You can expect many things in life. Showers in April, politicians to lie, and buses to be late. Perhaps the most reliable thing these days is that a Skindred show will be a huge expression of fun and joy that transports you away from the daily humdrum, and that is exactly what we got at Electric Bristol.
Skindred / RXPTRS
Electric Bristol – 21 April 2026
Words And Photograph: Paul Hutchings
It has taken the Newport outfit a long time to get here. Quarter of a century to be precise. But nine albums in, and with thousands of shows in every flea pit in both the UK and Europe finished, Skindred is now comfortably easing into a size of venue which their popularity deserves.
During the 75-minute set, singer Benji Webbe asks how many of the hundreds crushed like sardines in front of him had not seen Skindred before.
It is a surprisingly large show of hands, but you know, after this set, that they will be back as soon as they can. For this is a masterclass in crowd control, audience participation and overall delivery of the highest order.
A celebration of the latest album, You Got This, Skindred has been doing a small run of shows across the country, balanced with in-store acoustics, and a full-on electric set tonight. The crowd are queuing over 40 minutes before doors, and by the time Skindred hit the stage to The Imperial March, there is space to pass a Rizla only.
It is incredible to watch this set. AC/DC’s It’s A Long Way To The Top could have been written about this band, though Thunderstruck has been their intro for years.
It segues into The Imperial March as the band arrive to a hero’s welcome. To be fair, Benji and his brothers could have farted into a tuba, and we would have loved it. Thankfully, it is a bit more traditional fare, even more enthralling in power and pace.
It is an explosive start. This Is The Sound and Set Fazers ignite a raging mosh pit that rarely settles all evening. Crowd surfers begin their assault, and kudos to the pit crew, who deal with everything well.
An early casualty in the pit causes some concern as security piles over the barrier to get things sorted. Benji is fully aware, checking in before Rat Race throws more musical fuel on the fire, and the place erupts once more.
Everyone should see Skindred at least once. This is music from the heart, formed and crafted from tough upbringings, challenging social circumstances and a drive to succeed.
Benji’s Newport twang cannot fail to bring a smile. His banter is rapid and quick-witted, and he is not afraid to call people out. It is brilliantly good, as underneath it all is a genuine sincerity. This is a band who have clawed their way to the top and now maybe cannot quite believe that they might have got there.
With the news that the band is currently holding the mid-week Number One spot on the UK Official Chart, it is understandable that Benji, Mikey Deemus and Ayra Goggin are in a head spin. Benji thanks the crowd and urges those “tight bastards” who have not bought it to go out and get it.
It would be some achievement for this humble and deserving band.
Looking into the sea of faces as the band races through the Radio 01633 – Jump Interlude via Skindred Radio, and all you see are smiles. Mikey Deemus is the coolest dude in the place, some feat when you consider the sass of Benji, but Mikey is in total control, firing out spine-breaking riffs that form the basis of Pressure, Kill the Power and new song You Got This.
On stage left, Tommy Gleeson, Feeder’s touring guitarist, amongst other things, throws down the low-end and locks in with Goggins. It is a formidable team behind Benji.
A bruising Nobody closes out the main set, but there is no way that this band is finished.
It is a killer finale too, with Give Me That Boom and a blast of War Pigs winding the tension up for one final burst. The first riff of Warning kicks in, and shirts are swinging in the air long before Benji gives the command.
When we do get to the Newport Helicopter, the place is in meltdown, and the venue is in shadow from the vast numbers swinging their tops. This is something I thought would age, but once more, this band proves me wrong.
Phenomenal live, ever improving on record, the future looks brilliant.
You have until 23:59 tonight to pre‑order the album and be included in the Skindred stats for this week’s Number One album. Earache Records also have a competition to win a trip to Mallorca to see the band. Full details are at earache.com/collections/skindred.
RXPTRS
I was not expecting a support band tonight, so it was a pleasant surprise to find RXPTRS on the bill. Hitting the stage at 8 pm to a packed room, this was a no-brainer move. Local to Bristol, RXPTRS are the ideal warm-up for Skindred.
Their cross section of Metal, rock, punk and Hardcore proves to be the ideal opener and with a large percentage of the crowd already familiar with the band, it is no surprise that surfers fly early on.
My first chance to catch them, they do not disappoint, with snippets of Nu-Metal via Linkin Park’s One Step Closer and a raging segment of Audioslave’s Cochiese blended in with their own tunes.
In frontman Simon Roach, they have a powerful focus, although the rest of the band (Ian Chadderton and Harley Watson on guitar, Sam Leworthy on bass, and drummer Mat Capper) are tight and energetic. They may not have huge amounts of room, but they kick it hard.
You, Me And The Devil Makes Three sees Roach dive into the audience, and there is a brief minute when you think his frame will disappear below the human waves that he sails. Thankfully, he emerges and returns to the front to finish the job.
Picking supports is not always easy. This was inspired.
