Band of Skulls Light Up Manchester with a Raw, Riff-Driven Return
- Toni Slater
- 3 minutes ago
- 2 min read
Manchester O2 Ritz — December 10th 2025
WORDS AND IMAGES TONI SLATER
Band of Skulls returned to Manchester with a gritty, riff-laden celebration of their enduring presence in the indie rock scene. The atmosphere in the O2 Ritz felt charged from the moment the doors opened, with fans clearly eager to welcome the trio back to the city.
The evening began with a short but punchy opening set from The Howlers, followed by The Duke Spirit, who once shared the same record label as Band of Skulls. Vocalist Leila Moss and the band entertained the steadily growing crowd with a confident, charismatic performance, revisiting classic tracks from their rich back catalogue.
As part of their Cold Fame UK Tour, the Southampton trio delivered a show that perfectly balanced raw garage-rock energy with seasoned professionalism — the kind of effortless chemistry that only years on the road can produce. Having last played Manchester in 2019, it was clear they were glad to be back. Taking to the stage at exactly 21:30, they treated the crowd to 80 minutes of high-octane indulgence, with a set spanning six albums. The vocal partnership and dynamic interplay between Russell Marsden and Emma Richardson felt electric, breathing new life into both long-loved favourites and newer material.
Their newer songs blended seamlessly into the set and were met with an enthusiastic reception from loyal fans who seemed keen to embrace the band’s evolving sound.
Highlights included fan favourites packed with heavy riffs and irresistible hooks — songs like “Death by Diamonds and Pearls” and “Fires” sent waves of energy through the room, prompting the front rows to dance, shout, and head-bang along. There was a strong sense of collective joy as the crowd erupted into cheers, and familiar choruses filled the hall with hundreds of delighted voices singing along.
Overall, the Manchester date was a solid, high-energy performance that kept the crowd happy from start to finish. It was obvious the band were thoroughly enjoying themselves on stage — Russell Marsden wore a permanent grin throughout the night — and the frequent interaction with the audience, along with some light-hearted banter, made the show feel even more intimate.
The night proved that, even after years on the road, Band of Skulls haven’t lost the spark that makes their live performances so special. For fans of raw rock with soul, swagger, and a touch of grit, this gig was easily worth braving the December chill.
SET LIST
Sweet Sour
You’re Not Pretty but You Got It Goin’ On
Love All You Love
Rip It Up Again
Friends
Bruises
Himalayan
The Devil Takes Care of His Own
Bitter Dream
Fires
I Know What I Am
Light of the Morning
Death by Diamonds and Pearls
ENCORE
Cold Fame
Asleep at the Wheel
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