Anyone who sang Gold into a hairbrush in 1983 will want to know Martin Kemp is coming back to Edinburgh this week. The Spandau Ballet bassist brings his Back to the 80s DJ set to Brewhemia on Market Street, and the party starts at 5pm on Friday 23 October, with entry tickets and dining or drinks packages on sale through the Brewhemia website.
- Date: Friday 23 October 2026.
- Start: 5pm.
- Venue: Brewhemia, 1a Market Street, Edinburgh EH1 1DE.
- Room: the Beer Palace, the big main hall upstairs.
- Tickets: entry tickets, plus separate dining and drinks packages.
- Age: over 18s only at his earlier Brewhemia shows, so bring ID.
The Facebook post says Martin is back after a show “in May”. People who remember him there last summer might wonder if they have the month wrong, but both shows happened. His first Brewhemia afternoon was on Sunday 27 July 2025, and he returned on 1 May 2026. Friday is his third time at the venue in a little over a year.
Gold Is Definitely On The Playlist
Brewhemia put it in writing on the listing: Gold “will absolutely be played”. The rest of the set sticks to the big names of the decade. The listing names these acts:
- Duran Duran
- Madonna
- George Michael
- Chaka Khan
Culture Club were on the list for the July show as well. Expect the songs everyone knows the words to, more than deep album tracks.
He Did More Than Play Bass In Spandau Ballet
Martin Kemp played bass in Spandau Ballet through their run of 80s hits, with True and Gold both out in 1983. His brother Gary wrote the songs. The 2 brothers then played the Kray twins in the 1990 film The Krays, Martin as Reggie and Gary as Ronnie. Plenty of people in the room on Friday will know him better as Steve Owen from EastEnders, a part he played from 1998 to 2002.
These days his Back to the 80s DJ shows tour the country, from big halls like Belfast’s Ulster Hall to bars like Brewhemia. Edinburgh keeps asking him back, so expect a mix of regulars and first-timers on Friday.
You Need A Ticket Even If You Book A Table
Booking comes in 2 parts, going by how the earlier shows worked:
- An entry ticket gets you through the door and nothing more.
- Dining and drinks packages are booked separately, and you still need an entry ticket on top.
- The packages come with a reserved table or area for the night.
For the July 2025 show, the drinks packages were £20 a head in the Beer Palace and £10 a head in the Boudoir, with entry tickets from £20. Friday’s prices are on the Brewhemia website, so check them there before you book. For tables and group bookings the events team is on brewhemia.events@clg.co.uk or 0131 226 9560.
Entry tickets at the earlier shows could not be refunded or swapped, so be sure of the date before you pay.
Waverley Station Is A Couple Of Minutes Away
Brewhemia is on Market Street, right by the Market Street exit of Waverley station, so anyone coming in by train is a couple of minutes away. Entry is at ground level, and a lift takes you up to the Beer Palace. The Bothy and the Boudoir are on upper levels without wheelchair access, so ask the events team about step-free seating before booking a table there.
The Facebook post tells everyone to “dust off the shoulder pads” and tease the fringe sky high. Will you be going in full Spandau costume, or keeping it to one frilly shirt?