Dakka Shanks live at Mr Wolfs in Bristol on 4 September 2026
Posted on: 25 Aug 2026Launching into the Autumn, Dakka Shanks will release a brand new track and embark on a whistle-stop tour of the UK includig a stop at Bristol's Mr Wolfs on Friday 4 September 2026.
Returning on 18 September with “I See Fire”, this original track written and performed by the band is a raw reflection on the financial pressure, exhaustion and frustration of everyday life in modern Britain.
Driven by the Dakka Shanks’ unmistakable fusion of ska, reggae, punk and dub, “I See Fire" looks at what happens when simply keeping your head above water becomes a daily battle. The pay cheque arrives and disappears. The bills keep coming. Council tax, debt and the cost of keeping a roof over your head leave you straight back at zero.
“Paycheck at the end of the month, Back to the zero to keep a roof over my head”.
But “I See Fire” isn’t only about money. It’s about what that constant pressure does to you physically and mentally: working all week, feeling the strain in your body, and reaching the weekend desperate for a few hours where none of it matters. It is a sentiment that sits naturally within Dakka Skanks’ music: socially conscious songwriting delivered without losing the energy, rhythm and defiance that has always been at the heart of the band.
"I See Fire" is one of a series of singles leading up to the release of Dakka Skanks’ forthcoming album, ‘The Game’. The album has already had an incredible start to its journey. Dakka Skanks turned to their fans to help fund the recording of ‘The Game’ through a crowdfunding campaign, setting an ambitious target of £25,000 - a goal they reached in just two weeks.
That incredible response allowed the band to bring their vision for ‘The Game’ to life independently and showed the strength of the community that has grown around Dakka Skanks and their music. For the new album, Dakka Skanks teamed up with five-time Grammy Award-winning producer Steve Dub, bringing his experience to the record.
Comprising new, original material shaped by real life, social pressures and the world around them, ‘The Game’ is delivered with all the energy and defiance that has become definitive of Dakka Skanks.
A track about working, surviving and trying to find moments of freedom while the pressures of everyday life continue to build, featured single “I See Fire” will be released independently through Dakka Skanks Music on 18 September. Standby for further release news of the ‘The Game’ in due course.
ABOUT DAKKA SHANKS
Dakka Skanks are a UK ska/reggae/punk band whose sound brings together infectious Jamaican-influenced rhythms, punk energy and socially conscious songwriting. Known for their ferocious live performances, the band have built their reputation on music that can make a room move while still having something to say. Fronted by the distinctive vocals of Clara Wageli-Byrne, in many ways, the band’s vivid catalogue of releases to date have come to mirror her own twisting journey through life.
Following their previous releases and extensive live work, “I See Fire” marks the next chapter for Dakka Skanks. The band will embark on a 7-date mini tour of the UK this September, catch them at these dates as follows:
Dakka Shanks - September Dates
4th September – Mr Wolfs, Bristol
5th September – The Garage, London - w/ King Prawn
11th September – Half Drunk Club, The Firebug, Leicester
19th September – Hope & Ruin, Brighton
24th September – The Crescent Community, York
25th September – Stramash, Edinburgh, Scotland
26th September – Room 2, Glasgow, Scotland
Tickets on sale at www.dakkaskanks.com/gigs
Article by:
Bristol born and bred despite the name, Brendan has been working in the digital media sector for the last 15 years and advertising for the last 25 years. A wealth of knowledge about the city and more importantly at how to help businesses get as much online exposure as possible. Call Brendan on 07876 735153 or email Brendan@365bristol.com.
