Venue: Horse&Bamboo theatre
Address: Burnley Road, Waterfoot, Rossendale, BB4 7HB.
Date: April 30, 2026
Tickets: £20
later@ is proud to present Patrick Fitzgerald, the unmistakable voice behind Kitchens of Distinction, for a rare and intimate live performance on April 30.
This special evening is one of only three shows Patrick has planned to play this year — and the only seated performance. Set within the atmospheric theatre space of The Horse and Bamboo, the night promises a uniquely close and immersive experience of songs that have resonated for decades. The only other announced date takes place at London’s legendary 100 Club, making this Rossendale show a particularly rare opportunity for audiences in the North.
With just three live appearances planned this year, and this being the only seated date, April 30 at The Horse and Bamboo offers something truly special: space to listen, reflect and experience these songs in a beautifully intimate setting.
Tickets are expected to move quickly.
Patrick will be joined by special guests to celebrate music from his former band, legendary 1990s shoegaze pioneers Kitchens of Distinction, as well as from his solo work as Stephen Hero. Expect songs from old Kitchens dreampop classics to heartfelt songs from his latest Stephen Hero album, Convalescence.
Patrick Fitzgerald was lead singer and bass player in seminal shoegaze 90s band Kitchens of Distinction. After Kitchens he continued to release music in different guises: 1996 he was Fruit, 1998-99 he joined Heidi Berry in the project Lost Girls. Other collaborations include The April Seven in 2016, with Paul Frederick from the Family Cat, as well as two Oskar’s Drum records with guitarist Yves Altana.
As a solo artist he has released seven records as Stephen Hero. His latest, Convalescence, was released in February 2025.songs from old Kitchens dreampop classics to heartfelt songs from his latest Stephen Hero album, Convalescence.
As frontman of Kitchens of Distinction, Patrick helped define a vital strand of late ’80s and early ’90s alternative music. With shimmering guitars, melodic basslines and emotionally direct vocals, the band released acclaimed albums including Love Is Hell, Strange Free World and The Death of Cool, building a devoted following in both the UK and the US and influencing generations of indie and dream-pop artists.
Following the band’s initial split, Patrick launched his solo project Stephen Hero — named after the early draft of James Joyce’s A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man. Under this moniker, he has released a body of work that explores a more intimate, literary and expansive side of his songwriting. Stephen Hero recordings blend piano, guitar textures, electronics and chamber-like arrangements, while retaining the emotional intensity and melodic sensibility that define his work.
This performance will draw from across both catalogues — from the sweeping, reverb-laden anthems of Kitchens of Distinction to the reflective and richly textured compositions of Stephen Hero.
Patrick has recently played a number of sold-out shows, including a special Brighton performance where he was joined by David McAlmont for a memorable duet. A live version of “Mad as Snow” from that evening has since been released as a download via Bandcamp, with an accompanying video also available — capturing the enduring power and emotional clarity of his live performances.
