Skunk Anansie: O2 Apollo, Manchester

Skunk Anansie | So Good
O2 Apollo, Manchester
4th April 2025

British rock icons Skunk Anansie play Manchester as part of their European and UK headline tour, promoting their hugely anticipated new studio album The Painful Truth. It’s their seventh studio collection and first in nine years, to be released on May 23rd. This show felt like a celebration of both legacy and rebirth, blending blistering punk with metal, the band whipped the crowd into a euphoric frenzy. Claire Glover from Louder Than War checks it out

Warming up the crowd tonight, or more like setting it ablaze, was London’s So Good, and yes, exactly that. So Good by name, and so fucking good by nature. Frontwoman Sophie stormed the stage, donning her signature look, short skirt, long socks, and a beret…exuding untouchable cool. Flanked by fellow singers/ dancers and bandmates in pink ski masks, the vibe was half protest rally, half chaotic rave, and the energy was electric.

The setlist was a punchy, provocative rollercoaster, with tracks like Hot, 1994, the rebellious anthem, I Rewrote The Fucking Bible, and the completely unfiltered, If I Had A (Dick). It’s Hip Hop meets Punk, loud and proud, with a sharp political edge and a middle finger raised high, literally. So Good has the crowd sending off fascists in one moment, and dancing like no one was watching the next. Underneath the raunch and riot, though, there’s substance and commentary on gender, power, and identity, all delivered with a wink, nod and a snarl. So Good, is not just a support act, but a statement.

To loud screams and cheers, Skunk Anansie make a powerful and theatrical entrance, with iconic frontwoman Skin cloaked in a black flowing cloak which billows dramatically under the strobe lighting. It’s instantly spellbinding. The band launch straight into This Means War and the thunderous Charlie Big Potato, sending the sold-out crowd of 3,000+ at the Apollo into a frenzy. Every beat and every lyric is soaked up by an audience who’ve clearly been waiting for this moment. Skin’s voice is a weapon, fierce and flawless, cutting through the dazzling visuals during the anthemic Because of You.

Between songs, she takes a moment to welcome the crowd with genuine warmth, her soft-spoken voice, a stark and beautiful contrast to the powerhouse heard during the show. She even handles a woman’s front-row flash of breasts with cheeky grace before reminding everyone about the band’s highly anticipated new album, The Painful Truth.

They continue with the new single An Artist Is an Artist, followed by I Believed in You and Love Someone Else. There’s a touching moment as God Loves Only You is dedicated to the crowd before the chorus of Secretly lifts the roof, the audience singing every word in unison.

Guitarist Ace, bassist Cass, and drummer Mark are tight, electric, and locked into each other’s rhythm. There’s an effortless chemistry here, honed over decades, and it radiates off the stage. Skin pauses again to speak from the heart, about freedom, safety, and the basic human right to exist without fear. “It’s not just politics,” she says with intensity, “it’s about empathy.” Then she yells, “Slash the fascists” and the roar from the crowd is deafening. This is what Skunk Anansie have always stood for, breaking boundaries, smashing stereotypes, and delivering a sound that’s as urgent and relevant now as it was when they first exploded onto the scene. This isn’t just a gig, it’s a rallying cry and Manchester heard it loud and clear.

The energy doesn’t let up as the band return with a blistering encore – Yes It’s Fucking Political and the riotous Tear The Place Up, which ignites a fresh wave of chaos. Skin scales the drum riser, and takes up percussion duties, which brings the night to a furious climax with the wild Little Baby Swastikkka. It’s raw, it’s loud, it’s pure Skunk Anansie, but the crowd isn’t letting them go that easily. The venue is buzzing, practically levitating on the back of Skin’s soulful, guttural wails as she prowls and bounds across the stage like she owns every inch of it. We’re treated to more stunning new tracks, Cheers and Lost And Found before the iconic Hedonism (Just Because You Feel Good) floods the room with emotion and nostalgia.

Next, the final hammer blow The Skank Heads. Skin calls for a female mosh pit, hurls herself into the crowd, and crowd-surfs like the absolute legend she is, riding a tidal wave of arms and screams in a moment of unfiltered punk rock glory.

With over 5 million records sold, Skunk Anansie have proven time and again that they’re a force to be reckoned with, unapologetic, unrelenting, and always vital. As the crowd drowns the Apollo in a tidal wave of applause, Skin takes a heartfelt pause. “We’ve been playing in Manchester since we formed 1994, but this… this has been the most phenomenal night we’ve ever had here.” skin says. Sure, she might say that to all the crowds, but tonight, it truly feels real.

Skunk Anansie deliver a masterclass in Power, Politics, and Pure Punk Rock Energy tonight.

Please note: Use of these images in any form without permission is illegal. If you wish to contact the photographer please email: mel@mudkissphotography.co.uk

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All words by Claire Glover. More writing by Claire on Louder Than War can be found at her author profile here. You can also find her on Twitter | Bluesky

All photos by Melanie Smith – Louder Than War | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Portfolio