Chase and Status bring "Section 63" to London's Magazine
Chase and Status perform at Magazine London on Saturday, 16 May 2026, starting at 19:30. This is a London concert as part of the "Section 63" concept, a project announced as a new, immersive production focused on the audience and its position at the very centre of the sound experience. For a duo that took drum and bass from underground clubs to major stages, this format has a clear logic: powerful bass, fast transitions, MC energy and the feeling of shared pressure in the space work best when the audience is not just an observer, but part of the performance.
Chase and Status, namely Saul Milton and Will Kennard, have held a special place in British electronic music for more than two decades. Their sound moves between drum and bass, jungle, UK garage, dubstep, grime and rave heritage, but without losing its core recognisability: massive rhythm, tension before the drop and choruses that can be remembered even beyond the club scene. For the audience that has followed them since the early albums, the London date carries additional weight because "Section 63" is being presented precisely in the city from which the duo started.
Tickets for this event are in demand.
Why "Section 63" matters to fans
"Section 63" has not been announced as an ordinary run through the catalogue of the biggest songs. The available information points to a new live concept whose details have not been fully revealed, but the idea that the audience should be at the centre of the production has been emphasised. This does not mean that unconfirmed guests, a predetermined set list or special effects that have not been announced should be expected. It does mean, however, that this performance is conceived as more than a standard DJ set or festival overview.
In practice, Chase and Status sound best when the concert develops like a wave. The beginning usually builds tension, then dense rhythms, vocal entries and transitions follow, keeping the audience in constant motion. Their current career phase is additionally strong because of the success of the release "2 Ruff Vol. 1", on which the tracks "Baddadan", "Disconnect", "Liquor & Cigarettes" and "Selecta" stood out. These songs are not only club hits, but also a sign that the duo has reached a new, younger and broader audience without giving up the hard drum and bass foundation.
A sound that connects club, festival and British bass culture
Chase and Status are not artists who can easily be reduced to one genre. Their music emerged from the British bass tradition, but over the years it has crossed the boundaries of the club. In the same repertoire world, raw drum and bass, a vocal radio single, grime energy, jungle texture and a festival chorus can stand together. That is exactly why their performances attract different groups of visitors.
For long-time fans, history is important - songs from the periods of the albums "No More Idols", "Brand New Machine" or "Tribe" carry the memory of major British dance stages. For the newer audience, "Baddadan", "Disconnect" and the wave that brought the duo back to the centre of the mainstream conversation about drum and bass are key. For genre lovers, Chase and Status remain an example of how bass music can be hard, commercially visible and production-wise precise at the same time.
- For drum and bass fans: a powerful, fast and physical sound is expected, with an emphasis on bass lines and rhythmic transitions.
- For a wider audience: recognisable singles provide enough entry points even for those who do not follow the scene in detail.
- For visitors who like club formats: Magazine London offers a closed, focused space in which the production can stand out more easily than at a large open-air festival.
- For travellers to London: the concert takes place on Greenwich Peninsula, a part of the city well connected by public transport and close to The O2 complex.
The current career phase: from the "Baddadan" wave to industry recognition
In the last few years, Chase and Status have once again taken a very visible place in British music. "2 Ruff Vol. 1" was released in 2023 and reached number 4 on the UK albums chart. The release connected names such as Bou, Flowdan, Becky Hill, ArrDee, Hedex, Stefflon Don, Clementine Douglas and Kwengface, and the songs from that project became an important part of the new drum and bass popularity.
"Baddadan" stood out in particular, a collaboration with IRAH, Flowdan, Trigga and Takura, a song whose raw vocal charge clearly showed why Chase and Status still have influence over the club audience. "Disconnect" with Becky Hill brought a more melodic, festival moment, while "Liquor & Cigarettes" and "Selecta" confirmed that the duo can at the same time make songs for a large audience and keep the energy of the dance floor.
Additional context is provided by the BRIT Awards recognition, where Chase and Status were named Producers of the Year in 2024. In the explanations and reports at the time, it was emphasised that after a viral Boiler Room performance and a series of successful singles, they had entered one of the strongest periods of their career. This matters for this concert because the audience is not coming to watch a nostalgic return, but artists who are still active in shaping the sound of the British electronic scene.
Places are disappearing quickly.
Magazine London: a venue built for loud and focused production
Magazine London is located on Greenwich Peninsula and is conceived as a flexible space for major cultural, music and commercial events. According to data from the venue brochure, the interior has 3,205 square metres and can accommodate up to 3,000 people, while the outdoor section can be expanded for additional capacity with different event layouts. For a concert such as Chase and Status, this is an interesting combination: a space large enough for a dense crowd and strong production, but without the feeling of stadium distance.
In drum and bass, the venue is not a neutral detail. Bass frequencies, the position of the audience, the width of the hall and the possibility of setting up production directly change the experience of the performance. Magazine London is often described as a "blank canvas", meaning a space that can be adapted to different formats. For "Section 63", this is an important fact because the concept itself has been announced as immersive, not as a classic concert with a clearly separated stage and audience.
