mxdwn.co.uk » rou reynolds https://www.mxdwn.co.uk all that matters in music in the UK Fri, 01 May 2026 18:26:51 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=4.1 Enter Shikari Show Their Solidarity With Palestine At London Gig https://www.mxdwn.co.uk/news/enter-shikari-show-their-solidarity-with-palestine-at-london-gig/ https://www.mxdwn.co.uk/news/enter-shikari-show-their-solidarity-with-palestine-at-london-gig/#comments Sun, 18 Feb 2024 20:41:34 +0000 http://www.mxdwn.co.uk/?p=99691 Enter Shikari have just completed a monumental UK arena tour, with the last show of their Great Britain leg taking place at the iconic Wembley Arena in London last night (February 17th). Whilst on stage in front of thousands of fans, lead singer Rou Reynolds took the opportunity to express his lament for the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict, as well as the band’s solidarity with Palestine.

The St Albans based band started their captivating speech by stating: “We cannot just enjoy this moment without acknowledging the fact that there are children being blown to pieces by a government and a country that has been completely lost in nationalistic and religious fervour.”

Continuing to express his support of Palestine, Reynolds said: “with the activists and actionists up and down the country who have been blocking and targeting the Israeli weapons manufacturing factories. Our country is very complicit in this atrocity, and supports those who are targeting the investment banks that are effectively bankrolling genocide. We have been yelling ‘Free Gaza’, ‘Free Palestine’ for 15 years. I just hope to God that there is still a Gaza and a Palestine left when this fucking nightmare ends. So let us be grateful for tonight, we have safety. We have community, we have love, we have human connection. Let us treasure this feeling that we all have tonight.”

The current death toll of Palestinians in Gaza stands at 28,775, with around 1,410 Israelis killed and around 100 Israeli hostages still remaining in Hamas captivity after the October 7 attacks. Israel is currently being urged by many Palestinian supporters not to send ground forces into Rafah on the Egyptian border, where many of the strip’s citizens are now living after areas closer to their homes became engulfed by fighting. Around 1.5million people are living in Rafah, among fears that there are few to no other places for Palestinians to seek refuge. The BBC reported “tens of thousands” gathered in London yesterday for pro-Palestine rallies.

This is not the first time the British rockers have spoken out about the horrors of war and their distaste for modern day worldwide conflicts. Their 2012 song Stalemate depicts this, with lyrics such as “Money is made when bombs are dropping in Afghanistan, and when phosphorous falls in Palestine.” The four-piece also signed an open letter for ceasefire in November of last year, alongside other artists such as Architects and The Last Dinner Party.

]]> https://www.mxdwn.co.uk/news/enter-shikari-show-their-solidarity-with-palestine-at-london-gig/feed/ 0 Reading And Leeds Festival Remains One Of UK’s Biggest Draws With Thrilling Performances For 2023 https://www.mxdwn.co.uk/news/reading-and-leeds-festival-remains-one-of-uks-biggest-draws-with-thrilling-performances-for-2023/ https://www.mxdwn.co.uk/news/reading-and-leeds-festival-remains-one-of-uks-biggest-draws-with-thrilling-performances-for-2023/#comments Sun, 03 Sep 2023 11:35:12 +0000 http://www.mxdwn.co.uk/?p=64261 Reading and Leeds Festival (25-27 August) still remains one of the UK’s most unmissable live events and this year’s edition certainly packed enough into its star-studded weekend to satisfy music lovers many times over. Perhaps the only criticism that festival-goers could direct at the event is that, inevitably, the party had to come to an end but the highlights will live long in the memory for those lucky enough to have attended.

The action commenced on Friday, with a career defining performance from You Me At Six (featuring a cameo appearance by Rou Reynolds of Enter Shikari), which set the tone for the festival-assuring crowds that the acts preparing to hit the famous stages were ready to bring their A game.


And the first day could be best summed up by Sam Fender’s everyman, emotional performance as Friday night’s headliner. Fender, playing the role of humble musician perfectly, perhaps best reflects the thousands of spectators gathered at Reading and Leeds-appealing to the crowd that he is merely one of them and would happily play the role of underdog. While the warm sentiment will have pleased most in front of him, chances are Fender’s career will continue to hit greater and loftier heights in the future.

Saturday picked up right where the festival left off the night before with, arguably, a sneak peek of what may be to come, after Sleep Token added yet another huge notch to their gig belt with an atmospheric performance on the Festival Republic Stage. The band just seem to be gaining in status with each month that goes by and there is no telling where the band can aspire to.


