After a barnstorming performance at the legendary SHIIINE ON Festival, DUB PISTOLS took to the main stage at Exeter Phoenix to showcase tracks from their highly anticipated forthcoming long player ‘Frontline’.

We saw Barry sat in the bar ahead of the show so it seemed an opportune time to hand him his birthday card and wish him all the best for the show. It appeared that SHIIINE ON may have beaten him into submission but he assured me that he was getting prepared for a killer show and couldn’t wait to be on the stage, orchestrating the madness! 

The show opened with LIONSTAR, a reggae, ska and world fusion act who have toured alongside UB40, Lee Scratch Perry, Soul II Soul, Aswad and more. They took to the stage and set the scene for the evening with their incredible music which lit the fuse and had everyone bobbing along to their vibes in no time at all. Each member delivered an exceptional performance, be it tight beats and bass, bodacious bongo, wailing guitar solos or the call to arms from the fab MC who owned the stage throughout the show. Looking at their socials, it looks like they are already starting to book up festival performances for 2023, if you’re fortunate enough to be going to one where they’re on the bill, you’re in for a treat!

Dub Pistols took to the stage to a massive reception, the band first followed by Seanie T and finally, the original gangsta and tonight’s birthday boy, Mr Barry Ashworth.

The setlist spanned their entire career and even featured a couple of newbies that are to appear on the aforementioned new long player which will be hitting the shelves very soon indeed.

It took around 0.5 seconds until the room was fully engaged with the band, moving, dancing and being as one as the vibes swirled around the room, the bass punching you in the chest whilst the beat  prevented you from slowing down (should the thought have ever entered your head).

I was shooting from the balcony when I heard them launch into a cover of New Order’s ‘Blue Monday’ which sounded great with the Dubs’ signature bass heavy approach to proceedings. Another cover which made its way into the set was ‘Gangsters’ by The Specials, another incredible rendition of what has long become a classic track from the early days of the two-tone movement. 

As the show wore on, drinks found their way to the stage for the birthday boy, at one stage I thought he was going to refuse a hot but being the true pistolero he is, Barry took it graciously and thanked the room for the wishes that they had bestowed on him in the bar ahead of the show. 

As the band returned to the stage for an encore, Seanie T introduced each member and when it was Barry’s turn, he launched into a fab rendition of Stevie Wonder’s ‘Happy Birthday’, leaving the room to carry it on until Barry took a bow on stage, allowing the show to continue. 

With the birthday shenanigans, time was getting tight so the band raced through the final 3 songs in and managed to finish just a few minutes late, Barry admitted that it was purely his fault and took full responsibility for this and said that he could do what the fuck he wanted tonight as it was HIS birthday, I didn’t see too many people contesting this!

The show ended with ‘Mucky Weekend’ which was a fitting end to a very mucky night that I am sure Barry will wake up from having little recollection as to the events that made it such a great evening! As I was packing up to leave, the party carried on in the bar with a great DJ set featuring some absolute classics which had everyone grooving to whilst the poor bar staff struggled to satisfy the orders that were coming in thick and fast. 

A Dub Pistols show is always off the Richter scale and if you want more, why not book a ticket to the Mucky Weekender Festival in 2023, we attended in 2022 and I can honestly say that it was the most fun we’ve had in a field for a LONG time, loads of bands, artists, DJ’s and performers, all there to have a kick ass time and guarantee a massive smile on everyone’s faces come the end, we’ll see you there!

Words and Pictures by Steve Muscutt