Skunk Anansie – led by the force-of-nature that is Skin – remain one of the most captivating live bands around, and their latest tour sees them hitting Newcastle’s NX this April.

Earlier this year Skunk Anansie released their first new material in three years in the shape of single ‘An Artist Is An Artist’. Produced and co-written by David Sitek (Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Foals, TV On The Radio) it’s a raw and sharp edged slice of in-yer-face indie-rock which shows that the band have moved into 2025 with plenty of fire in their collective belly. Skin: “Sitek’s name seemed to be on a lot of records that we liked. But none of the records sounded the same. The records all sounded fresh, but mainly the artists all sounded like themselves.’ ‘An Artist Is An Artist’ certainly sounds like Skunk Ananise, but a Skunk Anansie returning to their feisty roots. Guitarist Ace: “He [Sitek] reminded us that the process of making music didn’t need to be complicated. When you start a band it never is, so it was a good reminder of that, and he got us to strip things right down.” Skin was also on our radar last year when she teamed up with Du Blonde for excellent collaborative single ‘Next Big Thing’, but it’s great to see her back at the centre of things with a UK-wide headline tour. GM

Skunk Anansie, Friday 11 April, NX, Newcastle, 6pm, £37.50, nxnewcastle.com