Elvis Costello & The Imposters are a British-American rock ensemble built around legendary English singer-songwriter Elvis Costello alongside keyboardist Steve Nieve, drummer Pete Thomas and bassist Davey Faragher, with guitarist Charlie Sexton joining the current touring lineup. The group connects Costello’s groundbreaking late-1970s and 1980s catalog with more recent albums and continuously reinvented live performances.

Costello, born Declan Patrick MacManus in London on August 25, 1954, first achieved international recognition with his 1977 debut album My Aim Is True and songs including “Alison” and “Watching the Detectives.” He quickly became one of the defining songwriters associated with Britain’s punk and new-wave period, although his music has always extended far beyond either category.

His career has subsequently explored rock, soul, country, jazz, orchestral music, sophisticated pop and collaborations with artists including Burt Bacharach, Paul McCartney, Allen Toussaint and The Roots.

The Imposters provide the modern electric-band framework for that enormous body of work.

In 2026, the group has been performing the Radio Soul!: The Songs of Elvis Costello From The Early Days to the Late Hours tour with Charlie Sexton. The show focuses heavily on material originally released between My Aim Is True in 1977 and Blood & Chocolate in 1986, while still allowing the band to introduce unexpected songs and new arrangements.

There is also a significant archival release approaching. A major 49th Anniversary Edition of My Aim Is True is scheduled for October 2, 2026, expanding Costello’s debut era across five CDs and including previously unreleased recordings.

For fans searching for Elvis Costello & The Imposters tour dates, songs, albums, band members, setlists and concert information, this complete guide covers the music from the earliest years through the current Radio Soul era.

Table of Contents

1. Who Are Elvis Costello & The Imposters?
2. Who Is Elvis Costello?
3. Who Are the Current Members of The Imposters?
4. What Was Elvis Costello & The Attractions?
5. How Did My Aim Is True Begin Elvis Costello’s Career?
6. Why Is Alison Such an Important Song?
7. Why Is Watching the Detectives a Classic?
8. What Made This Year’s Model Important?
9. Why Are Pump It Up and Radio Radio Still Famous?
10. How Did Elvis Costello Keep Changing Musical Styles?
11. How Did The Imposters Develop?
12. What Is The Delivery Man?
13. What Is Look Now?
14. What Is The Boy Named If?
15. What Is the Radio Soul Tour?
16. Are Elvis Costello & The Imposters Touring in 2026?
17. Elvis Costello & The Imposters Remaining 2026 Dates
18. What Is the My Aim Is True 49th Anniversary Edition?
19. What Is an Elvis Costello & The Imposters Concert Like?
20. What Songs Could Be on the 2026 Setlist?
21. Best Elvis Costello Songs to Hear Before a Concert
22. Why Are Elvis Costello & The Imposters Still Important?
23. Final Thoughts
24. Elvis Costello & The Imposters FAQs

Who Are Elvis Costello & The Imposters?

Elvis Costello & The Imposters are the principal electric rock band through which Elvis Costello has performed and recorded much of his 21st-century work.

The current core Imposters lineup is:

• Elvis Costello – vocals and guitar
• Steve Nieve – keyboards
• Pete Thomas – drums
• Davey Faragher – bass

The current touring configuration also features:

• Charlie Sexton – guitar

Steve Nieve and Pete Thomas have an especially deep connection to Costello’s history because they were members of The Attractions, the band responsible for many of his best-known recordings from the late 1970s and 1980s.

Davey Faragher later became the bassist in The Imposters, creating a rhythm section capable of moving between rock, soul, country and quieter ballads.

For the 2026 Radio Soul performances, Charlie Sexton adds a second-guitar voice that gives the older material a new character rather than simply recreating its original studio arrangements.

Who Is Elvis Costello?

Elvis Costello is one of the most acclaimed British songwriters to emerge from the late-1970s new-wave era.

Born Declan Patrick MacManus, he developed as a songwriter in London’s pub-rock environment before adopting the stage name Elvis Costello.

His breakthrough arrived in 1977 with My Aim Is True.

