Bilk arrive at Manchester Academy armed with a potent mix of Britpop swagger, punk urgency, and hip-hop-inflected storytelling. Their new album, Essex Drugs and Rock and Roll, has solidified their reputation as a band unafraid to wear their influences on their sleeves—Blur, Arctic Monkeys, The Streets—but with a sound that remains distinctly their own.

Launching straight into RnR, the trio set the tone for a night of relentless energy, their jagged riffs and lyrical bluntness channelling the chaos of modern youth. Tracks like Go and Brand New Day are anthems of working-class frustration and hedonism, with frontman Sol Abrahams commanding the crowd like a seasoned rabble-rouser. A mid-set acoustic moment provides a brief pause, with Beatriz offering heartfelt sincerity before the brilliantly sardonic Skidmark transforms into an unlikely mass singalong.

As the night barrels towards its climax, the raw intensity only builds. This Room Is Caving In On Me is a thrashing, cathartic release, while Fashion champions individuality with a riotous punch. But it’s Daydreamer that truly ignites the room—a moment of pure escapism, as band and audience throw themselves into the music with reckless abandon.

Bilk may revel in no-nonsense chaos, but beneath the sweat and snarling guitars lies something even more vital: a band with something to say, and a growing crowd ready to listen.