But the Main Stage West was treated to something special indeed when the disappointment of Lewis Capaldi was assuaged by the nostalgia inducing set of his replacement, The 1975. The band opted to perform their 2013 eponymous record in full, transporting the audience back 10 years when the band had the world beckoning. The 1975 proved that even a decade removed, the self-titled album still resonates, with even the newly initiated finding something to nod their heads along to.

Of course, not to be outdone, The Killers delivered a set to remember, even at one point featuring a young teen playing drums on “For Reasons Unknown.” The band have long been indie rock’s crown jewel and the band proved their credentials with a headlining set that all but cements them as one of the greatest of their generation.


The final day for the festival promised to be one of the most defining of the weekend and with Imagine Dragons headlining Main Stage West, it certainly got off to the right start. Delivering pure, feel good vibes, the band set the excitement up perfectly for Sunday night’s headliner.

It is simply stunning that Billie Eilish is the youngest performer ever to headline the Main Stage at only 21 years old, but the singer graced the stage like the conquering hero she is. Featuring her hit song from the Barbie soundtrack, “What Was I Made For?” Eilish’s proven success was laid bare for all to see, as her staggering 20 song setlist delivered exactly what festival-goers were craving, marking a thrilling and satisfying end to one of the UK’s most beloved festival experiences.

]]> https://www.mxdwn.co.uk/news/reading-and-leeds-festival-remains-one-of-uks-biggest-draws-with-thrilling-performances-for-2023/feed/ 0 Enter Shikari Launch Initiative To Raise Funds For Local St Albans Venue The Pioneer https://www.mxdwn.co.uk/news/enter-shikari-launch-initiative-to-raise-funds-for-local-st-albans-venue-the-pioneer/ https://www.mxdwn.co.uk/news/enter-shikari-launch-initiative-to-raise-funds-for-local-st-albans-venue-the-pioneer/#comments Wed, 16 Aug 2023 13:38:29 +0000 http://www.mxdwn.co.uk/?p=63657 St. Albans post-hardcore band Enter Shikari have launched a campaign to raise funds for a local venue in their home town. Music venue The Pioneer has been a centre for creativity for 82 years and the band are now looking to help it become a hub for touring acts once again.

Enter Shikari have firmly planted themselves as one of Britain’s most successful and influential bands over the past few years. The band’s latest studio effort, A Kiss For The Whole World, has even granted the group their first ever number one album and garnered both critical and popular praise. On the back of what has been considerable success, the band have also found themselves at the forefront of important issues facing society and the planet today.

Enter Shikari features notable lyrical content ranging from the political to climate change and has set them apart from their peers in many ways. The band are not just content to speak on social issues either, preferring to take action on what they believe in. Indeed, the band recorded A Kiss For The Whole World using only solar power.

Now, together with St. Albans based media platform Headliner Spacers, the band have now turned their attentions to local site The Pioneer-a venue that helped the band get their start on the music scene. The grassroots venue played a major role for the band upon their formation in the early 2000s, with Enter Shikari promoting many of their earliest performances at the venue. Bring Me The Horizon and Gallows can also count themselves as alumni of The Pioneer.

In addition to music, the venue also features the UK’s oldest indoor skate park. And Enter Shikari are raising funds to not only save The Pioneer but also to make it a premier venue for touring artists as well as a cultural and creative hub complete with rehearsal spaces and recording studio. Thus far, the band have raffled frontman Rou Reynold’s Kaoss Pad, Chris Batten’s bass guitar and guitarist Rory Clewlow’s Gibson SG in order to raise the required funds to take The Pioneer back to its lofty position within the scene.


Headline Spacers has been leading the renovation of the venue with the platform overseeing the construction of the new studio and bar-a result of a partnership with Signature Brew. The platform will begin on the rehearsal space next as well as an education centre for aspiring musicians, crew members and technicians.

Enter Shikari have also released a new T-shirt with proceeds going to The Pioneer. The band have explained that each shirt that is sold will count as one entry to the raffle. Further information about the raffle and T-shirt sales can be found here.

]]> https://www.mxdwn.co.uk/news/enter-shikari-launch-initiative-to-raise-funds-for-local-st-albans-venue-the-pioneer/feed/ 0 Pendulum to Play One-Off London Show in March 2023 https://www.mxdwn.co.uk/news/pendulum-to-play-one-off-london-show-in-march-2023/ https://www.mxdwn.co.uk/news/pendulum-to-play-one-off-london-show-in-march-2023/#comments Tue, 06 Sep 2022 15:03:36 +0000 http://www.mxdwn.co.uk/?p=58570 Australian electronic rock stalwarts, Pendulum, took to Twitter yesterday to announce a one-off UK show next March, writing, “Brixton! It’s been a long time,” followed by the announcement that the band will play the 02 Academy Brixton in London on March 5th. Tickets are available at 10 am on September 7th and can be purchased here.

