ALT BLK ERA & BEX at Deaf Institute Manchester 15-04-2025

Rising genre- bending alt rock duo ALT BLK ERA kicked off the first sold out night of their UK headline tour Rave Immortal at Deaf Institute in Manchester, with support from high energy punk rocker BEX.

BEX

This isn’t BEX’s first time playing at The Lodge in Deaf Institute, as she previously supported tiLLie in the same room last month, and with the way she knows how to command a stage, she could be a headliner. Some stand-out songs included SPYD4 K1NG, where BEX encouraged the audience to join in with a call and response for “Bite Down”, even going to the back of the room to make sure every last person was included (especially Kieran). The playful audience interaction added an element of humour to the set, with the singer also persuading the audience to be louder, by reminding them that she knows where they live (Manchester).

BEX’s set was full throttle from start to finish, with her powerful punk anthems keeping the crowd engaged and energized throughout, only breaking to make sure the audience were giving her their full undivided attention. This made BEX the perfect support for ALT BLK ERA as the consistent energy had the spectators moving from the get go and ready for more.

BEX also played her latest release to come out this year, crybaby. An impactful song about female oppression and social injustice, featuring punky bass riffs and driving drums. This song embodies BEX perfectly both sonically and lyrically, loud, unapologetic, empowering and ready to stand up for what she believes in.

If you miss out on seeing BEX on this tour, you can also see her play at Download Festival in June!

ALT BLK ERA

Sisters Nyrobi and Chaya form ALT BLK ERA. Defying genre boundaries, they stretch everywhere from alternative metal to 90’s ‘s-esque electronica/ rave basslines that Keith Flint would be proud of, also very fitting for the album and tour being named Rave Immortal, as the show would be one to remember.

Kicking off the night, the setlist began with previous singles Freak Show and Even If We’re Not: Solar. These two bass-centred songs continued the momentum where BEX left off, keeping the energy in the room high, ready to commence into the new album.

The setlist for the tour continues by taking the audience on a journey through the album front to back, telling the story behind each of the songs and how the duo became the band they are today. The band were also giving out copies of their zine for the album at their merch table, an illustrated book which expands on the stories further, covering personal topics such as chronic illness, hidden disabilities and isolation, to name a few.

The second single to be released and first song on the album, Straight To Heart, is a great first song for anyone unfamiliar with the band, as it compiles all the elements that the band merges in their music.

Midway through the set before Hunt You Down, Nyrobi splits the crowd in half, but not for a wall of death like you’d come to expect from alternative bands, but to create a runway. The pair invited fans to ‘walk the runway’ with them during the song, with several audience members joining without hesitation, pulling out all the stops from voguing to the splits.

The set concluded with the band encouraging people to stick their middle fingers in the air before playing I’m Normally Like This. A powerful song to end the set, complete with balloons let out into the audience.