MJ Cole announces brand new live show to celebrate 25 years of “Sincere”

one of the godfathers of Garage MJ Cole returns to announce the first event in a series of exciting moments throughout 2025 to celebrate an incredible 25 years of his epochal and seminal Mercury Prize nominated album Sincere. On the 27th March, he will debut a brand new live show at London’s iconic Jazz Cafe for an evening to revisit key tracks from his brilliant and varied catalogue, re-imagined with past, present & brand new collaborators. Fans can expect some very special guest appearances and surprises along the way yet to be announced. 

Speaking on the event, MJ Cole shares:

“Feeling more proud than ever of the records I’ve had the pleasure to make with the talents of many immensely gifted artists over the years. Feels like the time is right to celebrate by presenting a brand new live show in my home town of London. I’m beyond excited to be performing live at the Jazz Cafe with some of my musical family. Expect sounds, faces and voices both old and new – shared with passion, love and sincerity x “

Originally released in 2000 under the iconic Talkin’ Loud label, MJ Cole’s ground-breaking album—and its unforgettable singles “Sincere” and “Crazy Love”—did more than define the sound of an era; it became the pulse of a generation. With shimmering melodies and soulful rhythms, these tracks captured the essence of UK Garage at its finest, setting dancefloors alight and weaving their way into the DNA of club culture. Alongside legends like Wookie, Tuff Jam and Dreem Teem, MJ Cole carved out a legacy that reverberates far beyond its origin. MJ Cole’s is a catalogue that sees club moment nostalgia transcend generations hearing his music for the first time. Be it in 2000 or 2025 – the feeling his music evokes is synonymous with pure dancefloor energy not confined to a yearning for the past. It’s here and it’s now.

It’s easy to overlook quite how seminal the 90s were in birthing pretty much everything that has since come to dominate UK culture. In just a matter of years garage, jungle, UK funky, bassline and many more genres would explode out of one another like firecrackers. On the coal face of it all was electronic spearhead MJ Cole, whose pioneering 2-step sound went on to influence everything from grime to dubstep to bands like The xx. His breakthrough track, “Sincere”, was one of the first proper garage songs to penetrate the UK top 40, and even now it is the track played religiously at 6am during every house party from Hackney to Hartlepool.

Over the years, MJ Cole has established himself both as one of the most consistent producers in Britain and a mastermind for bringing through new talent. He’s produced tracks across the spectrum for artists like Dizzee Rascal, Katy B, Becky Hill and Stormzy. He co-wrote and produced “Nobody But You” for Mary J Blige, alongside SamSmith and JimmyNapes. He has since teamed up with the ferocious young grime MC AJ Tracey to create “The Rumble”–a dark and industrial colossus that showed just how diverse his sound has become. The Rumble was followed by Shelter featuring Bruno Major, also released on Cole’s label 892 Recordings. As for his remix work, he’s been called upon to work his magic on original tracks from some of the biggest names in music; Amy Winehouse, Mariah Caray, Alicia Keys and JorjaSmith. In more recent years, he’s DJed alongside new-gen UKG faves such as Sammy Virji, been invited by Jamie XX to play at his MOT residency, and been a regular in the studio with Eliza Rose who he collaborated on “Business As Usual” with last year. Outside of his own label, MJ Cole has dropped records on Disclosure’s Method White label, and Redlight’s label Lobsterboy. 

Tickets available here

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