RedHook @ The Deaf Institute, Manchester – with supports Eville and Defences.

On the same day that thousands flooded Manchester for the annual Marathon, another kind of endurance event was brewing inside The Deaf Institute — one packed with riffs, chaos, and a hell of a lot of heart. RedHook, all the way from Sydney, Australia, brought their signature genre-blurring madness to a sold-out crowd for their first-ever UK headline show, and it was nothing short of euphoric.

Before RedHook took over, the night kicked off with Eville, a band proudly flying the “Brat Metal Bad Bitch” banner — and trust me, they lived up to every word. Channeling a fiery mix of punk, electronic, and fierce feminine energy, Eville brought the Wargasm-meets-Delilah Bon sound to life with style and sass. Watching from the balcony, I caught glimpses of my friends vibing hard in the crowd, completely hooked. If you’re into bratty, bold, and high-energy sets, Eville is one to keep on your radar.

Next up were Defences, a metalcore outfit with some serious weight behind their performance. Fresh off the announcement they’ll be playing the VIP area at Download Festival this year, they treated tonight’s show like a warm-up — but it felt like anything but. Vocalist Cherry commanded the stage with raw power, whipping her hair in time with thunderous breakdowns, while keyboardist William stunned everyone with guttural screams that caught the entire room off guard. Their stage presence was magnetic and their sound razor-sharp — one of those bands that just clicks the moment you hear them.

But the real storm hit when RedHook took the stage. From the first beat, the crowd erupted into chaotic joy, bouncing so hard it felt like the floor might cave in. I was standing still trying to get photos, but even I was being moved by the sheer energy around me — that’s how intense it was.

Their set was pure theatre — bubbles floated from behind the drum kit, frontwoman Emmy Mack sprinted across the stage, into the crowd, and even up onto the bar (twice), giving the performance an unpredictable, electric atmosphere. Costume changes kept coming, including an orange jumpsuit complete with a hand puppet for backing vocals (yes, really), followed by a blood-soaked white dress as Emmy re-entered from the sound desk, sprinting through the crowd like a banshee.

RedHook didn’t just perform; they celebrated — not only themselves, but the entire community. Members from both support bands were invited on stage throughout the set, joining in for powerful guest vocals and full-circle moments. A highlight? A fan who’s been following them on tour joined them to sing the second verse of Soju while guitarist Craig whipped out a saxophone for a smooth solo.

Then, just when you thought the night couldn’t get wilder, they ended with Bad Decisions, confetti’s in flying toilet paper rolls and crowd-surfing madness as every band member flooded the stage in one final party.Having seen RedHook at Download Festival 2023 in the blazing sun, it was an absolute joy to witness them in the sweaty intimacy of a venue like The Deaf Institute. If that show was the spark, this one was the wildfire.