Steps are breaking out of their planned 2023 hiatus to headline Brighton Pride this summer. 

The group will perform their only UK gig of the year at the annual event on Sunday, August 6, as part of a line-up that also features Melanie C, Louise and B*Witched. 

“We are SUPER excited to announce that we’ll be headlining the main stage at @PrideBrighton,” tweeted the band.

“It’s been our dream to perform at this legendary event and it’s our only UK show this year.”

Their headline performance will round out the second and final day of the festival, with Black Eyed Peas topping Saturday’s billing. 

Zara Larsson, Jax Jones and Dylan are among that day’s performers. 

Tickets for Brighton Pride are on sale now. 

Steps had planned to step back from performing following a three-year run that saw the band release two albums – ‘What The Future Holds’ and ‘What The Future Holds Pt. 2’ – along with their ‘Platinum Collection’ greatest hits. 

Steps rocketed to the top of the UK Charts with their 25th anniversary retrospective, making them the first British mixed-gender group to have a No. 1 album in four consecutive decades. 

Speaking in an exclusive cover feature in the September 2022 issue of Retro Pop, the group look back on their pop legacy and reveal the significance of their latest milestone.

Ian ‘H’ Watkins says: “When we released our first single, everybody laughed at us. All of the cool cats laughed at us. The record company big-wigs wanted us to go away and then with every single they laughed louder, they laughed harder.

“And then 25 years later, none of those cool cats are around, all those music execs have probably been ditched, and we’re still here.”

And when it comes to the next chapter in Steps’ legacy, Claire maintains the band is living in the moment with their ongoing summer tour – but insists there’s more to come.

“I think we’ve come to realise since we got back together in 2011 that it is good for us to have little gaps here and there,” she says. “It also reminds people of the whole nostalgia of Steps as well, which is a massive part of what we are. So, we don’t want to keep ramming ourselves down people’s throats. 

“Once we’re done with all the summer shows to end this little chapter, we’ll start thinking about the next one…”

READ MORE: Steps: ‘When we started out, all the cool cats laughed at us – but 25 years later they’re gone and we’re still here!’