Basic information about the venue
- Venue name: Magazine London
- Location: Greenwich Peninsula, London
- Indoor space: 3,205 square metres
- Indoor capacity: up to 3,000 people, depending on the event layout
- Nearest important landmark: The O2 and North Greenwich area
- Venue character: modern, flexible and suitable for large lighting and sound production
How to get to Magazine London
For most visitors, public transport will be the simplest choice. Magazine London states that the venue is a few minutes' walk from the Underground, and the Greenwich Peninsula area is well connected via North Greenwich station on the Jubilee line. This is practical for arriving from central London, but also for returning after the concert, with the usual note that after large events in that area, crowds should be expected.
Parking at the venue itself is not available to the public. Visitors arriving by car are advised to use local car parks on Greenwich Peninsula, while drop-off is possible via Car Park 1 at The O2 Arena. For people with a Blue Badge, parking is available at North Greenwich Station, according to the rules of the car park management there. Bicycle spaces are available on site for cyclists.
It is practical to plan an earlier arrival, especially if visiting Greenwich Peninsula for the first time. The area is large, and in the evening there may be several events nearby. If the concert starts at 19:30, arriving at least somewhat earlier reduces the risk of rushing at the entrance, security checks and finding one's way around the venue.
What the audience can expect from the evening
The safest expectation is an intense concert format focused on rhythm, bass and collective energy. A detailed set list has not been confirmed, so one should not assume that a specific song will definitely be performed. Still, the current career context clearly shows which songs have marked the most recent period: "Baddadan", "Disconnect", "Liquor & Cigarettes" and "Selecta" are most often associated with the duo's recent rise, while the older catalogue provides breadth for the audience that has followed Chase and Status longer.
The atmosphere should be closer to a big club night than a seated concert. That means a lot of movement, a dense crowd, strong sound pressure and a rapid exchange of energy. For those who love drum and bass, that is a natural environment. For visitors coming because of individual hits, it is worth knowing that Chase and Status live usually emphasise tempo and the physical effect of the music more than the radio neatness of songs.
It is worth securing tickets in time.
London as Chase and Status' home ground
London is not just another stop on the schedule. For Chase and Status, it is the city from which their musical language comes: pirate radio stations, clubs, the grime and garage scene, jungle heritage and a great tradition of bass music. When an artist like that returns to London with a new concept, the audience usually gets a stronger sense of connection between the space, the music and the history of the scene.
Announcements list two London dates at Magazine London, 15 and 16 May 2026, after which "Section 63" expands to other cities. That makes the Saturday date especially interesting for an audience that wants to be among the first to see what the new concept looks like in practice. First performances of such formats often carry extra tension because the audience is not coming only for a known repertoire, but also for the presentation of a new way of performing.
Who this concert is most interesting for
This concert will especially suit an audience that wants to feel music physically, not just listen to it. Chase and Status are not a discreet electronic act for the background. Their music demands volume, movement and audience reaction. That is why visitors who like a dense concert atmosphere, fast rhythms and halls where audience energy is as important as the stage itself will fit best.
Long-time fans will get the opportunity to see the duo in a new conceptual framework, while the younger audience that discovered them through the "Baddadan" wave will be able to hear how the current singles fit into the wider catalogue. Lovers of the British bass scene will get a concert that connects the past and present of the genre: from the roots of drum and bass to its new festival and global visibility.
Practical notes for visitors
For an event like this, a simple plan is recommended: check the route to North Greenwich, arrive earlier, choose comfortable clothing and count on a very lively audience. Since the event is marked as 18+, visitors should have an appropriate document if age checks are carried out. The exact rules on bringing in items, bags and security checks should be checked shortly before arrival with the organiser or venue, as they may differ depending on the event.
If you are travelling to London only because of the concert, Greenwich Peninsula is a practical location because The O2, hospitality facilities and good transport connections are nearby. Still, after the end of the event, crowds may form at stations and pedestrian routes, so it is useful to know an alternative route in advance or leave extra time for the return.
Ticket sales for this event are ongoing.
Why this date carries additional weight
Saturday, 16 May 2026, comes immediately after the first London date of the "Section 63" concept. Such a schedule gives the evening the feeling of an early encounter with a project that has not yet been exhausted by tour repetition. The audience is not coming to a long-established production about which everything is already known, but to a phase in which the new format is only being presented and tested before the home city.
For Chase and Status, this is a suitable moment. After the wave of success of "2 Ruff Vol. 1", industry recognition and major London performances in recent years, the duo do not have to prove that they belong at the top of the British electronic scene. This concert speaks more about the next step: how to translate a sound that has already conquered clubs, festivals and charts into a space that places the audience at the centre of the event.
Sources:
- Magazine London - data on the "Section 63" concept, the dates 15 and 16 May 2026, programme time, age restriction and production description.
- Live Nation UK - confirmation of the event "Chase and Status: Section 63" for 16 May 2026 at Magazine London and confirmation that Chase & Status is listed as the headliner.
- Official Charts - data on the release "2 Ruff Vol. 1", collaborators, the songs "Baddadan", "Disconnect" and "Liquor & Cigarettes" and the album's chart position.
- BRIT Awards - context of the Producer of the Year 2024 award, the duo's current relevance and the success of singles from the "2 Ruff Vol. 1" period.
- Magazine London Getting Here - information on arrival, public transport, parking, drop-off at The O2 and bicycle availability.
- Magazine London venue brochure / HeadBox - data on the interior surface area, capacity of up to 3,000 people and location on Greenwich Peninsula.
- Secret London - context of the announcement of the "Section 63" concept, London dates and the wider performance schedule in 2026.