The Lowestoft band whose Permission to Land sold over a million copies and won three Brit Awards headline The O2 arena for the first time, on their largest tour in twenty years.
The Darkness, the band behind “I Believe in a Thing Called Love”, headline The O2 arena in North Greenwich for the first time on Wednesday 16 December 2026. It is the London night of their largest headline tour in twenty years.
Brothers Justin and Dan Hawkins formed the band in Lowestoft, Suffolk, in 2000. Justin took up the guitar after falling for Brian May’s tone and brought a falsetto to the band.
Permission to Land, their 2003 debut, sold more than 1.3 million copies in Britain. It won three Brit Awards in 2004, among them Best British Group and Best British Album.
The band split in 2006 and reformed in 2011 with the original bassist, Frankie Poullain, back beside the brothers. Rufus Tiger Taylor now plays drums.
Their London history began with a Carling Homecoming show at the Astoria, booked before they had signed a record deal. Live at Hammersmith, their concert album, followed in 2018. In 2025 they played the VE Day celebration on Horse Guards Parade.
Dreams On Toast, their eighth studio album, entered the UK albums chart at number two in April 2026.
Feeder and A join them as special guests.