The album immediately established Costello as a writer capable of combining sharp language with melodies drawn from rock, pop, soul and older songwriting traditions.

His career quickly demonstrated that the punk and new-wave labels would never be large enough to contain him.

Costello later recorded country music, orchestral projects, jazz-influenced songs, sophisticated pop, Americana and collaborative albums with musicians from completely different backgrounds.

That stylistic curiosity remains one of the defining qualities of his career.

What Was Elvis Costello & The Attractions?

The Attractions were Elvis Costello’s classic backing band and played on many of the recordings that established his international reputation.

The lineup included:

• Steve Nieve – keyboards
• Pete Thomas – drums
• Bruce Thomas – bass

Costello and The Attractions were responsible for some of the most influential records of his early career.

Albums associated with this period include:

• This Year’s Model
• Armed Forces
• Get Happy!!
• Trust
• Imperial Bedroom
• Punch the Clock
• Goodbye Cruel World
• Blood & Chocolate

Their sound could be aggressive and urgent, but it could also become highly sophisticated.

Nieve’s keyboards were particularly important because they allowed the band to move beyond basic guitar rock.

Pete Thomas brought an energetic, highly musical drumming style, while Bruce Thomas’s bass frequently carried melodic parts rather than simply following the root notes.

Costello and The Attractions were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2003.

How Did My Aim Is True Begin Elvis Costello’s Career?

My Aim Is True introduced Elvis Costello to the wider world in 1977 and remains one of the defining debut albums of its era.

The record contains songs including:

• “Welcome to the Working Week”
• “Miracle Man”
• “No Dancing”
• “Blame It on Cain”
• “Alison”
• “Sneaky Feelings”
• “(The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes”
• “Less Than Zero”
• “Mystery Dance”
• “Waiting for the End of the World”

“Watching the Detectives” became closely connected with the album era even though its release history varied between editions.

The record established several characteristics that would remain central to Costello’s songwriting.

There was melodic sophistication, but also anger.

There were references to soul and older pop music, but the delivery felt completely contemporary.

Most importantly, the lyrics demanded attention.

Costello was clearly interested in writing songs where every phrase could carry meaning.

Why Is Alison Such an Important Song?

“Alison” remains one of Elvis Costello’s most famous and emotionally durable compositions.

Unlike some of his more aggressive early material, “Alison” is restrained.

The melody is gentle, while the lyric carries tension, regret and ambiguity.

That contrast became one of Costello’s great songwriting strengths.

A beautiful melody does not necessarily mean the subject matter is comforting.

The song has subsequently been interpreted by other performers and continues appearing in Costello’s own concerts nearly five decades after its release.

It is also part of the current Radio Soul repertoire, where The Imposters can reshape the arrangement depending on the mood of the performance.

Why Is Watching the Detectives a Classic?

“Watching the Detectives” demonstrated almost immediately that Elvis Costello’s music would not remain inside straightforward guitar rock.

The song uses reggae-influenced rhythm while creating an uneasy atmosphere around its cinematic lyric.

The bass and drums are central to the arrangement.

Rather than driving aggressively forward, the music creates tension and space.

The result sounds very different from “Alison,” even though both songs belong to the same early period.

That flexibility was an early warning that Costello would be difficult to categorize.

“Watching the Detectives” continues to appear regularly in modern concerts and remains one of the major songs highlighted in the current Radio Soul concept.

What Made This Year’s Model Important?

This Year’s Model brought Elvis Costello together with The Attractions and created a much more forceful band sound.

Released in 1978, the album captures Costello at one of his most energetic early points.

Important tracks include:

• “No Action”
• “This Year’s Girl”
• “The Beat”
• “Pump It Up”
• “Little Triggers”
• “You Belong to Me”
• “Lip Service”
• “Hand in Hand”
• “Lipstick Vogue”

Steve Nieve’s keyboards immediately became a major feature.

Rather than simply decorating the songs, organ and piano often compete with Costello’s guitar for attention.

Pete Thomas drives the music with exceptional energy.

