Geordie folk songs”. “I’ll be there too,” Tim added, continuing in a separate post that this year’s show would be “special”: “It’s the one you’ve gotta come back for”.
There will be two shows held at 1pm and 7pm – get your tickets to Sunday for Sammy here.
Matty has performed numerous times with his father in the past. Tim joined The 1975 to sing ‘All I Need To Hear’ in Manchester during their ‘Still… At Their Very Best‘ tour, and would write and provide backing vocals for the song ‘Don’t Worry’ from their album ‘Notes On A Conditional Form’.
He would also tell NME about his extended family’s influence on his art in our 2022 Big Read. “My grandad was one of the first drag queens in the UK,” he said. “I genuinely believe that a lot of the best art comes from transgressive communities like the gay community and cultures of colour.
“If you want good art and good shit then leave people alone, let them do their thing! Don’t be racist and don’t oppress women! I’ve not said anything revolutionary…”
Elsewhere, The 1975 have removed a track from their album on streaming because Matty Healy doesn’t like it anymore.
