The one and only Paul Weller is returning to Bedford Park next summer, as the latest headline act to be announced for the 2026 Bedford Summer Sessions.
After his sold-out show in 2022, the legendary singer-songwriter will return on Sunday, 5 July 2026, strengthening the town’s reputation as a leading destination for live music.
Tickets will go on sale at 10am this Friday (31 October) from the Summer Sessions website here.
Paul Weller is one of British music’s most respected artists, enjoying a career that extends back five decades and encompasses The Jam, The Style Council and his incredible solo career.
His songs are woven into the tapestry of British music, his body of work stands comparison with formative heroes such as John Lennon, Paul McCartney and Ray Davies, and his canon includes a total of 28 studio albums.
And while it’s tempting to dwell on past achievements – the Brit Awards, the Ivor Novellos and the number one albums (eight in total) – it’s evident that Weller views his creative past rather like a motorist might look in the rear-view mirror – foot on the pedal, in constant forward motion.
More than The Modfather
For Weller, it was that modernist outlook that informed his music as far back as his earliest recordings with The Jam. The trio he formed with Bruce Foxton (bass) and Rick Buckler (drums) achieved instant success with their 1977 debut single In The City.
The album with which it shared its title has come to be regarded alongside Never Mind The Bollocks and London Calling as one of the musical lodestones of the punk era.
After dissolving The Jam at the peak of their powers, Weller – still only 22 – swiftly re-emerged alongside keyboard player Mick Talbot in The Style Council.
The duo’s lineup would expand to take in drummer Steve White and vocalist Dee C. Lee, resulting in a string of hits that included Shout To The Top and My Ever Changing Moods – songs that Weller regularly plays to this day.
As a solo artist, Weller forged his own path with acclaimed albums including Wild Wood and Stanley Road, which helped shape a new era of British guitar music.
His creative restlessness has continued into the 21st century with records like 22 Dreams, On Sunset, and his latest album 66 (2024) — a vibrant, life-affirming work that reaffirms his enduring influence and commitment to artistic progression.
For all of that, the thing that gets Paul Weller out of bed is the promise of what’s next, be it another electrifying live show tracing a line through the ever-changing moods of his canon or another day in his Black Barn studio.
Get ready to welcome ‘The Modfather’ himself back to Bedford Park.
For those who were there in 2022, you’ll know why this is a night not to be missed – and if you missed him last time, now’s your moment to see one of the true greats live.
Paul joins Bedford’s very own Tom Grennan on next year’s roster, with more acts to be annoucned soon. Watch this space!
Read: Bedford’s Tom Grennan returns home for massive Summer Sessions headline gig
Tickets will be on sale on Friday, 31 October 2025 at 10am. Available here.