This combination gave Costello a band capable of making his increasingly ambitious compositions work onstage as well as in the studio.

Why Are Pump It Up and Radio Radio Still Famous?

“Pump It Up” and “Radio Radio” represent the confrontational side of early Elvis Costello.

“Pump It Up” is built around one of the most recognizable riffs in his catalog.

The rhythm is immediate, making it an obvious concert song even for listeners who may not know the deeper album material.

“Radio Radio,” meanwhile, became closely associated with Costello’s willingness to challenge expectations.

Its driving arrangement and cynical view of broadcasting helped make it one of the defining songs of his early period.

The current Radio Soul concept has an interesting connection with that history.

An earlier song called “Radio Soul” represented a first draft of what eventually developed into “Radio Radio.” That connection inspired the title of the present tour and emphasizes the idea of returning to old songs without treating them as museum pieces.

How Did Elvis Costello Keep Changing Musical Styles?

Elvis Costello’s career is defined partly by his refusal to repeat one successful formula forever.

After establishing himself through urgent rock and new wave, he moved into increasingly varied musical territory.

Get Happy!! explored soul influences.

Almost Blue moved directly into country music.

Imperial Bedroom emphasized complex songwriting and sophisticated arrangements.

Later collaborations expanded the range even further.

Costello wrote and recorded with Burt Bacharach, collaborated with Paul McCartney, created music with Allen Toussaint, and recorded with The Roots.

He also worked in orchestral and classical settings.

That variety explains why a single Costello concert can contain songs that sound as if they originated from completely different musical worlds.

His songwriting, rather than one particular genre, is the connecting thread.

How Did The Imposters Develop?

The Imposters became Elvis Costello’s principal modern electric band by combining two musicians from The Attractions with bassist Davey Faragher.

Steve Nieve and Pete Thomas brought decades of shared musical history.

Faragher added a different bass approach from Bruce Thomas, helping create a group that could respect Costello’s classic arrangements without becoming a copy of The Attractions.

That distinction is important.

The Imposters are not presented as a tribute version of an older band.

Costello has emphasized that they are a living rock-and-roll group capable of taking familiar songs in unexpected directions.

Their recording career has also produced major albums of its own.

What Is The Delivery Man?

The Delivery Man is one of the major early albums credited to Elvis Costello & The Imposters.

Released in 2004, the record explores roots music, rock, country and Americana influences.

Songs include material such as:

• “Button My Lip”
• “Country Darkness”
• “There’s a Story in Your Voice”
• “Bedlam”
• “The Delivery Man”
• “Monkey to Man”

The record helped establish The Imposters as something more substantial than a touring configuration.

It also earned major award recognition, with the project receiving a nomination for Best Rock Album and “Monkey to Man” receiving another nomination.

What Is Look Now?

Look Now is a 2018 Elvis Costello & The Imposters album that emphasizes sophisticated pop arrangements, melody and orchestration.

The record reunited Costello with The Imposters in the studio after a long gap.

Its 12-song standard edition includes:

• “Under Lime”
• “Don’t Look Now”
• “Burnt Sugar Is So Bitter”
• “Stripping Paper”
• “Unwanted Number”
• “I Let the Sun Go Down”
• “Mr. & Mrs. Hush”
• “Photographs Can Lie”
• “Dishonor the Stars”
• “Suspect My Tears”
• “Why Won’t Heaven Help Me?”
• “He’s Given Me Things”

Burt Bacharach contributed to several songs, while “Burnt Sugar Is So Bitter” was written with Carole King.

The album later won the GRAMMY Award for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album.

What Is The Boy Named If?

The Boy Named If is the 2022 album by Elvis Costello & The Imposters and represents a more forceful rock-oriented side of the modern band.

Its full title is The Boy Named If (And Other Children’s Stories).

Costello explained that “If” represents an imaginary or secret self—the version of a person that knows the truths they may prefer to deny.

The album reached No. 6 in the UK, making it The Imposters’ highest-charting UK album under that billing.

