Skunk Anansie - Old Market, Brighton, 16/5/2025

  by Steev Burgess

published: 8 / 7 / 2025

Sreev Burgess watches Britrock veterans Skunk Anansie air the hits and preview new material at an intimate show in Brighton. The Great Escape Festival that takes over the venues of Brighton was set-up to introduce a selection of hundreds of interesting new bands and singers to the public and music industry alike. Peter Doherty's Strap Originals label commandeered the beach on Wednesday night to showcase their wares as well as launch Doherty's new solo album. On Friday evening Skunk Anansie take the opportunity to play some songs from their forthcoming album, at what for them was a very intimate gig, at the lovely Old Market. I spotted more than a few music industry folk at the five hundred capacity show plus people from other bands, interested no doubt, in a sneak peek at new LP ‘The Painful Truth’. Now based in Brooklyn, age defying singer Skin bounds across the stage like a cat on a hot tin roof but with the voice of a wild angel. Featuring familiar names Martin ‘Ace’ Kent on guitar and Richard ‘Cass’ Lewis on bass guitar, both present since 1994, the latter recently battled through stage 4 cancer. There was a new face on drums introduced as Hayley, who was recommended by regular drummer Mark Richardson who is also recovering from cancer caught in its early stages. Of the new songs, ‘Shame’ stood out for me as the most interesting departure, opening with a slow synthetic drumbeat, not unlike that of Gabi Garbutt's ‘Unquiet Mind’ before Skin imposes her own soulful voice over the music. While the new material was written when the band convened at a farmhouse in Devon, it is heavily influenced by US producer David Sitek. Noted for his work with Foals and Weezer, the TV On The Radio guitarist is a master of gadgetry by all accounts. Sitek stripped Skunk Anansie down somewhat of the familiar big bass riffs and let the lighter guitar parts shine and encouraged dub ideas to emerge. On another new favourite ‘An Artist Is An Artist’ the 57 year-young Skin rails against ageism in what will surely become a bona fide anthem for all unretired creatives. "An artist is an artist / When an artist is an artist, And she don't stop being an artist / Cos she’s old, you know” a sentiment underlined by the singer as she jumps into crowd later in the gig. This wasn't just about new songs though, as old favourite ‘Weak’ caught the ear, proclaiming "No tears for you, weak as I am / I'm no one's fool". There was a brief pause in the hour long set, while the tour manger doubling as drum tech in the skeleton crew assembled for show, fixed the kick drum pedal. Supplying the powerful finale ‘Hedonism’ is another highlight. Sounding as good as ever, its lyric “Just because it feels good / Doesn't make you right" was left jousting in my mind with Sheryl Crow's "If it makes you happy / It can't be that bad", on our late train journey back to London.

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