Following the release of their debut album, Essex, Drugs and Rock and Roll, Bilk head out on their biggest ever UK Tour. 

ESSEX, DRUGS AND ROCK AND ROLL

Essex trio Bilk headed to Engine Rooms in Southampton to play their final gig of their UK Tour.

The band recently made waves by securing a spot in the top 10 of the Official Independent Album Breakers Chart Record Store Chart. During this exciting time, we had the chance to catch them live at Engine Rooms in Southampton, where they delivered a lasting performance.

COAST

The first support act were no strangers to the stage. Previously taking to other stages in the South Coast, Coast have been making quite the name for themselves. They got the crowd’s anticipation going for the main act and it’s clear that Coast has an amazing future ahead. The crowd favourite was 117- the band’s only released single so far, which got every single person in the venue moving. 

THE PILL

The next support act: The Pill, further heightened the energy to the crowd, with their catchy and rocky sound. It was refreshing to see a girl band playing their feminist anthems to a mainly male audience. With a vibe similar to Wet Leg, also originating from the Isle of Wight, The Pill bring a unique edge to the stage. A personal favourite from their set was Money Mullet, their latest single, with the crowd matching the band’s energy. They were a perfect support act and got the crowd going for Bilk!

BILK

Bilk kicked off the show with the opener to Essex, Drugs and Rock and Roll: RNR. Sol Abraham’s vocals are bold and full of attitude. They perfectly capture the rebellious vibe of the track and the rest of the album—and this was only the beginning. The energy of the performance brought a new perspective to the song. Pounding drums, gritty guitar riffs, and an infectious stage presence has the crowd moving from the very start. 

Skidmark gets the crowd singing along, accompanying the acoustic guitar. Abrahams jokes, “This song is about someone special in your life” which was then followed by the lyrics, “You’re a cunt, I hate everything about you, you make my life so uneasy. ‘You think that you’re all charming but you’re horrible and sleazy. You’re a cunt,” 

Band Life Blues uses electrifying lighting that matches the energy of the lyrics, backed by roaring electric guitar. The crowd responded in full force, with mosh pits erupting and fans surging forward to crowd surf, completely immersing themselves in the band’s high-intensity performance.

CHAOS

Just as you thought the show was over, then came the encore, featuring old songs, especially as it was the final date of the UK tour. The final song, Daydream, was the most chaotic the crowd had been all evening. With electric guitars and mosh pits, the crowd was not ready to go home. Daydream, the final song, sparks the most chaos of the night- guitars bellow, mosh pits intensify, and the crowd was not ready to go home.

From crowd surfers to mosh pits, Bilk bring an electric energy to their snows. After such a thrilling show, fans will no doubt be eager to see what the band has in store next.

You can read our review of Essex, Drugs and Rock and Roll here. Bilk continue their tour into Europe in March.

Bilk online: Website / Facebook / Instagram / X

The Pill online: Website / Facebook / Instagram

Coast online: Instagram / TikTok

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