It also received a GRAMMY nomination for Best Rock Album.

The record demonstrates that The Imposters are not merely a vehicle for performing Costello’s classic material.

They remain a recording band capable of creating new songs with real energy decades into Costello’s career.

What Is the Radio Soul Tour?

Radio Soul!: The Songs of Elvis Costello From The Early Days to the Late Hours is the major Elvis Costello & The Imposters touring concept running through 2026.

The concerts are performed with guitarist Charlie Sexton joining Costello, Steve Nieve, Pete Thomas and Davey Faragher.

The central idea is to revisit songs primarily from the first major decade of Costello’s career.

The tour draws heavily from music originally released between:

My Aim Is True – 1977

and

Blood & Chocolate – 1986

That period contains an extraordinary concentration of important songs, including:

• “Alison”
• “Watching the Detectives”
• “Pump It Up”
• “Radio Radio”
• “Accidents Will Happen”
• “Oliver’s Army”
• “Clubland”
• “Man Out of Time”
• “Everyday I Write the Book”
• “Brilliant Mistake”
• “I Want You”

But the idea is not to recreate the records exactly.

Costello has described The Imposters as a band that brings both familiar material and unexpected choices into the present.

Are Elvis Costello & The Imposters Touring in 2026?

Yes. Elvis Costello & The Imposters with Charlie Sexton are actively performing in September 2026.

The Radio Soul tour already travelled through Europe during June and July.

Shows took place in Sweden, Norway, Germany, England, Scotland, Belgium, the Netherlands, France and Ireland before another North American run began in September.

As of September 16, 2026, two headline Radio Soul performances remain on the currently announced North American electric-band run, followed by a Chicago festival appearance on September 20.

Elvis Costello & The Imposters Remaining 2026 Dates

The September 20 festival lineup specifically includes Elvis Costello & The Imposters.

Additional future shows can always be announced later, so the absence of later electric-band dates should not be interpreted as the end of The Imposters.

What Is the My Aim Is True 49th Anniversary Edition?

A major expanded edition of My Aim Is True is scheduled for release on October 2, 2026.

The unusual decision to celebrate the album’s 49th anniversary rather than waiting for its 50th suits Costello’s tendency to avoid obvious expectations.

The five-CD collection revisits his earliest professional recordings and includes a substantial amount of archival material.

One newly released preview is “I Turn Around,” recorded at the Hope & Anchor studio and previously unreleased.

Another important component is The Blue Print, a collection of acoustic performances dating from early 1976.

That material includes an early version of “Radio Soul,” providing a direct historical connection between the archival project and the current tour.

The collection therefore makes 2026 an unusually interesting year for Costello fans.

The live performances are revisiting the early songs at the same moment that previously unheard recordings from their creation are becoming available.

What Is an Elvis Costello & The Imposters Concert Like?

An Elvis Costello & The Imposters concert is unpredictable, energetic and built around songs rather than rigid recreations of old records.

The musicians know the catalog well enough to change arrangements without losing the identity of the composition.

Steve Nieve may transform a familiar section with piano or organ.

Pete Thomas can make songs recorded nearly five decades ago feel urgent again.

Davey Faragher gives the rhythm section a modern personality.

Charlie Sexton adds another guitar voice, allowing Costello to move between rhythm playing, lead parts and vocals more freely.

Costello himself frequently changes phrasing and arrangements.

That means a song such as “Alison” may not sound exactly the same from night to night.

For longtime fans, that unpredictability is part of the attraction.

What Songs Could Be on the 2026 Setlist?

The current Radio Soul performances emphasize early material, and recent shows have included songs such as:

• “You Belong to Me”
• “Mystery Dance”
• “Watching the Detectives”
• “Less Than Zero”
• “Goon Squad”
• “Opportunity”
• “Alison”
• “Pump It Up”
• “Man Out of Time”
• “Brilliant Mistake”
• “I Want You”

A recent September performance opened with “You Belong to Me” before moving through “Mystery Dance,” “Watching the Detectives” and other early-period songs.

