Attention all you new wavers! Are you ready for a night of killer synth hooks from the ‘80s? The tour has been hitting all corners of the country, and it is set to come to Southern California for three insanely crazy nights. On August 21st the tour hits Cal Coast Credit Union Amp in Chula Vista, and on the 24th it will land at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles.
Sandwiched in between those dates is the Orange County spectacular. Mark August 22nd on your calendar at City National Grove. The Lost 80’s Live tour is rolling into Anaheim with an all-star lineup that reads like the ultimate new wave dream team finally assembled in one place.
Lost 80’s Live has been putting together killer new wave lineups for more than two decades and this show is a powerhouse collection of the artists who defined the new wave sound.
General Public brings Dave Wakeling’s infectious energy and hits like “Tenderness” “Never You Done That,” “I’ll Take You There, and “Hot You’re Cool” that still gets crowds moving.
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The Vapors will deliver that raw energy with “Turning Japanese,” while Big Country’s distinctive guitar sound creates soaring anthems that made them international legends from Scotland.
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China Crisis adds sophisticated art-rock elements to the evening, and Icicle Works brings their compelling post-punk atmosphere. Belouis Some delivers those beautiful synth ballads, while Josie Cotton displays her distinctive charm onstage, while The Polecats add rockabilly energy to the mix.
Peter Godwin rounds out the stellar supporting cast with his engaging theatrical presence.
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Closing out this incredible evening is one of the most iconic ‘80s bands around – A Flock of Seagulls. The band will cap off the night with the songs that helped launch KROQ, 91X, and MTV into the stratosphere.
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Mike Score’s otherworldly vocals on “I Ran” and “Space Age Love Song” still sound like transmissions from a cooler planet, and this guy basically created the blueprint for what early ‘80s alternative rock could be. Having A Flock of Seagulls close the show means the night ends on the highest possible note.
The real bonus? Richard Blade is hosting this entire celebration! If you grew up in SoCal during the ‘80s, you know Blade was the guy spinning these tracks on KROQ – and now on Sirius XM’s 1st Wave – when they were brand new. He’s the reason many of these bands found their audience in America, and having him guide the evening adds genuine authenticity – it’s like having the original champion of this music sharing stories about why these songs have endured.
For the locals, City National Grove is the perfect venue for this all-star gathering. It’s big enough to feel like a major event but intimate enough that you will feel connected to every performance.
These songs were born in clubs, and this venue has that same energy where every synthesizer solo and guitar riff really connects with the audience.
This lineup represents the cream of the new wave crop; these are the artists who influenced everything from indie rock to electronic music. With streaming and social media introducing these tracks to new audiences, there’s likely to be fans of all ages experiencing these legends live, some for the first time alongside the original fans who’ve been waiting years for a show like this.
Whether you lived through the original KROQ revolution or discovered these bands through your parents’ record collection, Lost 80’s Live promises to be the ultimate celebration of an era when being different was everything, and the music proved it.
