Music
MOBO Awards 2025: see your favourite MOBO stars live
From Spice and Vybz Kartel to Krept & Konan and Central Cee, here's a list of upcoming gigs from your favourite MOBO stars
A touching tribute to MOBO founder Kanya King, a politically stirring opening performance from grime pioneer Bashy, and a triumphant return to the stage from Vybz Kartel. On a cold February evening, the best of Black British music, film and sport gathered in Newcastle for the 29th annual MOBO Awards. The ceremony served as a celebration of Black contributions to UK culture and history, as well as holding important space for issues faced by the Black community – including health risks, as highlighted by charity partner Prostate Cancer UK.
Each winner and performance lit up the stage and was a pop culture moment in itself, from Afrofusion star Darkoo‘s jovial “I tried to ChatGPT this” comment about her acceptance speech, to dancehall queen Spice‘s unabashedly fierce closing performance. The 2025 MOBO awards allowed music of Black origin to shine in ways that made it a ceremony to remember, and we’ve put together a list of the upcoming performances of MOBO nominees, performers and winners. Don’t miss your chance to see these cultural shapers live.
ALT BLK ERA
The genre-bending sister duo, and recipients of the Best Alternative Music Act MOBO Award, have already graced the stages Glastonbury, Download Festival, and Reading & Leeds. At just 17 and 21 years of age, ALT BLK ERA are already redefining what it means to make rock, metal, D&B and electronic music. See them live on their Rave Immortal tour from 15 – 23 April, stopping in Manchester, Leeds, Birmingham, Southampton and London.
Darkoo
Best Female Act winner Darkoo is known for blending elements of Afroswing, dancehall, R&B and Afrobeats to create her smooth, party-ready tracks. Her song ‘Favourite Girl (feat. Dess Dior)’, samples the dancehall classic ‘Diwali Riddim’, and was the winner of the 2025 Song of the Year MOBO Award. The song has garnered over 40 million streams on Spotify, a remix featuring global Afrobeats star Rema, and cemented Darkoo as a force in Black British music. After her sensual dancehall-inspired performance at the 2025 MOBOs, you can be sure that her headline show at KOKO on 28 April is not one to miss.
Central Cee
No one has quite captured the attention of global Gen Z audiences like rapper Central Cee. His bars are memorable, his music is always viral, and his first album, CAN’T RUSH GREATNESS, debuted at No.1 on the UK Charts. It should come as no surprise that Central Cee was this year’s winner of the Best Male Act MOBO Award, and why his CAN’T RUSH GREATNESS tour is a hot ticket this spring. See him live in Birmingham, Manchester, London, Glasgow and Dublin from 18 – 27 April.
Eddie Kadi
The beloved comedian, presenter, champion of African music, and MOBO Award co-host alongside Love Island’s Indiyah Polack, Eddie Kadi will kick off his LET ME LAND stand-up comedy tour on 20 February in Brighton. The tour will visit cities across the UK between February and October 2025.
Nova Twins
A London-based alt-rock, soft metal duo with a big sound and stage presence, Nova Twins have been challenging the what it means to be alternative artists since their debut in 2014. Following their electrifying performance of their latest single, ‘Monsters’, at this year’s MOBO Awards, Nova Twins will play at Bearded Theory 2025, taking place at Catton Park, Derbyshire on 21 – 25 May.
Krept & Konan
British hip hop royalty, Krept & Konan are mainstays in mainstream British music and culture. While their more uptempo hits such as ‘Freak of the Week’ and ‘Don’t Waste My Time’ are key parts of the soundtracks to many house parties and nights out, the duo opted for more somber and vulnerable songs to perform at this year’s MOBO Awards. From their latest album Young Kingz II, a follow-up to their early mixtape, they performed their respective solo tracks ‘Nala’s Song’ – a tribute to Krept’s daughter, Nala – and ‘Delroy’s Son’, which is a tribute to Konan’s father, Jamaican singer Delroy Wilson. See the rap duo live at their headline show at HERE at Outernet on 9 April.
Teedra Moses
A true R&B legend, Teedra Moses graced the MOBO Awards stage with her presence as she presented the Best Hip Hop Act Award to Bashy, and also gave advice to upcoming musicians to “stay the course”. The ‘Be Your Girl’ singer will be back across the pond on 30 March for a headline show at O2 Shepherds Bush Empire, London.
Spice
There’s no one quite like Spice. Fierce, femme, free – and proud to be herself and celebrate her Jamaican roots at every turn. The queen of dancehall closed the show with a live rendition of her latest single ‘Hell No’ and her breakout hit ‘So Mi Like It’, in her first ever MOBOs performance. Complete with splits, vivacious dance routines and a dramatic costume change, Spice had everyone in the room on their feet, which boded well for her surprise guest, king of dancehall Vybz Kartel. Feel FOMO for not witnessing this performance in person? Not to worry, you can catch Spice on the line-up at City Splash Festival at Brockwell Park on 26 May, and Vybz Kartel at Wireless Festival at Finsbury Park on 13 July.
Nao
This year’s MOBO Awards welcomed a celebration of UK R&B with DJ Ace, and a medley of performances from Jaz Karis, Shaé Universe, the incomparable Shola Ama, and the inimitable Nao. Known for her piercing vocals and confessional lyrics set against the backdrop of her self-described “wonky funk”, Nao will bring her distinct sound to Birmingham, Manchester, Glasgow, London and Bristol from 6 March as part of her 2025 UK tour.
Sasha Keable
The booming, soulful vocals of British Colombian R&B star Sasha Keable have breathed even more life into the already vibrant and dynamic UK R&B scene. Singing her latest single, ‘Hold Up’, as part of the MOBO Awards R&B medley with DJ ACE, Sasha Keable’s striking performance was just a warmup for her two headline shows in Manchester and London on 26 and 27 February.
Find tickets to more gigs and tours here
Photo credit: Nick Redman/Outside Org
