Reviving their Landmark Album
808 State returns with a major UK tour this winter. Reviving their landmark 1991 album ex:el in a run of shows that reaffirms their position as pioneers of British electronic music. The tour, titled ex:el – live, will see the band perform the album in full across a string of carefully selected venues. Alongside other defining tracks from their genre-shaping catalogue.
Legendary Manchester outfit 808 State are heading back out on the road in 2025. Announcing a new UK tour to celebrate the enduring legacy of their landmark album ex:el. Long hailed as pioneers of British electronic music. The group are reigniting their live presence with a series of carefully selected dates. Offering fans a rare chance to experience their genre-shaping sound in full force.
Secure your place on the dancefloor—tickets are available now.
Tour Dates Confirmed for 2025
808 State will play intimate and historic venues across the country.
Bringing their iconic sound back to the clubs and theatres that helped shape their early years.
The current tour dates include:
Friday 21 November – Button Factory, Dublin
Saturday 22 November – Cyprus Avenue, Cork
Friday 28 November – XOYO, Birmingham
Saturday 29 November – The Waterfront, Norwich
Friday 5 December – SWG3, Glasgow
Saturday 6 December – Foundry, Sheffield
Friday 12 December – Electric Brixton, London
Saturday 13 December – New Century, Manchester
Expect a full-throttle set that blends the raw energy of ex:el with classic 808 tracks and deeper cuts from their catalogue.
tickets are available now.
Why ex:el Still Matters
Released in 1991, ex:el wasn’t just another electronic record—it was a creative milestone. Fusing acid house energy with ambient textures, sharp industrial rhythms, and unexpected collaborations, it was an album that looked beyond the club and toward the future. Björk’s ethereal vocals on “Ooops” gave early clues to her solo ambitions, while New Order’s Bernard Sumner turned up the voltage on “Spanish Heart.”
At a time when UK dance music was still defining itself, ex:el provided a roadmap. It was colourful, complex, and unapologetically electronic. From its artwork to its sequencing, it spoke in the language of rave while leaning confidently into high art. More than three decades later, its influence is still felt across the global electronic scene.
Legacy and Influence
808 State’s contribution to music culture cannot be overstated. As part of Manchester’s post-industrial creative explosion, they forged a uniquely British electronic sound—raw, experimental, and rooted in the city’s sonic history. From the early acid house days to their Warp-adjacent innovations, they’ve remained a reference point for generations of producers and DJs.
ex:el in particular landed at a key cultural moment. As illegal warehouse parties were giving way to the superclub era, it helped shift perceptions of what electronic albums could be—more than functional tools for DJs, these were complete, conceptual experiences. It’s not hard to draw a line from ex:el to acts like Leftfield, The Prodigy, or even Radiohead’s later work.
Its cross-genre DNA, visual aesthetic, and fearless collaborations positioned it as an album ahead of its time. Even now, listening to tracks like “Lift” or “Nephatiti” feels like stepping into the future. The sounds are vintage, but the ideas remain strikingly modern.
Vinyl Special Edition: ex:el Reissued
To coincide with the tour, a new limited edition double vinyl of ex:el has been released in a striking blue colourway. It’s a collector’s piece and a vital reissue for fans who want to revisit or rediscover the album in its purest analogue form.
Grab the official release while stock lasts—available here.
What to Expect On Stage
808 State are known for their immersive, high-energy live shows. Expect a deep dive into ex:el with updated visuals, improvised hardware sections, and reimagined arrangements. Unlike many of their contemporaries, 808 State have never settled for pressing play. Their shows feel live, alive, and full of surprises.
For longtime fans, this is a rare chance to hear ex:el performed as a living document—still evolving, still relevant. For newcomers, it’s a chance to see where so much of modern electronic music began.
Where to Stay
If you’re travelling to one of the tour cities and planning to make a weekend of it, consider booking your accommodation in advance. Affordable options near the venues go quickly, especially in places like Manchester and London. With gig-goers expected to travel from across the UK, proximity to the venue can make all the difference. Compare hotels nearby and book in advance to secure the best locations.
Conclusion
808 State’s 2025 UK tour is more than a reunion—it’s a reminder of where electronic music came from, and how far it’s travelled since. By revisiting ex:el, they’re not just celebrating the past—they’re underlining how ahead of their time they always were. For anyone who’s followed UK rave culture, IDM, or techno from the shadows of The Haçienda to the festival fields of today, this is an unmissable event.
Whether you’re there for the nostalgia or the discovery, 808 State’s return is a powerful reminder that some sounds never stop shaping the future.
This is more than a nostalgia trip. It’s a celebration of innovation, evolution, and one of the most forward-thinking electronic records ever made. With tickets already in demand, this tour promises to be a must-see moment for fans of techno, acid house, EDM.
Watch: 808 State – “Pacific State” Live at Bluedot 2019
Experience the energy of 808 State’s live performance with this rendition of “Pacific State” at the Bluedot Festival in 2019:
