The Rock’N’Roll Freakshow Experience
Electric Brixton, London
21st March 2026
Blending live music, burlesque, cabaret, and circus into one intoxicating spectacle, the Rock’N’Roll Freakshow Experience takes over Electric Brixton for a night of deliciously dark, twisted fun. Paul Grace reports.
Billed as a “Freakshow Experience,” the night leans fully into its promise of spooky spectacle as Electric Brixton is transformed into a neon-lit playground of burlesque performers, roaming oddities, and a crowd dressed to match.
Musically, the lineup strikes a balance between emerging talent and big room drama. The opening set from DeVere sets the tone perfectly, delivering raw, high-octane energy that mixes tight riffs with a heavy dose of 80’s glam-rock nostalgia. Singer Sam Cassidy commands the spotlight with swagger and pose, channeling the electrifying presence of a young David Lee Roth.
Next up, Professional 101 blast out an intense 45 minutes of ferocious guitar-driven rock fused with modern indie quirkiness. With a tongue-in-cheek social narrative, between songs there’s plenty of banter which the crowd laps up.
As the band finish up, burlesque performers drift through the venue, teasing and dazzling with gravity-defying feats high above the crowd.
By the time headliner Kid Bookie hits the stage, the room is at boiling point. His headline set blurs genres, moving effortlessly between punk, grime, and rap. There’s a volatility to his set that feels unpredictable in the best way, as crowd interactions teeter between hype and confrontation. It’s messy, loud, and totally addictive. With a grin, Kid Bookie yells, “This song goes out to anyone who wiped with toilet paper today!”, igniting a juxtapose mix of hysterics and mosh-pit mayhem.
Closing duties fall to IDLES’ Adam Devonshire, whose DJ set pushes things further into late-night debauchery. Leaning into heavy basslines and leftfield cuts, the set feels less like a comedown and more like a second wind.
What makes tonight stand out isn’t just the lineup, but its cohesion; the burlesque interludes, the circus-like visuals…the sense of controlled chaos. Nights like this can easily feel disjointed, but here, everything clicks.
In a city saturated with live music, the Rock’N’Roll Freakshow Experience carves out something very unique. It isn’t polished, but then it isn’t supposed to be. Instead, it pushes art, performance, and spontaneity – a reminder that live music can still feel dangerous, immersive, and a little bit unhinged.
And honestly, London could use more of that.
~
All words and photos © Paul Grace. For more of Paul’s writing and photos go to his archive. Paul is on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and his websites are www.paulgrace-eventphotos.co.uk & www.pgrace.co.uk.
A Plea From Louder Than War
Louder Than War is run by a small but dedicated independent team, and we rely on the small amount of money we generate to keep the site running smoothly. Any money we do get is not lining the pockets of oligarchs or mad-cap billionaires dictating what our journalists are allowed to think and write, or hungry shareholders. We know times are tough, and we want to continue bringing you news on the most interesting releases, the latest gigs and anything else that tickles our fancy. We are not driven by profit, just pure enthusiasm for a scene that each and every one of us is passionate about.
To us, music and culture are eveything, without them, our very souls shrivel and die. We do not charge artists for the exposure we give them and to many, what we do is absolutely vital. Subscribing to one of our paid tiers takes just a minute, and each sign-up makes a huge impact, helping to keep the flame of independent music burning! Please click the button below to help.
John Robb – Editor in Chief
