Nation of Language Bring the Dance Called Memory Tour to Vancouver's Commodore Ballroom on July 19, 2026
Nation of Language headline the Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver on Sunday, July 19, 2026, with support from Peel Dream Magazine. The Brooklyn synth-pop trio are touring behind Dance Called Memory, their fourth album and first for Sub Pop, and tickets are on sale now.
Key details
- Who: Nation of Language with opener Peel Dream Magazine
- When: Sunday, July 19, 2026 - show listed for 7:00 PM (19+ event)
- Where: Commodore Ballroom, 868 Granville Street, Vancouver
- Tickets: On sale now via Ticketmaster
A synth-pop band at the height of its powers
Few current bands have mined the early days of synth-pop and post-punk as convincingly as Nation of Language. Fronted by Ian Devaney alongside synth player Aidan Noell, the Brooklyn group built its following the old-fashioned way - relentless touring and a steady run of albums, from the 2020 debut Introduction, Presence through A Way Forward (2021) and Strange Disciple (2023) - earning constant comparisons to OMD and New Order while sounding unmistakably like themselves.
Dance Called Memory, released September 19, 2025, is the band's fourth full-length and its Sub Pop debut. Recorded, produced and mixed by Nick Millhiser of Holy Ghost! in New York, the ten-track record leads with the single "Inept Apollo" and finds the band at its most vulnerable, with Devaney saying he wants listeners to come away feeling seen rather than hopeless. Critics have singled it out as some of the trio's warmest, most emotionally direct work to date.
Live is where Nation of Language really make their case. Devaney is a restless, magnetic frontman, and the band's motorik pulse is built for a room like the Commodore, whose famous sprung dance floor might be the best place in Vancouver to hear "Across That Fine Line" or "On Division St" at full volume. A Sunday-night synth-pop communion on Granville Street is a fitting close to the weekend.
Los Angeles based Peel Dream Magazine open the night with their Stereolab indebted blend of drone pop and baroque pop - arrive early.
Frequently asked questions
Are tickets still available for Nation of Language at the Commodore Ballroom?
Yes. At the time of writing the July 19 show is on sale, with advance tickets around $35 plus fees via Ticketmaster.
What time does the show start?
The event is listed for 7:00 PM and is 19+. Check the ticket page for exact door and set times.
What album are Nation of Language touring?
Dance Called Memory, their fourth LP and Sub Pop debut, released September 19, 2025.
Scene in the Dark has covered Vancouver's live-music scene since 2010. For more upcoming shows, browse our full Vancouver concert calendar.