Because Costello has such a large catalog and deliberately values surprise, no past setlist should be treated as a guarantee.

The title From The Early Days to the Late Hours leaves room for songs outside the obvious choices.

Best Elvis Costello Songs to Hear Before a Concert

Alison

The essential introduction to Costello’s melodic and emotional songwriting.

Watching the Detectives

A demonstration of how early he began moving beyond conventional rock arrangements.

Pump It Up

One of the most immediate and energetic songs in the entire catalog.

Radio Radio

A classic example of the confrontational voice associated with his early career.

Accidents Will Happen

A sophisticated pop song that demonstrates how quickly Costello’s writing developed.

Oliver’s Army

One of his best-known melodic compositions, pairing a bright arrangement with far more complicated subject matter.

Man Out of Time

A highlight of the Imperial Bedroom period and one of the songs that demonstrates Costello’s strength as a mature pop writer.

Everyday I Write the Book

An accessible 1980s favorite that remains instantly recognizable.

Brilliant Mistake

An important song from King of America and a regular presence around the current live repertoire.

I Want You

One of Costello’s most intense recordings, originally appearing on Blood & Chocolate.

Why Are Elvis Costello & The Imposters Still Important?

Elvis Costello & The Imposters remain important because they treat a major historic catalog as living material rather than something that must remain frozen in its original form.

Costello has been writing professionally for approximately half a century.

Yet the current group does not behave like a tribute act to the late 1970s.

The Imposters have their own recordings.

Look Now won a GRAMMY.

The Boy Named If reached the UK Top 10 and received a Best Rock Album nomination.

At the same time, Steve Nieve and Pete Thomas provide a direct musical link to songs first recorded with The Attractions.

That combination gives the group something unusual.

There is historical authenticity without the obligation to recreate history note for note.

Final Thoughts

Elvis Costello’s career is one of the clearest examples of how songwriting can survive musical trends.

He emerged in 1977 at a moment when punk and new wave were transforming British music.

My Aim Is True introduced “Alison,” “Less Than Zero,” “Red Shoes” and the world surrounding “Watching the Detectives.”

Then The Attractions changed everything.

This Year’s Model gave the songs a harder and more immediate band sound.

Armed Forces expanded the audience.

From there, Costello repeatedly changed direction.

Soul.

Country.

Sophisticated pop.

Orchestral writing.

Jazz.

Americana.

Collaborations with Burt Bacharach, Paul McCartney, Allen Toussaint and numerous other artists.

The career never became one long attempt to recreate 1977.

That is why The Imposters matter.

Steve Nieve and Pete Thomas bring direct history from The Attractions.

Davey Faragher brings a different bass voice.

Charlie Sexton adds another layer to the current touring band.

Together, they can perform “Mystery Dance,” “Watching the Detectives,” “Alison,” “Man Out of Time” and “I Want You” without making them sound like museum exhibits.

The modern recording history supports that point.

Look Now proved that sophisticated songwriting remained central to Costello’s work and earned major award recognition.

The Boy Named If returned to a more aggressive band sound, reached No. 6 in Britain and earned a Best Rock Album nomination.

Now the Radio Soul Tour 2026 turns attention toward the first extraordinary decade.

The concept looks backward, but its purpose is not simply nostalgia.

The songs are being played by musicians who understand where the arrangements came from but remain willing to reshape them.

That philosophy becomes even more interesting alongside the forthcoming My Aim Is True – 49th Anniversary Edition.

On one side, previously unheard recordings allow listeners to hear Costello before the world knew many of these songs.

On the other, The Imposters demonstrate what those same compositions can become almost 50 years later.

As of September 16, the current electric-band run continues in Royal Oak tonight, Muskegon on September 18 and Chicago on September 20.

For new listeners, this is an opportunity to explore one of rock and pop’s deepest songwriting catalogs.

For longtime fans, the appeal lies in hearing familiar songs refuse to remain entirely familiar.

That may be the strongest explanation for why Elvis Costello & The Imposters continue to matter.

The past is present, but it is still moving.