Right then, Hawkins residents, synth nerds, horror geeks, ageing metalheads who secretly love neon aesthetics, and everyone still emotionally recovering from that Kate Bush scene… this one’s for you. 😈
The legendary composers behind Stranger Things — Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein — are officially bringing the entire Stranger Things musical saga to Europe later this year with a huge live tour. 🎹⚡
And honestly?
This sounds less like a gig and more like accidentally falling through a portal into the Upside Down after eating questionable festival food at 1am while hearing analogue synths echo through the fog.
Proper spooky behaviour, mun.
The duo — who also perform together in the dark synth-prog outfit S U R V I V E — have spent years crafting one of the most recognisable TV soundtracks of the modern era. Now they’re taking that atmosphere, emotion, tension, and retro horror magic out of the television and onto the stage for fans to experience live.
And if the idea of hearing those iconic synth lines blasted through a massive sound system doesn’t immediately give you goosebumps… are you even human? 👀
🌌 THE SOUNDTRACK THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING
Let’s be honest here…
The music in Stranger Things became just as iconic as the Demogorgon itself.
Before the show landed back in 2016, synth-heavy horror soundtracks were mostly living in niche corners of music fandom:
- cult horror films 🎥
- underground electronic scenes 🌃
- retro gaming communities 🕹
- and people who own far too many John Carpenter vinyl records
Then suddenly Stranger Things exploded onto Netflix and the entire world collectively went:
“Hang on… why does this terrifying synth music absolutely RULE?”
The score became inseparable from the show’s identity.
Every moment:
- the bike rides through Hawkins 🚲
- the emotional character scenes 😭
- the monster attacks 👾
- the suspense-filled darkness 🌫
- the moments of wonder ✨
…all became amplified by Dixon and Stein’s incredible soundtrack work.
They somehow managed to create music that feels:
- nostalgic
- futuristic
- warm
- terrifying
- emotional
- lonely
- exciting
- and completely cinematic
All at the same time.
That’s not easy, butt.
Most people struggle choosing a decent Spotify playlist for a barbecue.
🎹 WHO ARE KYLE DIXON AND MICHAEL STEIN?
For many casual fans, Dixon and Stein are the sound of Stranger Things.
But long before Hawkins became a global obsession, the pair were already crafting dark electronic music with S U R V I V E — a band beloved by synthwave fans, soundtrack collectors, and anyone who enjoys music that sounds like driving through a neon-lit apocalypse at midnight.
Their work blends:
- analogue synthesisers 🎹
- progressive electronic textures 🌌
- ambient horror atmosphere 👻
- minimalist tension ⚡
- and massive cinematic emotion
Basically imagine:
if prog rock, horror films, and vintage arcade machines all had a very moody child together.
That’s the vibe.
And when Netflix were searching for composers who could create something unique for Stranger Things, Dixon and Stein delivered a soundtrack that instantly felt timeless.
Not trendy.
Not disposable.
Not generic streaming filler.
Timeless.
🎟 THE LIVE TOUR COULD BE AN ABSOLUTE SENSORY OVERLOAD
Now imagine all of that music… live.
LOUD.
With giant visuals.
Huge lighting rigs.
Atmospheric projections.
Walls of synthesisers.
Massive low-end bass vibrations.
And crowds full of people dressed like it’s 1985.
C’mon now. 🔥
This won’t be a standard “band standing there playing tracks” kind of concert.
This feels like it’s going to be an immersive cinematic experience.
Expect:
- retro visuals 🎥
- eerie lighting ⚡
- cinematic transitions 🌌
- haunting atmosphere 👾
- emotional climaxes 😭
- and probably thousands of fans losing their minds the second those opening synth notes hit
You can already picture it:
The venue goes dark…
Smoke fills the stage…
A low synth pulse begins…
The crowd erupts…
Someone in the back screams “RUN!” for absolutely no reason…
Beautiful scenes.
💿 STRANGER THINGS 5 IS ALSO GETTING THE ULTIMATE VINYL TREATMENT
As if the tour announcement wasn’t already enough to financially destroy collectors this year…
Invada Records and Lakeshore Records are also releasing Stranger Things 5 — Original Score From The Netflix Series as TWO deluxe double-vinyl editions on July 15. 💿🔥
And these aren’t tiny little soundtrack samplers either.
