Dakka Skanks & Faintest Idea at The Hope & Ruin, Brighton, 19th September 2026
Two bands, two takes on ska punk, and one very lively Saturday night at Brighton’s Hope & Ruin. Co-headliners Brighton’s own Dakka Skanks and East Anglia’s Faintest Idea brought plenty of brass, attitude and enough energy to keep the whole room bouncing.
Faintest Idea were first up, kicking off with a fine array of brass instruments and forceful punk protest songs. There’s something gloriously relentless about them — politically charged, full-throttle and seemingly incapable of standing still. The energy was infectious, with the entire room soon jumping along.
The only slight hitch for me was the sound levels. It was noticeably too loud which made things a bit distorted. You can call that subjective but, even with decent earplugs, it felt a little uncomfortable. It’s unusual for the Hope, where the sound is generally spot-on, and thankfully things were reset before the next set.
Enter Dakka Skanks, who offer a clever take on ska punk that draws on both the classic 2-Tone sound and original 1950s’ ska without ever feeling like a carbon copy of either. The addition of a melodica adds a welcome layer, giving an extra lift while keeping the sharp edge firmly intact.
With new album The Game on the horizon, the set was a perfect showcase for a solid performance of latest single I See Fire. The album has already got off to a flying start – when the band turned to their fans to help with crowdfunding, they set themselves a bold £25,000 target which was smashed in just two weeks; a pretty clear sign of the faith their fanbase has in them. Back to the setlist, there were lots of established favourites too, with Ain’t a Skinhead and Propaganda standing out, while their cover of the Angelic Upstarts’ Brighton Bomb felt particularly fitting on home turf.
It was a set that showed Dakka Skanks aren’t simply revisiting ska’s past — they’re taking its ingredients and giving them their own twist.
Next up, the band head north, with dates in York, Edinburgh and Glasgow over the coming week. If the Brighton was anything to go by, there should be plenty more dancing to be done along the way. Consider us impressed.
Review and photos ©️ Siobhan O’Driscoll – 16beasleystphotography.com | Instagram: 16beasleyst
Published 21st September 2026
Breaking Glass Magazine 