Keele University Student Union was the place to be on Thursday, October 16th, as Skindred brought ‘The Detour’ tour crashing into Newcastle-under-Lyme for its very first night. Bringing along high-energy supports Snayx and Chasing The Fall, the venue was bracing for an evening of bouncing, moshing, and pure ragga-metal joy.
To kick the night off, Chasing The Fall took to the stage with full pop-punk gusto. Hailing from Cheshire, they’ve carved the spirit of the 00s pop-punk wave, bringing big hooks, anthem choruses, and unapologetic attitude.
Their debut EP, which featured standout tracks like “Black & Blue” and “Late to Life” that earned a spot on BBC Radio 1, was played loud and proud to get the audience woken up and ready for the loud bass and beats of what was to come later that night!
From the moment Snayx took over from Chasing The Fall, the energy became an orgy of electricity and unforgettable beats. The Brighton-based duo have been building a reputation for high-octane, bass-driven alt-rock/punk performances. In Keele, they wasted no time diving into a full-on assault of sound, frontman Charlie Herridge commanding the stage with bassist Ollie Horner thundering around with all the momentum of a headline act.
Their set contained tracks like “Fanx” and “Sink or Swim”, with even a cover of The Prodigy’s “Breathe” thrown in, which went down strong and got all the uni students and gig veterans singing their hearts out. Frontman Charlie Herridge also orchestrated a mosh pit halfway through the set which, by far, got everyone warmed up for the headliners!
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Finally, it was time for the main event. Skindred were kicking off the first night of The Detour tour, and known for high-octane live shows and fun stage antics, the band more than lived up to expectations. From the moment the lights dimmed and the riff of AC/DC’s “Thunderstruck” hit, the fans knew they were in for something spectacular. The band were on full throttle throughout their first song, “Set Fazers”, with frontman Benji Webbe prowling the stage with magnetic charisma, switching between ragga-style vox, punk shouts, and sing-along calls with apparent effortless control.
The rest of the band – original members Mikey Demus and Arya Goggin, along with a replacement bassist while original bassist Dan is missing for an unknown reason – locked in tight. They delivered hard-driving grooves, dancehall skanks, break-beat flourishes, and a healthy dose of metal aggression.
Highlights included a couple of newer songs, including a new unreleased track called “You Got This” from their upcoming album. The set list also included old-school favourites such as “Nobody” and the crowd-pleaser “Warning”, which had long-time fans cheering and having a time they won’t forget in a hurry.
A key moment mid-set saw the rhythm lock into a reggae-metal groove for “That’s My Jam”, with the crowd, encouraged by Benji, singing the words back almost better than the band. The closing song, “Warning”, had the fans jumping and swinging their shirts in the air. The track delivered hard and fast, leaving the band warmed up and ready for Tenby and the rest of the tour.
Considering this was Skindred’s opening night, they delivered big! They brought the boom and the crowd brought the energy, leaving the student union in a temporary stronghold of ragga-metal joy that will surely leave a mark. If this is any indicator of what’s to come on The Detour tour, then the later dates are in for something special.
If I had to put a rating on it: 5 / 5!
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Photos by Will Bloor Photography
