Pioneers of UK hip-hop and electronic dance, Brit Award winners Stereo MC’s are gearing up for a long-awaited return to the road in 2025, announcing a brand-new UK and Ireland tour that will reconnect them with fans old and new. The True to Life tour marks both a celebration and a renewal — a reminder that, more than three decades since Connected first rewired British club culture, the Stereo MC’s groove still runs deep.

When the band recently appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, frontman Rob Birch found himself right back in the American spotlight — and loving it.

“It was great to play a live TV show again, especially in front of a real audience,” he says. “We were genuinely honoured to do it with The Roots—we’ve been fans of that band and of Questlove for years. It was a big privilege and a real pleasure. Being on a stage like that, with the big cameras and the lights and the buzz from the crowd—it’s just amazing. And it was snowing outside too, which made it all feel kind of surreal and magical.”

That performance came on the heels of the group’s first coast-to-coast U.S. tour in over two decades—a run that Birch describes as “sincere” and “soulful”.

“I wasn’t sure what to expect after so long,” he says, “but our love for performing has only deepened over the years. We’ve become more experienced, but we still really enjoy doing it—not out of habit, but because we genuinely love being up there. I think the crowds can feel that.”

One moment in particular stands out — a rainy American festival where, despite the downpour, no one left. “The whole crowd stayed put,” Birch recalls. “They stood there in the rain with us, and that meant a lot. It wasn’t like we were the big draw of the day, but the energy was real. When the crowd and the band are on the same wavelength, you don’t even need to spell it out. Everyone just starts to feel alright together. That’s what it’s all about.”

That sense of unity runs through everything the Stereo MC’s do — both in spirit and sound. With fans spanning generations, their live shows blend the best of the old with the energy of the new.

“We try to give a cross-section of our music from over the years,” Birch explains. “We road-test new tracks — if they work live, they stay. Nick [Hallam] is the filter. I’d probably sneak in a few of the more laid-back ones, but he knows what lifts a crowd. We’ve also collaborated a lot in the last decade with deep house and Afro house artists, so we weave some of that in too. It keeps things fresh.”

And those ‘90s anthems — Connected, Step It Up, and Elevate My Mind — still pulse with vitality today. “I’ve never had that thing where artists get tired of playing their hits,” says Birch. “I feel lucky. Those songs connected with people, and if they still want to hear them, that’s a blessing. You’d never catch me getting negative about that—not a chance.”

After so many years, the music has taken on a life of its own. “You plant these little seeds, put them out there, and they grow,” he reflects. “Some become diplomats, some artists, some just hang out in the garden. They all find their place in the world. I don’t feel too much ownership anymore — so many people and moments shape what you create. Music feels like it comes out of thin air sometimes. It’s a gift. You just have to keep the door open and let it flow through.”

That openness extends into 2025, as the group continues to evolve their trademark fusion of organic rhythm and electronic edge. Birch and Hallam remain deeply embedded in the dance underground — Hallam runs an Afro house label, while Birch DJs monthly on Margate Radio. “Being around new sounds keeps us learning,” says Birch. “You’ll hear something and think, ‘How did they do that? That sense of shock and inspiration—it’s the same feeling we had hearing Public Enemy’s ‘Rebel Without a Pause’ for the first time.”

These days, Birch is exploring new creative paths — writing lyrics that lean more toward storytelling and poetry. “Not everything has to be for the dancefloor,” he says. “Maybe some of it can be storytelling, with music as the backdrop. At this point, I just want to feel the impact of what I’m creating. If it feels right in the heart, that’s enough. I’m not chasing whether it’s a ‘banger’ anymore — it’s just about staying real and inspired.”

That philosophy runs through the True to Life tour title itself—borrowed from a line in their track Running Deep Down and Dirty.

“At this stage, it’s about staying grounded in who we are,” Birch says. “Touring’s tough on the body, no doubt. When I looked at the schedule, I thought, This is for a 25-year-old! But it’s energising too. I’m excited to travel again, connect with people, and share music — just hoping the bones hold up along the way.”

And even as the band’s shows become more meaningful, they haven’t lost their spark. “We’ve been playing live for so long that once you move past the fatigue, you reach a deeper space,” says Birch. “There’s a new kind of connection with the crowd—one that only comes with time. For me, I want the shows to feel uplifting, especially in a world that can feel pretty hostile right now. When I’m on the mic, I try to be emotionally open and honest. People respond to that. We don’t just turn up for the pay cheque—we want to give people a slice of ourselves, something they can truly feel.”

As for what’s next, the Stereo MC’s are already cooking up new material — “something that mixes club energy with classic Stereo MC’s,” Birch hints.

“There are a few projects in the works, some quite experimental,” he says. “I want to make the record I want to make, not the one I think I should make. If that surprises or even disappoints some people, I can live with that. You’ve got to stay true to what feels right — that’s what keeps it exciting, and that’s what keeps it alive.”

Stereo MC’s – True to Life UK 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