A celebration of their seminal album ‘ex : el’, the band will be performing the album in-full in live spaces for the very first time.
Due to be a show of two distinct segments, the dates will include ‘Part 01: a full performance of ex:el’ followed by a second set entitled ‘Part 02: great transmissions - new : classics : deep cuts’.
The tour will see 808 State taking in shows in Birmingham, Norwich, Glasgow, Sheffield, London, throughout November and December next year. Plus, following the overwhelming demand for tickets for their SOLD OUT Manchester date this December, the band will return to the city’s New Century Hall for a homecoming finale to close their 2025 tour in style
Released via the ZTT label, 808 State’s ‘ex : el’ was both a major critical and commercial success for the band. Powered by Top 10 single “In Yer Face”, plus pivotal tracks like “Lift”, “Cubik”, and “Olympic”, ‘ex ; el’ saw 808 State fusing their trademark acid-techno beats, with a newfound confidence in catchy melodies and a penchant for pop cultural sampling of the highest calibre. It also featured Björk on no-less than two tracks (“Qmart”, “Ooops”), while fellow Mancunian electronic trailblazer Bernard Sumner (of New Order) lent his vocals to “Spanish Heart”; demonstrative of a band clearly enjoying a creative and collaborative streak.
Receiving adulation from respected titles the likes of Record Mirror (8/10), Select (4/5), and Q Magazine (4*), the latter praised the album as “irresistibly full of fun”. Breaking into Number 4 position on the Official UK Album Charts upon release in 1991, the album remains a critical and cultural milestone in electronic music to this day, with The Guardian citing it as one of its ‘1000 Albums to Hear Before You Die’.
Of the performing ‘ex : el’ at these upcoming dates Graham Massey says:
“ex : el is a broad colourful palette of material that bursts with techno optimism that we can’t wait to translate at our live shows in the UK in 2025. Although the shows are a whole year away I am already thinking of ways to make these shows a wide screen biblical epic for our audience”.
With tickets on sale this Friday @ 10AM, the full list of dates can be found as follows:
808 STATE - ‘EX : EL - LIVE’ 2025 TOUR
Friday - 28-Nov - UK, Birmingham - XOYO
Saturday - 29-Nov - UK, Norwich - The Waterfront
Friday - 05-Dec - UK, Glasgow - SWG3 - Warehouse
Saturday - 06-Dec - UK, Sheffield - Foundry
Friday - 12-Dec - UK, London - Electric Brixton
Saturday - 13-Dec - UK, Manchester - New Century Hall
General Sale – Friday November 29th 10:00 here:
https://pinkdot.seetickets.com/tour/808-state
Formed in 1988, 808 State were originally founded by the trio of Graham Massey, Martin Price and Gerald Simpson.
Their early work had a prominent influence on the UK's burgeoning acid house scene, with their first album ‘Newbuild’ now regarded as a milestone in UK electronica. The successive ‘Quadrastate’ mini-album included “Pacific State” which became an end-of-night anthem at the Haçienda. The track broke out of the dance underground when it was picked up by daytime BBC Radio 1. The band pushed against dance-celebrity culture with intentionally minimalist record sleeves and a reluctance to self-promote. In 1989 Paul Morley signed the band to the ZTT label, and the first fruit of this partnership was the critically acclaimed album ‘90’, with the exceptional 1991 record ‘ex : el’ swiftly after.
Fast forward to 2024 and 808 State remain a vital and current force in alternative music, completely selling-out their home city’s New Century Hall for a celebratory show honouring the album ‘90’, 35 years since its genesis.
In 2025, 808 State will revisit their seminal album ‘ex : el’ in its entirety. The shows will also see the band airing a second set of ‘Great Transmissions’, which will include classic singles, explorative curiosities, and deep cuts from their four-decade spanning catalogue, while offering an exclusive glimpse into some brand new 808 State material too. Special guests for the shows will also be revealed in due course.
Still led by original founding member Graham Massey, 808 State continues to create boundary-pushing new material and perform to audiences across the globe and the generations.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Website - 808 State
Facebook - 808 State | Facebook
YouTube / Video - 808 State - YouTube
Instagram - 808 State (@808stateofficial) • Instagram photos and videos
Spotify - 808 State | Spotify
