Photo Credit: Lene Ray
On 21st April, we had the chance to attend Electric Bristol for an unforgettable night with Skindred, joined by support act RXPTRS. From the moment we arrived, the atmosphere outside the venue already hinted that this was going to be something special. The queue of fans eager to enter stretched far down the street, packed with people proudly wearing Skindred tees and hoodies. It all added to the anticipation building for the night ahead.
The venue itself, formerly known as SWX, is one of Bristol’s most loved alternative music venues. Electric Bristol has a lively, gritty atmosphere that perfectly suits heavy music. The dark industrial feel, flashing lights, sticky floors and buzzing crowd all combine to create the kind of environment where live rock music thrives. Over the years it has become a go to venue for metal and rock bands touring the UK, making it the perfect choice for a Skindred show.
First up were Bristol locals RXPTRS, a band quickly becoming part of the exciting new wave of UK heavy music that refuses to stay boxed into one genre. Vocalist Simon Roach, guitarists Ian Chadderton and Harley Watson, bassist Sam Leworthy, and drummer Mat Capper entered the stage with aggressive confidence and huge energy. Straight away they had the crowd moving. Mosh pits opened almost instantly while crowd surfers began flying over the barrier within minutes of the set starting.
Roach’s heavy, powerful vocals were genuinely insane live and completely commanded the room. The band delivered a mixture of older material alongside newer tracks, each song somehow feeling heavier and more intense than the last. One of the standout moments came when they launched into a cover of Killing In The Name by Rage Against the Machine. The reaction from the crowd was absolute chaos in the best possible way. Every single person seemed to be screaming along to every word whilst fists flew into the air and the pit erupted.
At one point Roach himself dived directly into the crowd, surfing across a sea of people while continuing to sing without missing a beat. It was wild to watch and perfectly summed up the energy of the set. RXPTRS delivered such an intense and powerful warm up for Skindred that by the end of their performance the venue already felt close to boiling point.
Of course, after a quick refill of beer and an attempt to regain some energy, it was finally time for the main act.
Skindred are one of the most unique and electrifying live bands in the UK rock scene. Formed in Newport, Wales, they blend heavy metal, punk, reggae, drum and bass and electronic influences into a sound completely their own. Fronted by the charismatic and endlessly energetic Benji Webbe, the band have built a huge reputation for explosive live performances, massive basslines and feel good chaos that somehow turns every venue into a full blown party.
The stage setup immediately stood out before the band had even appeared. Colourful lighting flooded the venue while large signs on either side of the stage displayed the phrase You Got This, the title of their newest album released this year. Benji’s mic stand featured a black and white Union Jack flag draped dramatically over it, adding to the larger than life visual aesthetic of the show.
The atmosphere exploded as soon as the band walked onto the stage. Huge cheers erupted around the venue as the members appeared one by one to the Darth Vader theme soundtrack. On came Tommy Gleeson on bass, Arya Goggin on drums, Mikey Demus on guitar and finally Benji Webbe himself, marching onto the stage with complete confidence and instantly owning the room before a single lyric had even been sung. He wore a black leather jacket layered with long tasselled fringe that swung wildly with every movement he made. His oversized spiked sunglasses and furry trapper style hat created this chaotic blend of punk, reggae and metal swagger that perfectly matched Skindred’s genre bending music. Under the glowing green stage lights, the entire look felt almost post apocalyptic, like some kind of rock and roll ringmaster taking complete control of the crowd from the moment he appeared.
The band opened with This Is The Sound from their new album and it instantly hit with the audience. Within seconds the entire floor was bouncing together in unison to the pounding basslines. The energy inside the venue was unreal. Crowd surfers continuously floated overhead while mosh pits expanded across the middle of the room. Despite the chaos there was also something incredibly uplifting about the atmosphere. Skindred shows somehow manage to feel aggressive, euphoric and joyful all at the same time.
The setlist mixed newer material with fan favourites from older albums, including tracks from Smile, the album that reached number one in the UK charts in 2023. Massive songs like Gimme That Boom and Nobody sent the crowd into an absolute frenzy, with every lyric screamed back toward the stage. The bass throughout the night was relentless, vibrating through the floor and chest so intensely you could physically feel every beat.
One of the best things about the show was Benji’s personality throughout. Between songs he constantly joked with the crowd, bringing humour and warmth to the performance in a way that felt refreshing and genuine. It was obvious he wasn’t interested in taking himself too seriously. At one point Benji asked the crowd to make noise if they were creatives. He then spoke about ignoring the haters, blocking out negativity and continuing to do what you love regardless of what people say. It felt surprisingly personal and uplifting before the band launched into You Got This, clearly making the phrase the emotional core of both the new album and tour.
Benji also had several costume changes throughout the set, each somehow more outrageous than the last. One standout look featured a heavily studded white fringed jacket layered over an oversized white shirt. The outfit blended reggae influence, glam rock excess, punk attitude and festival chaos all at once. Rainbow detailing on the sleeves added flashes of colour while the long tassels swung dramatically under the lights as he moved constantly across the stage commanding the audience. Paired with oversized white sunglasses and, earlier in the set, the fluffy white trapper hat, the entire look felt theatrical, eccentric and completely unforgettable.
By the end of the night the crowd looked exhausted but buzzing with adrenaline. Skindred didn’t just perform a gig, they created an experience. From the crushing basslines and explosive pits to Benji’s humour and uplifting messages, the entire evening felt like pure escapism and chaos in the best possible way. Electric Bristol proved to be the perfect venue for a band like Skindred, packed full of energy, sweat, noise and personality.
Skindred continue to prove exactly why they remain one of the most exciting live bands in the UK. Loud, unpredictable, uplifting and completely unique, this was one of those gigs that leaves your ears ringing, your body aching and your adrenaline running long after the lights come back on.
Written By: Lene Ray
