LIVE: ENTER SHIKARI – Fremantle | Walyalup, 14 May 2026

LIVE: Enter Shikari – Fremantle | Walyalup, 14 May 2026
With CHEZ and Grandson
Metropolis Fremantle, Western Australia  
Reviewed by Melanie Scrafton & Ayla Simpson  
Photography by Michael Farnell

As you approached Metropolis, the line stretched down the street long before doors opened. Though they opened later than scheduled, no one seemed restless. Despite the crowd, the mood was calm, anticipatory. The kind of quiet energy that settles in before a cathartic release.

Inside, merch framed the entrance and the venue swelled with people primed and ready to participate from the get-go.

Perth based CHEZ aka Chezni Watson is the local opening artist, who is gaining notoriety across the Alt Pop/Rock scene by supporting many incredible acts across the UK, Europe and the US. Whether long time “baddies” or first timers, the crowd responded with the same openness and playful energy. Vocally, CHEZ carried an effortless blend of sweetness and edge that felt magnetic. Their cover of “Toxic” further fueled the rooms energy, while the closer “Reaper” left the crowd fully activated.

Canadian/American self-described political activist musician grandson, aka Jordan Benjamin, blends alt rock, hip-hop and electronic music, and the mood shifted noticeably during his set, transforming the vibe in the room from carefree into a more deliberate sense of purpose. Themes of community, protest and collective resistance were threaded throughout, the room erupting in agreement following a “fuck One Nation” statement during “Self Immolation”, reinforcing the strong sense of unity. A cover of “Master of War” fitting seamlessly into the tone of the set.

UK rockers Enter Shikari arrived on stage with the venue packed wall to wall. As the opening synths of “Lose yourself” washed over the room, the crowd screamed every word back before their set had barely begun. Silence between songs never fully arrived as chants continued echoing through the venue, the crowd refusing to let the energy settle. While the mosh was hectic, the crowd never lost its sense of collective care, pausing to help recover a lost item before launching straight back into the pit.

Though they’d not rehearsed in two years, whatever rough edges came with that spontaneity only amplified the impact. The response to “Sorry You’re Not a Winner”, for instance, was deafening.

Lighting effects surged in sync with the band’s ability to seamlessly move between electronic intensity into explosive breakdowns without losing momentum. What stood out was the absence of division between old and new material. Every song was met with equal devotion and level of excitement.

After the crowd’s adrenaline-fueled roar calling desperately for an encore, the band returned to the stage thanking Perth for its patience earlier in the evening, acknowledging the technical difficulties that inevitably come with the first night of a world tour, before launching into their closing song “Juggernauts.”

“If you stand for nothing, you will fall for anything,” was a memorable line as this was a venue full of people who definitely had something to stand for.

Set List –
LOSE YOUR SELF
Labyrinth
(Pls) Set me on Fire
Undercover Agents
The Void Stares Back
The Flick of a Switch I.
Sorry, You’re Not a Winner
Bloodshot
Rabble Rouser
The Pressure’s On
Find Out The Hard Way
Quelle Surprise
The Last Garrison
The Paddington Frisk
It’s OK
{ The Dreamer’s Hotel }
Encore:
Juggernauts

Australian Dates-
Fremantle — 14 May 2026
Adelaide — 16 May 2026
Melbourne — 17 May 2026
Frankston — 19 May 2026
Sydney — 22 May 2026
Brisbane — 23 May 2026
Coolum — 24 May 2026

Category: Live Reviews, Photo Galleries