Brit Award-winning legends Stereo MC’s are officially back on the road in 2025, announcing a full UK and Ireland run that marks their biggest live return in more than a decade.
Following their appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon earlier this year — where they performed “Connected” with The Roots — the group completed their first U.S. coast-to-coast tour since 2001. Now, they’re bringing the momentum home.
Launching at Glasgow’s St Luke’s on 27 November 2025, the ‘True To Life’ Tour spans 11 dates including Leeds, Liverpool, Bristol, Manchester, Birmingham and more, before wrapping with a two-night stand at Dublin’s Button Factory on 30–31 January 2026. The core trio — Rob Birch, Nick Hallam, and Cath Coffey — reunite with drummer Tansay Omar for what promises to be a groove-heavy, career-spanning live show.
“We’ve always mixed old-school approaches with new sounds,” says Birch. “The more diverse it gets, the better it feels.” Hallam adds that the band have “a lot of new material — some club-driven, some classic Stereo MC’s — and the magic happens when those worlds collide.”
We caught up with Rob Birch to talk U.S. crowds, creative longevity, and why their hits still resonate decades later.
You recently performed “Connected” on The Tonight Show with The Roots. How was it stepping back into that world?
It was incredible — proper live TV energy, big cameras, a buzzing crowd. Playing with The Roots felt like a real honour. And it was snowing outside, which made the whole thing strangely magical.
This was your first full U.S. tour in over two decades. How did the audience feel?
They were sincere, really connected. We’ve grown as performers, and people can sense that we still genuinely love being onstage. At one festival it started raining as we came on — nobody left. That meant a lot.
How do you build a setlist that balances hits and new material?
We try to give a sweep through everything, but also test new tracks and keep what works. Nick usually decides the final list — he knows what lifts a room. We also weave in some of our Afro house and deep house collaborations.
Why do “Connected” and “Step It Up” still feel so fresh to you?
I still love performing them. I’ve never felt tired of the hits — we’re lucky people still want to hear them.
How do you keep your sound evolving in 2025?
Nick’s Afro house label and my DJ sets keep us surrounded by new music. That curiosity from the early days is still there. I write constantly, sometimes more like poetry — not everything has to be a dancefloor tune. It’s about honesty now.
Where did the tour title True To Life come from?
It’s from our track “Running.” It felt right — staying grounded in who we are. Touring’s tough, but it’s energising too. I’m excited to get back out there … as long as the bones behave!
And can fans expect new material?
Absolutely. Some of it’s experimental, some more classic. I want to make the record I truly feel, not the one I “should” make.
With thanks to Rob and Warren at Chuff Media.
Matt Jacobson
Explore Liverpool
STEREO MC’S – TRUE TO LIFE UK / IE TOUR
NOVEMBER 2025
27 – Glasgow, St Luke’s
28 – Leeds, Brudenell Social Club
29 – Liverpool, Arts Club
DECEMBER 2025
4 – Bristol, Trinity
6 – Margate, Dreamland
7 – Norwich, Epic Studios
12 – London, Shepherd’s Bush Empire
13 – Manchester, O2 Ritz
14 – Birmingham, O2 Academy 2
JANUARY 2026
30 – Dublin, Button Factory
31 – Dublin, Button Factory
Tickets here.
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