Ruts DC set 20-date UK run celebrating 50 years of Ruts music
Ruts DC will mark five decades of music in 2027 with a 20-date UK tour spanning the full history of The Ruts and Ruts DC.
Presented as 50 Years of Ruts Music 1977-2027, the run begins at Nottingham’s Metronome on 7 April and concludes at Coventry HMV Empire on 30 October. The band will play venues across England, Scotland and Wales, including Liverpool’s Cavern, Manchester’s Band on the Wall, Glasgow’s Garage, Bristol’s Thekla and London’s 229.
The shows will draw from material made under both names, stretching from The Ruts’ landmark debut The Crack and its follow-up Grin & Bear It through to Ruts DC releases including Animal Now, Rhythm Collision, Music Must Destroy and Counterculture?.
A catalogue built beyond punk’s boundaries
Formed in London in 1977, The Ruts fused punk’s sharp attack with reggae, dub and rock, producing singles including In A Rut, Babylon’s Burning, Something That I Said, Jah War, Staring At The Rude Boys and West One (Shine On Me).
Following the death of vocalist Malcolm Owen in 1980, the remaining members continued as Ruts DC. The anniversary dates are being billed as a celebration rather than a reunion, with longstanding guitarist Leigh Heggarty joining the surviving members onstage.
“This ain’t no nostalgia trip, it’s a celebration,” the band say.
Ruts DC 50 Years of Ruts Music tour dates
Tickets go on sale at 10am on Friday 25 September via AGMP and See Tickets.
- 07 April 2027 – Nottingham, Metronome
- 08 April 2027 – Liverpool, The Cavern
- 09 April 2027 – Manchester, Band on the Wall
- 10 April 2027 – Birmingham, The Crossing
- 14 April 2027 – Newcastle, The Cluny
- 15 April 2027 – Edinburgh, La Belle Angele
- 16 April 2027 – Glasgow, The Garage
- 17 April 2027 – Leeds, Brudenell Social Club
- 22 April 2027 – Cambridge, Junction
- 23 April 2027 – Northampton, Roadmender
- 24 April 2027 – Stoke-on-Trent, The Sugarmill
- 14 October 2027 – Cardiff, The Globe
- 15 October 2027 – Bristol, Thekla
- 16 October 2027 – Exeter, Phoenix Arts Centre
- 21 October 2027 – Brighton, Chalk
- 22 October 2027 – Southampton, The 1865
- 23 October 2027 – London, 229
- 28 October 2027 – Kingston-upon-Hull, The Social
- 29 October 2027 – Norwich, Adrian Flux Waterfront
- 30 October 2027 – Coventry, HMV Empire
