The Skints - Their London sound fits perfectly into Bristol Reggae day.

***

The joint headliners, have a bit of something for everyone!

(Bristol Sounds)

The Skints *** - Bristol Sounds was back for 2024, the Saturday having an amazing line of joint headliners the Gentleman’s Dub Club and The Skints, very ably supported by Dreadzone who are still bringing their Electronic Dub based sounds thirty years after forming. It the perfect backdrop for a summer festival, right by the river in central Bristol, the Reggae based day has brought out the crowds in Bristol, famed for it’s m multicultural society. Originally The Skints were described as Tropical Punk, and their album 'Swimming Lessons' (2019) debuted at No.1 on the Billboard Reggae chart. So they are a band that is really going places, so it is a rare treat to see them at the Bristol Sounds festival.

The Skints and Gentleman’s Dub Club are often seem to be found touring together and tonight is no exception. Taking in the summer vibe of the Bristol, Harbourside, they come straight out with their ska/ reggae sounds which seems to fit the laid back mood of a Sunday evening. They are fronted by Marcia Richards mostly taking lead vocal duties and playing, well pretty much any instruments you could think of. I spotted at least, keys, sax, guitar, flute and melodeon, certainly a talented and versatile musician.

Despite being a London based band, they in fact feel very "Bristol!!!" with the St Pauls Carnival being held not far from here with it’s sound system culture. They even note this themselves during ‘This Town’. They have the reggae sound perfected, in fact at times maybe a bit too much, I liked it when they swapped things up a bit and gave us  a bit of Ska Punk too. Love the Reggae, but would love it more to hear some more of that side too.

They do keep the political side of ska alive too with songs ‘The Cost of living is killing Me’ for example includes the lyrics “In this free country, Where nothing is free” having a bit of a Specials feel to it. I do get my wish for a bit more Ska with ‘Lay you Down’ nearer the end of the setlist. Yet they did perfectly suit the day, being very reggae based, so my wish may not have been universally wanted anyway. I think The Skints had the better end of the stick, in the co-headlining duties... because with it being a Sunday and people having to go to work the next day. Because the crowd thins out halfway through the Gentleman's Dub Club's set, and everyoen got to see The Skints full set.

Review by Jon Cooper and Photos by Steve Owen (Icarus Photography)

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