The Human League, one of Britain’s most influential synth-pop pioneers, are set to light up Bedford Park this summer as part of the 2025 Bedford Summer Sessions concert series.
Speaking to the Bedford Independent ahead of the show, Susan Ann Sulley, who makes up the band alongside Phil Oakey and Joanne Catherall, said fans can expect a night packed with the songs they know and love.
Read: Who’s coming to Bedford Park this year? Here’s all the news for Bedford Summer Sessions
“We work hard to put on a good show,” she said. “There’ll be costume changes, and all the songs that everyone expects to hear. We don’t ever take the audience for granted.”
The Human League’s show, taking place on Thursday, 10 July 2025, will feature a line-up that also includes Thompson Twins’ Tom Bailey and Blancmange, promising an evening of 80s electro-pop nostalgia and live energy.
‘We’ve never gone away’
While many bands are hailed for comeback tours, Susan was quick to point out that The Human League are no revival act.
“We’ve never broken up. We’ve been working constantly for the last 45 or so years,” she said. “Not always, all the time, but we’ve never stopped. The songs are the songs – and that’s what people come to hear.”
That steadfast dedication to their original sound means fans can expect faithful renditions of classics like Don’t You Want Me, Mirror Man, Human and Love Action (I Believe in Love).
Susan laughed when describing the crowd’s reaction at festivals: “You see people turning to each other and saying, ‘I didn’t know this was one of theirs!’ It always makes us smile.”
A career of gratitude – and excitement
Despite decades in the industry, Susan says she still feels the thrill of every live performance.
“I pinch myself every time I walk out on stage. I’m eternally grateful,” she said. “It’s not unheard of now to have a long career, but it used to be – and I know how lucky we are. The connection with the audience is still magic.”
As a 62-year-old still packing out arenas, she joked that even her young nephew finds it strange to see “Auntie Susan” performing to thousands.
Reflecting on today’s music scene, Susan praised artists like Raye and Billie Eilish for keeping creativity alive while staying true to the art of proper songwriting.
“I like songs with a chorus, a bridge – real songs. Music has to move forward, and I love that people are pushing boundaries now,” she said.
A special night in Bedford
Human League’s Bedford Summer Sessions gig is part of a major outdoor concert series at Bedford Park, which this year also features headliners including Simple Minds, McFly, Supergrass, Cafe Mambo Ibiza and Rag’n’Bone Man.
Tickets for TK Maxx Presents Bedford Summer Sessions are available now at bedfordsummersessions.co.uk.