Pendulum recently played a secret show at Reading and Leeds festival, having left clues for festival goers in the days leading up to it, posting flyers with their logo and a phone number printed on them. When the number was dialled, the following message was heard: “Ladies and gentlemen, we understand that you have come tonight to bear witness to the sound of drum and bass. We regret to announce that this is not the case. As instead we come tonight to bring you the sonic recreation of the end of the world. Reading Festival prepare to hold your colour.” After A.M.C ft Phantom’s set on the BBC Radio Dance stage Pendulum’s logo appeared on a video screen along with a countdown and the band emerged to play their first UK show as a full band since 2018.

Toward the end of the set, Enter Shikari’s Rou Reynolds joined them for a performance of his band’s 2007 breakout single, “Sorry You’re Not A Winner.” Reynolds told NME how the project came about telling the magazine, “Gareth [McGrillen] and Rob [Swire] just got in touch and basically said that they’re thinking about doing a remix of ‘Sorry You’re Not A Winner’, and I was like ‘okay sick!’, what a surreal message to get.” Reynolds continued, “They sent it over, and there’s a lot of different demo changes in that track so I was like ‘this is so interesting, what are they going to do with it?’ And it’s so good. It’s killer.”

Asked about rehearsing the tune with Pendulum, Reynolds added, “Because sub-bass works better at certain frequencies they’ve had to raise the key of track. And you know, this track came out in 2007, I wrote it in 2003, so I could perhaps reach those high notes a little better, and they’ve raised it another tone, tone and a half, so it’s up there. So I’m hoping I have some vocal chords left after our own set to destroy with Pendulum.” Luckily for Reynolds Enter Shikari’s show was cut short leaving him ready for the challenge.

Pendulum most recently released the 2021 four-track EP “Elementa”, their first since 2010’s “Immersion.” As of yet the Brixton show is the only performance the band have announced.

05/03/2023 – 02 Brixton Academy – London

]]> https://www.mxdwn.co.uk/news/pendulum-to-play-one-off-london-show-in-march-2023/feed/ 0 Enter Shikari Postpone UK and EU Shows https://www.mxdwn.co.uk/news/enter-shikari-postpone-uk-and-eu-shows/ https://www.mxdwn.co.uk/news/enter-shikari-postpone-uk-and-eu-shows/#comments Mon, 20 Dec 2021 19:42:02 +0000 http://www.mxdwn.co.uk/?p=51072 Midway through their extensive UK tour, Enter Shikari have been forced to postpone the final dates after a reaction to a recent surge in COVID-19 cases across Europe. Beginning with a pre-tour-tour, the band started off their 2021 shows confidently; 2 nights at Glasgow’s QMU set the stage before heading off to the likes of Exeter and Bexhill. The already postponed official tour then kicked into gear with a night at London’s Alexandra Palace on December 4th (going well so far). The following weeks went off without a hitch until, unbeknownst to them, last Friday’s show at Southampton’s O2 Guildhall became the last of the tour. Yesterday, (19th December) Enter Shikari confirmed the cancellation of the final 3 shows of the UK leg of the tour. Today, (20th December) the band confirm the cancellation and postponement of a handful of EU shows.

The band’s frontman, Rou Reynolds explained the difficult situation of cancelling the UK in a statement on Twitter, “absolutely gutted. with the speed that cases are rising nationally, and with one case now in our touring party, that’s us out. this was a horrible decision to have to make but safety of our crew and our audience will always come first.”. See below the full extent of the cancelled UK shows.

After a month off, the band were then set to take the tour to Europe. Beginning January 28th, the tour would see the band spend the majority of their time in Germany; but also included shows in Switzerland, Belgium, and The Netherlands. But as the story goes, these plans have been thwarted by COVID-19. Once again taking to Twitter to calm fans, Reynolds explained, “Following the postponement of the remaining three U.K. tour dates yesterday, we have unfortunately been forced to cancel the German & Swiss dates for the forthcoming Jan / Feb 2022 European tour, and postpone Netherlands & Belgium,”.

Already, it has been arranged that the Antwerp gig will take place on June 26, while the Amsterdam date has been moved to July 26. So far, no plans have been made in regard to the list of upcoming festival slots. Most touring parties are still agreeing to leave thinking about summer 2022 for at least another few months.

If you have been affected by these cancellations, fortunately, Reynolds has been hard at work with a book titled ‘A Treatise on Possibility’, and an accompanying mini-documentaries ‘A Film on Possibility’, that will explore the themes of the book and how they relate to tracks from the album. Watch the first episode of 4, below.

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