We’re talking:
🎵 NINETY-FIVE TRACKS
Yep.
95.
That includes:
- Season 5 Volume 1
- Season 5 Volume 2
- music from the finale itself
Meaning fans are getting the entire emotional destruction package pressed onto vinyl.
And because Hawkins doesn’t do subtle…
The Invada Records editions come in:
- Metallic Bronze Vinyl 🟤
- Metallic Silver Vinyl ⚪
Both housed in deluxe gatefold sleeves with printed inners and full-colour photography.
In other words:
these are the kinds of records you buy saying:
“I’m definitely gonna spin these loads.”
Before immediately placing them in protective sleeves and guarding them like cursed treasure for eternity. 😅
👾 STRANGER THINGS MADE SYNTHS COOL AGAIN
One of the funniest things about Stranger Things is how it completely dragged analogue synth music back into mainstream culture.
Suddenly:
- teenagers were buying synths 🎹
- synthwave playlists exploded online 🌃
- horror aesthetics became trendy again 👻
- retro fonts returned everywhere 🔥
- and everyone wanted their life to feel like an 80s movie montage
Even rock and metal fans got sucked into it.
And honestly?
It makes sense.
Because the soundtrack carries the same emotional punch that great rock records do.
It’s atmosphere.
It’s tension.
It’s feeling.
The same reason people love:
- Pink Floyd
- Nine Inch Nails
- John Carpenter scores
- Goblin
- prog epics
- dark ambient records
- cinematic post-rock
…it’s all about creating a world around the listener.
And Dixon and Stein absolutely mastered that.
🤘 THIS ISN’T JUST FOR TV FANS
Even if you’re not obsessed with Stranger Things, this tour still sounds like one of the coolest live experiences heading to Europe this year.
If you’re into:
- synthwave
- electronic music
- progressive soundscapes
- horror scores
- cinematic live performances
- retro aesthetics
- dark atmosphere
- immersive concerts
…this could be right up your alley.
Because underneath all the monsters and nostalgia, the Stranger Things soundtrack is genuinely brilliant music.
And hearing it live?
With thousands of fans surrounded by giant visuals and analogue synth chaos?
That could be absolutely magical.
Or terrifying.
Possibly both.
Which, to be fair, is very on-brand for Hawkins. 👾🔥
Now excuse us while we go stare moodily out of a rainy Welsh window pretending we’re in a Netflix montage. 🎹🌧🤘
Michael is the founder, editor, and chief riff wrangler behind The Riff Report, an independent Welsh rock and metal publication built by fans, for fans. With a lifelong passion for loud guitars, unforgettable live shows, and the incredible community that surrounds rock and metal, he created The Riff Report to celebrate everything that makes the scene special—from legendary headline acts and grassroots venues to rising bands that deserve to be heard.
A familiar face at festivals across the UK, Michael spends much of the year covering events including Download Festival, Bloodstock Open Air, Steelhouse Festival, Firevolt, Plumpton Revival, and many more. Whether he’s battling the Welsh weather on a mountainside, surviving a weekend in a muddy campsite, or squeezed against the front barrier with thousands of fellow fans, he’s always searching for the next great story to share.
As editor of The Riff Report, Michael writes festival guides, breaking news, album reviews, gig reviews, interviews, opinion pieces, nostalgia features, and behind-the-scenes stories from across the rock and metal world. His writing combines honest opinions, humour, and a genuine love for live music, bringing readers closer to the bands, festivals, venues, and people that keep the scene alive.
Michael is particularly passionate about supporting independent artists, local venues, charities, and the wider UK rock and metal community. He believes every band deserves a chance to be discovered and every festival has a story worth telling. Through The Riff Report, he aims to shine a spotlight on both the biggest names in rock and the future stars waiting to break through.
When he’s not writing or interviewing artists, you’ll probably find him exploring festival campsites, photographing live shows, chatting with fellow fans over a pint, or planning the next road trip in search of more riffs, bigger crowds, and unforgettable moments.
Above all, Michael believes rock and metal are about more than music—they’re about community, friendship, and creating memories that last a lifetime. That’s exactly what The Riff Report exists to celebrate.
Proudly Welsh. Proudly Loud. Always chasing the next great riff. 🤘
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