There’s a particular electricity that runs through Newcastle whenever a major name in British dance music rolls back into town — that sense that the night ahead might just become one of those stories people tell for years. This December, that charge is about to hit again. After ten years away, Rudimental are finally returning to the city, stepping into NX Newcastle for an exclusive DJ set that marks a new chapter in their evolution.
For a group whose sound was forged in the heat of East London pirate radio, Rudimental’s journey has always been about energy, community and connection. They broke through in 2012 with Feel The Love, a track that didn’t just top charts — it rewired the mainstream’s relationship with Drum & Bass. What followed was a run of hits that became part of the UK’s cultural fabric: Waiting All Night, These Days, Dancing Is Healing. Billions of streams, three Number One singles, two Number One albums — the kind of stats that usually belong to pop juggernauts, not a collective born from sound system culture.
But 2026 finds Rudimental in a different gear. Their fifth album, RUDIM3NTAL, is a deliberate homecoming — a return to the raw, bass‑driven foundations that first brought Piers Aggett, Kesi Dryden and Leon “Locksmith” Rolle together. The record is stacked with collaborators who reflect the breadth of their world: Popcaan, Idris Elba, Khalid, MIST, Skepsis, Charlotte Plank, Riko Dan, Mystic Marley. It’s a celebration of lineage and future, of the underground and the global stage.
And that shift has changed their live show too. Historically, Rudimental’s performances were a hybrid of DJing and live instrumentation — brass, drums, vocalists, the full spectacle. Now, they’re stripping things back. The trio are returning to the decks, delivering high‑energy DJ sets built around the music and culture that shaped them. It’s leaner, heavier, more immediate. The kind of set that thrives in a venue like NX, where the crowd is close enough to feel every drop.
Luke Rushfirth, Venue Manager at NX, knows exactly what this booking means for the city. “Rudimental are a massive booking for NX and exactly the calibre of artist we want to keep bringing to Newcastle,” he says. “They’ve gone back to their Drum & Bass roots and built a new show around that energy, so this feels like the perfect time to welcome them back. It’s been a decade since Newcastle last had the chance to see Rudimental, and to have them here at NX for their return is something we’re really proud of.”
It’s hard to argue with him. Newcastle’s dance community has always been fiercely loyal, and Rudimental’s absence has been long enough to make this feel like a genuine homecoming. Their recent festival run — Coachella, Glastonbury, Parklife — proves they’re operating at full power, and the chance to see this new incarnation in an intimate, high‑impact setting is rare.
For fans who’ve grown up with their catalogue, this show is a celebration. For newer listeners pulled in by Green & Gold or Dancing Is Healing, it’s a chance to experience the roots of the Rudimental story. And for the city itself, it’s another reminder of how NX is reshaping Newcastle’s live landscape — bringing heavyweight names back into the fold and giving them a stage that matches their ambition.
Ten years is a long time. But some returns are worth the wait.
Rudimental – Exclusive DJ Set
NX Newcastle Saturday 12 December 2026
Pre-sale: Thursday 1 October, 12 noon General sale: Thursday 1 October, 2 pm
Tickets & info: NXNewcastle.com