Benji Webbe of Skindred talks Knotfest Australia

Welsh heavy metal fusion masters SKINDRED will be bringing their heavy metal, reggae, punk, hip hop and electronic technicolour musical dreamcoat back down under this month for the massive 2024 edition of the Knotfest touring festival and two epic sideshows with friends Halestorm!

Headlined by PANTERA and DISTURBED, the sweltering 2024 festival line-up also includes LAMB OF GOD, HALESTORM, THE HU, ASKING ALEXANDRIA, WAGE WAR, ESCAPE THE FATE, THY ART IS MURDER, SPEED, WINDWAKER, BRAND OF SACRIFICE and KING PARROT.

The Everblack podcast spoke to SKINDRED frontman Benji Webbe about their much-anticipated return down under for Knotfest, the success their latest album ‘Smile‘, going viral on Tiktok, friendship with Halestorm and the power of positivity in their music.

Watch/listen to the interview here:

In August 2023, the UK witnessed an intense chart battle as Skindred, the renowned ragga-metal pioneers, contended for the top spot on the UK Album chart with their monumental eighth release, ‘Smile’. Backed by unwavering support from the rock and metal community, including endorsements from Metallica, Rage Against The Machine, and Disturbed, alongside accolades from Kerrang!, NME, and Metal Hammer, Skindred soared to a career-high position of Number 2.

Their triumph extended beyond conventional charts, securing the Number 1 position on the Official UK Rock & Metal Charts, the Official UK Independent Album chart, the Official UK Downloads chart, and the Official UK Vinyl chart, outselling many established rock acts in the process.

The year marked a pinnacle for Skindred, crowned as the Best UK Live Act at the Heavy Music Awards and gracing stages alongside rock legends KISS on their farewell UK tour. Additionally, they adorned the cover of Kerrang! magazine for the first time, rocked BBC2’s Later… with Jools Holland, and made notable appearances on Never Mind The Buzzcocks and BBC Breakfast.

Their 2000s hit “Nobody” experienced a resurgence thanks to a viral TikTok trend, accumulating over 14 million hits on the Skindred hashtag within weeks, with one Instagram post garnering a staggering 32 million views.

Looking ahead to 2024, Skindred anticipates further milestones, headlining their largest London show at Wembley’s OVO Arena on March 15th, supported by P.O.D. and As Everything Unfolds. With sold-out shows in Manchester and Birmingham, and a nomination for Best Alternative Act at the MOBO Awards, Skindred continues to thrive, embodying the enduring joy their music brings to fans worldwide.

Smile is out now
skindred.net

KNOTFEST AUSTRALIA 2024
LINE UP:

DATES AND VENUES:
Thursday 21 March 2024 – Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne
Saturday 23 March 2024 – Centennial Park, Sydney
Sunday 24 March 2024 – Brisbane Showgrounds, Brisbane

Tickets on sale now at https://knotfest.com/australia/