The Forum presents:

Steve Mason (The Beta Band)

Steve Mason

The Forum, Royal Tunbridge Wells

Entry Requirements: 16+ (under 16s accompanied by an adult)
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The Forum presents STEVE MASON plus guests solomon hails

Steve Mason returns to live action this December with the ‘No More’ tour, a run of dates which will see him perform tracks from his forthcoming, as yet unannounced, new album. Performing solo accompanied by keyboardist Darren Morris, Steve will also be playing songs from both his Beta Band and solo catalogue at the following venues:

Steve released his last album, About The Light, on Double Six in January 2019 to widespread acclaim and received a glowing 5 star review from The Times for his show at EartH in Hackney the following month. His new album will be released in 2023.

Praise for About The Light

Mason’s creativity remains undimmed – 4/5 Q

Mason at his songwriting peak – The Sunday Times

Mason has always followed his own path, and we’re better for it - Clash – 9/10

A fabulous record – 4/5 Record Collector

Stunning comebacks from this folk euphoria original - Mojo – 4/5


Scottish singer, songwriter, and producer Steve Mason rose to widespread critical acclaim in the late '90s as a member of indie darlings . With their creative songscrap approach and maverick attitude, earned a somewhat notorious reputation among fans and the U.K. press during the post-Brit-pop era, thanks to releases like 1998's The Three EP's and 2001's Hot Shots II. During 's heyday and following their 2004 breakup, Mason also recorded as and later set out on a proper solo career with albums like 2013's Monkey Minds in the Devil's Time and 2019's About the Light.

Mason initially formed as a duo in the mid-'90s with fellow Fife native (), although 's involvement proved to be short-lived. Following his departure, the group coalesced around Robin Jones on drums, John Maclean on keyboards, sampler, and turntables, and Richard Greentree on bass, with Mason serving as the group's unofficial leader from that point onward. earned heaps of critical praise with an opening salvo of three EPs, all released on and leading up to the release of their acclaimed debut album, 1999's The Beta Band. (Their fame only grew after they were name-dropped in the film High Fidelity by John Cusack, whose character claimed -- and then proved -- that he could immediately sell five copies of their EP collection The Three E.P.'s simply by playing one track.) The follow-up, Hot Shots II, earned greater praise, although shortly after their third release, 2004's Heroes to Zeros, the band announced their breakup.

Mason had already debuted a solo project, , late in 1998, and during the 18 months that followed the 's breakup, he released a pair of singles -- including "C I AM 15," which reached number 67 on the British charts -- and a full album, 2006's Black Gold. One year later, he launched an electronica project called , and a techno-influenced LP titled Pleasure Pressure Point appeared on in 2008. He subsequently returned to a format for his first album under his own name, a late 2009 single titled "All Come Down." The expected full-length album, Boys Outside, with production help from , appeared in 2010 on , distributed by . Provided with polished production, Steve Mason's poignant songwriting and powerful vocals were brought to the fore. The album was then given a dub reworking by Mason and . Ghosts Outside displayed the singer/songwriter's effortless ability to span genres successfully, while remixing the likes of showed Mason's hunger for creativity was not slowing down.

In early 2013, his third album under his own name arrived. Among its sprawling 20 tracks, Monkey Minds in the Devil's Time explored depression, politics, and human nature, bringing together many genres to create a mesmerising experience. His next record focused purely on himself, wringing out personal emotions and experiences for 2016's Meet the Humans, bringing aboard Craig Potter () to produce the album. With a number of solo tours under his belt, Mason wished to re-create the same live energy on record; the resulting album, 2019's About the Light, featured a live band throughout the recording process to capture the feeling of his shows.

Line Up

Steve Mason