Arena Torquay
Friday 7th November 2025

Back to the new jewel in the SW music scene crown tonight, with a return to the new Arena venue in Torquay. This time to catch a far bigger band in the shape of Skindred, showcasing just how needed a venue this size is in the SW.

Opening the evening, with an already sizeable crowd – Oxford’s Arimea.

We thought we had arrived in plenty of time for the published schedule, but had barely walked through the door before the lights went down, and I had to grab a camera from my bag and hope for the best as I dashed into the pit. I am extremely glad I did, as I enjoyed their set immensely.

Fronted by the charismatic Whitney Cooper, they surged straight into a set of refreshingly modern metal with “Deliver Me” and “Orchid Street”. Whitney has both melody and a good amount of growl, and around her, brother Tom on guitar, Joe Landles on bass, and drummer Richard Stedman lay down a sound that draws you in, then, without warning, pins you down. Once out of the pit, I get a chance to grab a pint and really listen, and both “Castiel” with its light and shade and “Leash” with its intricate rhythm growing into crushing power really stand out. Great start to energise the crowd.

Talking of energy, SNAYX hit the ground running and then somehow speed up even more with a set of punk exuberance.

With a massive sound for a trio, especially as they are stripped back to vocalist Charlie Herridge, drummer Lainey Loops, and bassist (laying down an absolute wall of octaved and processed sounds) Ollie Horner, they fly straight into “Work” with Herridge using the low ceiling rig to loom out over the crowd precariously. It’s a breathless set. Both Herridge and Horner cover every inch of the stage, and at one point, Herridge overbalances next to Loops’ kit, so Horner simply collapses onto him.

It’s everything that good punk should be: lyrics to listen to, an ADHD stage presence, and that element of unpredictability. ”Strut”, “Sink or Swim”, and set closer “Violence” leave what was a chilly crowd rushing to the bar to rehydrate and a sheen of sweat on the walls.

As always, credit to Skindred for support acts that really open your mind musically and build energy ready for a set of controlled crowd chaos!

I have seen Skindred more than any band, and you know exactly what you are going to get, although tonight, you don’t! Founder member Dan Pugsley being replaced with Tommy Gleeson on bass for the first real line-up change since 2002!

That apart, Benji and the boys have crafted their art over so many years now and have so many crowd-pleasing songs to fit in a set that new material has to both earn and find a place in the setlist. After the familiar “Thunderstruck” and the “Imperial Death March”, there is always that moment of “What will Benji wear tonight?” and the sartorial choice for the evening is a fluffy red hat and spiky shades along with a spangly black jacket.

“Set Fazers” and “Stand For Something” bring the energy from the get-go, before it goes off the scale within “Rat Race”, Pressure”, and “That’s My Jam”. There is more music and less chat tonight with Benji keeping his legendary storytelling and jokes to a minimum, which means there is barely a moment to get your breath between songs. The venue is utterly rammed and now at least 20 degrees hotter than it was when we entered, so God knows how hot Benji must be up front with the added heat from the lights.

A bit of fun next as “Radio 01633” segues into “Master of Puppets”, through “Last Resort” and into “Trouble”, and you get glimpses of the sheer versatility of the guys on stage. A cartoon moment with a keytar brings on one of several covers with a snippet of Van Halen’s “Jump” and into “Jump Around” before one of the longer monologues introduces the new single (and an utter banger) “You Got This”. The biggest compliment I can give this new song is that it is immediately iconic Skindred and feels as if it has been in the set for years!

Two-thirds of the way through the set, so it’s time to slow down?

Er….no!

“Kill the Power” has surfers crossing the barrier and giving the new security teams real-life practice of their pit training (they were superb), then it all gets weird as an audience member is selected to come on stage and eat a sandwich to win a ticket to see Slipknot in Las Vegas! He completely fails to do this, so goodness only knows what that sandwich contained, as he looked distinctly green!

“Big Tings” continued the mayhem, and “Nobody” put extreme pressure on the air con system with a cloud of sweat above the crowd. Barely any time to draw breath, and the band are back for encores that drain every last drop of energy as “Gimme That Boom” literally shakes the walls and, of course, those sweat-drenched top layers are removed and spun in an insane vortex of fluids and movement for the “Newport Helicopter” as “Warning” closes the evening.

As the lights go up, I find my wife and her friends who have been somewhere in the middle of the chaos. I swear she has lost half a stone, can barely speak, and is working hard to get dressed again. “How was it?” I ask. “Fucking Awesome” is the reply. “It always just IS.” I can’t agree more.

Till next time, Skindred. Can’t wait!

Review and photos – Rob Wilkins

Skindred / SNAYX / Arimea

72 photos