Three decades after redefining drum & bass and claiming the Mercury Prize, Roni Size Reprazent are bringing the groundbreaking New Forms album back to life as a full live experience.

There are albums that capture a moment, and then there are albums that change the course of a genre. In 1997, New Forms did exactly that.

When Roni Size Reprazent released their ambitious debut, drum & bass was still fighting for mainstream recognition. Rooted in Bristol's rich soundsystem culture yet unafraid to embrace jazz, soul, hip hop and live instrumentation, New Forms shattered expectations of what electronic music could be. It wasn't simply a collection of tracks. It was a statement of intent that expanded the possibilities of drum & bass and helped propel the genre onto the world stage.

Now, 30 years later, Roni Size Reprazent are preparing to celebrate one of British electronic music's most influential records with a special UK tour in June 2027.

Returning as a full live band, the anniversary performances promise to recreate the energy and innovation that made New Forms such a landmark release. Led by Roni Size himself on keys, the live line-up will feature long-time collaborators Dynamite MC and Onallee on vocals, alongside Si John on bass, live drums and additional keyboard players.

For fans who witnessed the rise of drum & bass during the 1990s, the tour offers the chance to revisit a defining chapter in British music history. For newer audiences, it provides an opportunity to experience the album's pioneering spirit in a live setting, performed by the artists who helped shape its legacy.

The story behind New Forms is inseparable from Bristol itself. Emerging from a city renowned for its diverse musical culture, Roni Size, DJ Krust, DJ Die and Suv forged a distinctive sound through Full Cycle Records, blending the intensity of drum & bass with the warmth and musicianship of jazz and funk. Tracks such as It's a Jazz Thing hinted at a broader vision before New Forms arrived to fully realise it.

That vision was spectacularly rewarded when the album triumphed at the 1997 Mercury Music Prize, overcoming competition that included Radiohead's OK Computer, The Prodigy's The Fat of the Land and The Chemical Brothers' Dig Your Own Hole. The victory was more than a personal achievement. It was a watershed moment for electronic music, demonstrating that drum & bass had evolved far beyond its underground roots.

Since then, songs including Brown Paper Bag, Heroes and Watching Windows have become enduring classics, continuing to influence producers, DJs and musicians across multiple generations.

Adding further weight to the celebrations, pioneering drum & bass figures Fabio & Grooverider will join the tour as special guests. As architects of London's formative jungle and drum & bass scenes, their inclusion creates a line-up that reflects two of the most important forces in the genre's development. Together, they represent the Bristol and London movements that helped shape a musical revolution.

Reflecting on the anniversary, Roni Size says: "Thirty years ago we started something that was never supposed to stand still. Three decades later, the sound is still moving forward. Reprazent are back, 30 years, one legacy, and a whole new journey. See you out there."

It's a sentiment that perfectly captures the enduring appeal of New Forms. Rather than existing as a nostalgic artefact, the album remains remarkably fresh, innovative and relevant. Its fusion of electronic precision and live performance still feels adventurous today.

Thirty years on from its release, New Forms stands as one of the defining albums of modern British music. This anniversary tour is more than a celebration of a classic record. It's a reminder of how a collective from Bristol helped reshape electronic music forever.

Tour Information

Roni Size Reprazent: 30 Years of New Forms UK Tour
Special Guests: Fabio & Grooverider

Pre-sale: Wednesday 7 October, 10am
General Sale: Friday 9 October, 10am

Pre-sale access via https://arep.co/m/roni-size

Tickets via roni-size.com

JUNE 2027
Thu 3 Bournemouth O2 Academy
Fri 4 Birmingham O2 Academy
Sat 5 Brixton O2 Academy
Thu 10 Leeds O2 Academy
Fri 11 Nottingham Rock City
Sat 12 Newcastle NX
Thu 17 Manchester O2 Victoria Warehouse
Fri 18 Glasgow Barrowlands
Fri 25 Bristol Sounds Canons Marsh Amphitheatre