Thirty Years After Winning the Mercury Prize, "New Forms" Prompts Roni Size Reprazent to Reunite Full Live Band for New Tour
Back in 1997, this drum and bass album triumphed over Radiohead's "OK Computer" to claim the UK Mercury Prize, and now, to celebrate three decades since that win, a nine-date tour is set for June 2027, featuring Fabio and Grooverider as support on every date.
The 1997 Mercury Prize shortlist included Radiohead's "OK Computer," The Prodigy's "The Fat of the Land," and The Chemical Brothers' "Dig Your Own Hole." Yet the one that walked away with the trophy was a drum and bass album out of Bristol's underground scene — Roni Size Reprazent's "New Forms," which went on to be certified platinum. Thirty years later, the band is bringing the full live lineup back to the stage to perform the album as it was.
Roni Size Reprazent has announced a nine-date UK tour for June 2027 to mark the thirtieth anniversary of "New Forms." The touring lineup features Roni Size on keys, Dynamite MC and Onallee on vocals, Si John on bass, plus a live drummer and two keyboardists. The setlist will center on classics from "New Forms" like "Brown Paper Bag," "Heroes," and "Watching Windows," extending into the rest of Reprazent's catalogue. Every stop except the London show will have Fabio and Grooverider opening.
Roni Size said in a statement: "Thirty years ago we started something that was never meant to stop. Thirty years later, the sound is still moving forward. Reprazent is back. Thirty years, a legacy, a brand new journey. See you there."
"New Forms" grew out of Bristol's Full Cycle Records, the label Roni Size co-founded with DJ Krust, DJ Die, and Suv in the early nineties. Where London's jungle scene leaned toward darker textures, Full Cycle folded jazz, soul, hip-hop, and live instrumentation into breakbeat, a sound that carried the crew from the underground onto Talkin' Loud and into the record books in 1997 when they beat "OK Computer" for the Mercury Prize.
The tour wraps on June 25 at Bristol Sounds, with a hometown show at Canons Marsh Amphitheatre. Full dates: June 3 Bournemouth (O2 Academy), June 4 Birmingham (O2 Academy), June 5 London (O2 Academy Brixton, no support), June 10 Leeds (O2 Academy), June 11 Nottingham (Rock City), June 12 Newcastle (NX), June 17 Manchester (O2 Victoria Warehouse), June 18 Glasgow (Barrowlands), June 25 Bristol (Bristol Sounds at Canons Marsh Amphitheatre). Presale tickets go on sale October 7.
