Brit Funk, Hip-Hop Pioneers Cymande Return With Tour And New Album

British funk band Cymande returns with a new album, Renascence, and is supporting it with a U.S. headlining tour, hitting major markets including Los Angeles and New York in February.  Tickets for the tour are available at the band’s website beginning Friday, Oct. 18.

Cymande, despite its lengthy absence from the studio, has continued touring, including sold-out shows across Europe and Australia in March and April. Among them were a 1,943-seat sellout at Ancienne Belgique in Brussels, Belgium; 1,000 tickets sold at Northcote Theatre in Melbourne, Australia; and 1,110 sold at Liberty Hall in Sydney, Australia.

Stateside, Cymande has most recently performed on 2023’s Jam Cruise and left-of-center Desert Daze in Perris, California, in 2022.

Its 2025 American tour launches Feb. 13 at Irving Plaza in New York City and makes stops at major market theaters and clubs including Ardmore Theatre in Philadelphia; Howard Theatre in Washington, D.C.; the Metro in Chicago; Aladdin Theatre in Portland, Oregon; August Hall in San Francisco (part of the city’s Noise Pop festival); and The Bellwether in Los Angeles, where it wraps Feb. 28.

Cymande, booked in North and South America by High Road Touring’s Brian Jonas and internationally by Claudio Lillo at CAA, and managed by Keith Hagan, remains foundational to early hip-hop and funk in the U.S. and UK. Renascence, and first track, “Chasing An Empty Dream,” reflect a band that never really got its due but are “back to take the crown by remaining true to themselves – politically aware, and spiritually positive with infectious grooves,” according to the tour announcement.

“The genesis for this song stemmed from an observation on the kind of world we are living in; reflected in the materialistic focus of today’s society and culture,” says bassist Steve Scipio. “But the song also has a positive message of hope and optimism. A hope that one day society will see sense and pull back from the brink; to once again understand and appreciate the importance of the values that were once held so dear, in shaping a positive future for all.” 

Produced by Ben Baptie, Cymande is led by its founding members Patrick Patterson (guitars, vocals) & Steve Scipio (bass, vocals). The band also comprises longtime members, Keyboardist Adrian Reid and vocalist Raymond Simpson, with the full complement of players being Richard Bailey (Drums), Donald Gamble (Percussion), Denys Baptiste (Saxophone) Kevin Davy (Trumpet) and Toni Kofi (Saxophone).

Earlier this year, Cymande’s unique story was told on the on big screen for the first time in the UK (via BFI) and in cinemas around the world with “Getting It Back: The Story Of Cymande,” directed by award winning director Tim Mackenzie-Smith. 

This empowering and thought-provoking documentary shows the band’s depth of influence across decades and features interviews with Mark Ronson, Laura Lee and Mark Speer (Khruangbin), DJ Maseo (De La Soul), Jazzie B (Soul II Soul), Cut Chemist, Jim James (My Morning Jacket), Louie Vega, Kool DJ Red Alert, and many others. The film debuted at SXSW in 2022 and has now traveled the world twice over. 

Cymande US Tour Dates:

FEB 13 – New York, NY – Irving Plaza

FEB 14 – Philadelphia, PA – Ardmore Music Hall

FEB 15 – Washington DC – Howard Theatre 

FEB 18 – Chicago, IL – Metro 

FEB 19 – Minneapolis, MN – Varsity Theatre 

FEB 21 – Denver, CO – Bluebird

FEB 22 – Seattle, WA – Crocodile 

FEB 23 – Portland, OR – Aladdin Theater 

FEB 26 – San Francisco, CA – August Hall*

FEB 28 – Los Angeles, CA – The Bellwether

* w/ Noise Pop