AMYL AND THE SNIFFERS ARE MAGIC IN MANCHESTER
LIVE REVIEW | AMYL AND THE SNIFFERS | O2 VICTORIA WAREHOUSE, MANCHESTER | 22nd October 2025 by Rachel Puk
Amyl and the Sniffers are a punk riddled tornado of energy and sonic genius. I had the pleasure of attending their one night only show at the O2 Victoria Warehouse in Manchester. The band had no issue filling the massive venue with gorgeous outfits and confidence. Because of our quintessentially British train delays, I unfortunately missed the opening acts. I got straight to the venue and weaved myself through the packed out room.
Amy Taylor has a stage presence so rare in today’s musical climate. She mightily commands her stage and audience in powerful outfits and at the top of her lungs. She’s strong but never stand-offish, beginning her performance with “If anyone falls down, you help them up. Don’t touch anybody that doesn’t wanna be touched!” The lights went down and ‘Balaclava Lover Boogie’ riffs began the night.
A majority female crowd laced the dance floor with thunder. Taylor speaks loudly for her “young girl and non-binary folk”, creating a safe-haven of no judgement and empowerment. Amyl’s hit ‘Tiny Bikini‘ had hips rocking instantly from the most addictive riff on last year’s record Cartoon Darkness. Three minutes of radical self-love, followed by ‘Me and the Girls‘ to solidify the whirring pit of girlhood in the room.
Taylor took the stage to address the world epidemic of violence towards women by men: “We’re collateral damage for their mental health. […] We have a problem with domestic violence – it’s bullshit!” ‘Knifey‘ from the 2021 album Comfort To Me is powerful exploration of the woman’s experience. The anthem is real and raw, and ensures every woman in the crowd is seen.
All I ever wanted was to walk by the park
All I ever wanted was to walk by the river, see the stars
Please, stop fucking me up
Out comes the night, out comes my knifey
This is how we get home nicely
The crowd anticipated a change of pace with the instantly recognised intro to hit ‘Big Dreams‘, though it seemed the crowd were flying by the chorus. In double speed, Taylor erratically weaves through fuchsia lights as I see feet instead of heads and cold pints land on our heads. In awe at her continuously manic energy, the crowd is panting and clutching their sweaty leather jackets.
The gig started as it meant to go on. Their greatest hits translate identically from headphones to stage. ‘Hertz‘ came to end the show before a good old fashioned encore. Taylor strides back on stage, loudly and proudly announcing her support for Palestine. Addressing the genocide and the other countless disgraces present in politics right now, Amyl and the Sniffers prove time and time again the importance of artists using their platform to speak out. Their greatest hit ‘Jerkin” then came for the crowd to hurl insults at the air and mosh out their anger at the world.
Amyl and the Sniffers are magic. A breath of fresh air for women all over the scene – Amyl do not shy away from exuding their hedonistic and new tricks on the classic Rock and Roll and everyone must experience their theatrical, raw, beautiful punk on stage.
