Rio Tashan - Expressions Tour - 28th Feb 2026
RIO TASHAN: THE SUPERFLY HAT TRICK WE ALL WANTED
The magic number is three. After two unforgettable performances that left dance floors pumping and house heads spinning, Rio Tashan returns to Superfly City for what promises to be the most electrifying chapter yet in our ongoing love affair with one of house music's most intuitive talents.
This isn't just another booking – this is destiny calling.
When Rio first graced our festival stage, something shifted in the atmosphere. That unmistakable energy, that raw connection between artist and crowd, that indefinable something that separates good DJs from great ones – it was all there, pulsing through every beat. The crowd didn't just dance; they felt it. That elusive "it" that Rio talks about when he describes his approach to DJing: "It's just a feeling."
Our 16th birthday celebration Part 1 alongside Maslow Unknown proved that lightning could indeed strike twice. Rio delivered a set that transcended the typical boundaries between performer and audience, creating one of those rare moments in modern dance music. A DJ that has the skills, the tracks and the tunes to deliver. Where time seemed to stand still and the music became a living, breathing entity that connected every soul in the room. The feedback was unanimous: one more! please.
Now, for the hat trick.
Rio Tashan isn't just returning to Superfly City – he's coming back as a transformed artist. Since our last encounter, he's achieved what many consider career-defining milestones. His debut EP on Kerri Chandler's legendary Kaoz Theory label, featuring collaborations with house music royalty Robert Owens and Eddie Fowlkes, catapulted straight into the Traxsource top 100. The industry took notice. The underground took notice. The world took notice.
But here's what makes Rio special: success hasn't changed his essence.
Born into a musical family with deep roots in the UK's drum & bass scene, Rio's influences stretch far beyond the confines of any single genre. This isn't a DJ who's locked into one sound, one vibe, one predictable trajectory. His sets are journeys through the full spectrum of electronic music, guided not by rigid playlist planning but by that mystical connection he feels with the crowd in real-time.
"When I perform I just get in the zone, it's like tunnel vision – just me, the music, and the crowd – that's the feeling," Rio explains. It's this philosophy that makes every Rio Tashan performance unique, unrepeatable, and utterly essential.
Since joining the Defected Records family as one of their celebrated 'Unsung Heroes' winners, Rio has taken his intuitive approach to some of the world's most prestigious stages. Glastonbury. Tomorrowland. Fabric. Printworks. Each performance reinforcing his reputation as an artist who doesn't just play music – he channels it, interprets it, and transforms it into something that speaks directly to the soul.
His quarterly show on Defected Broadcasting House, aptly named 'It's A Feeling,' has become essential listening for house music devotees worldwide. It's not just a radio show; it's a masterclass in the art of reading a room, understanding a moment, and delivering exactly what the collective consciousness needs to hear.
But on 28th Feb, that room is ours.
This third encounter promises to be more than just a performance – it's a celebration of the journey we've shared together. From that first festival appearance that announced his arrival, through the birthday party that confirmed his artistry, to tonight's hat trick that cements his place in Superfly folklore. Not many get asked back, few get asked back 3 times!
Rio's recent collaborations have seen him working alongside some of house music's most respected names, but his approach remains refreshingly unchanged. He doesn't arrive with a predetermined set designed to showcase his latest releases. Instead, he comes armed with an arsenal of tracks that span decades and genres, ready to read the room and deliver exactly what the moment demands.
This is house music as it was meant to be experienced.
The beauty of Rio's artistry lies in its unpredictability. You might hear classic Chicago house grinding against contemporary UK garage. Deep, rolling basslines might suddenly give way to euphoric hands-in-the-air moments that send the crowd into collective delirium. Obscure gems sit comfortably alongside dancefloor anthems. The only constant is quality, feeling, and that undeniable connection that transforms a night out into a spiritual experience.
As Rio himself says: "Expression has no limits. No boundaries. No boxes."
So join us on Feb 28th as Superfly becomes the canvas for that expression. The dance floor transforms into a space where movement becomes freedom, where feeling becomes everything, and where the third time truly proves to be the charm.
Welcome back, Rio.
Apres Lounge, High Street, Leicester. For Guestlist - drop us a DM on Instagram. Doors open 10pm.
Support from Slaney & JeddDJ, Duke (Glitterbox / Classic) and Chambo
Rio Tashan: The Hat Trick at Superfly City – because some things are more surprising, inspirational and worth experiencing three times over!
