Lake Malice Continue To Show Their Force With A Killer Show In Manchester With Scene Queen
photo by Craig McInnes
The alternative music scene in the UK right now is as strong as I’ve seen in a long time and it continues to produce exciting new talent. One of those electrifying talents is Brighton’s high flyers Lake Malice. 2025 has already been a big year for the band - releasing new music as well as performing at the likes of 2000 Trees and Slam Dunk Festival in the UK as well as a healthy selection of European festivals like Rock For People and Resurrection. They have already hit the road with Rory earlier in the year, now they set their sights on remainder of the year with a party bound tour supporting the Bimbo Core icon Scene Queen.
The tour rolls into a sold out night in Manchester’s O2 Ritz - the springy floor in this place fits perfect with every aspect of the Lake Malice live experience. Even with a different type of crowd the band may be used to, the sea of pink cowboy hats seized the opportunity and got the party started early. The room is already packed with fans ready and waiting for the night ahead and with that, the perfect chance for the Brighton duo to work their chaotic magic.
photo by Craig McInnes
photo by Craig McInnes
As far as an intro to a set, “Blossom” is up there with one of the best entrances you can have. The electronic start echoing round the room as the band enter one by one before slamming into an in your face breakdown and seeing guitarist Blake Cornwall pull off his first leap of the night. The thing I’ve always admired about this band is their consistent energy when they’re on stage - between the two of them, Blake and singer Alice Guala cover every inch of the stage given to them.
They crammed their best work into a short 30 minute set and in doing so, still worked the crowd perfectly like the do time after time. Latest single “Scatterbrain” got the first pit of the night and rightly do, an explosive single that captures exactly what this band are all about. “Creepers” followed before the huge “Mitsuko” sparked the usual entrance into the crowd from Blake as he stands central ordering the crowd to circle pit around and if you ask in Manchester, you will receive and then some - the energy from the crowd was special to witness from the balcony above, a sense to pride always fills me when you see a deserving band get the reception that Lake Malice got tonight.
photo by Craig McInnes
“Stop The Party” and “Bloodbath” would conclude what was a captivating set - the duo continue to prove why they are one of the UK’s best alternative bands in the scene right now. They take the party to even stage given to them and the produce an energy filled set worthy of any venue. 2025 has been Lake Malice’s year and things are only just heating up.
You can catch the band on the road again across October & November as they hit the road with Tokyo’s Hanabie taking on cities in the UK including a huge sold out show in Manchester’s Academy2. The band will also be linking up with friends in Enter Shikari to play select dates in Europe and the UK.
October:
15th - Watford. UK, Colosseum /w Enter Shikari
17th Liege. BE, OM /w Enter Shikari
18th Amsterdam . NL, Melkweg /w Enter Shikari
19th Copenhagen. DK, Pumpehuset /w Enter Shikari
31st Glasgow. UK, QMU /w Hanabie
November:
1st Manchester. UK, Academy2 /w Hanabie
2nd Birmingham. UK, 02 Institute /w Hanabie
4th Dublin. IE, The Academy /w Hanabie
5th Belfast. UK, Limelight /w Hanabie
7th London. UK, Electric Brixton /w Hanabie
photo by Craig McInnes
