The Barefoot Bandit are kicking off their 2026 release schedule by taking on ‘The Guns Of Brixton’, a much-loved 1979 classic courtesy of The Clash. The South-West collective does not approach it lightly, bringing a clear sense of their identity, and honouring the intertwined nature of the different UK scenes.
In their words, ”The original track feels as relevant now as it ever did. We didn’t want to just cover it – we wanted to reinterpret it through our lens. For us, that meant pushing the dub textures further, giving the brass real bite, and then accelerating into Drum & Bass – because that’s part of the same UK lineage. Reggae, punk, rave culture – they all speak to each other. This record is our way of stitching those threads together.”
From the outset, the band leans into those deep and spacious dub textures, with big brass melodies laying out the atmosphere. Swaggering onward with an easy, roots reggae flair, they slowly build intensity and fill out the mix before exploding into a high-energy, wobbling bass line brimming with DnB influence. Shifting gear into this punchy surge of a finale, The Barefoot Bandit use the recording studio to nod to their festival performances.
The Barefoot Bandit has brought plenty of praise to their sound, their records reaching the radio and live, becoming sought-after UK festival risers. Glastonbury, Boardmasters, Boomtown Fair and Camp Bestival are all ticked off, with main stage slots at Beautiful Days and Beat-Herder part of their 2025 appearances. Work is underway on a second album, so the cover of this iconic track is no doubt a sign of a new and busy chapter.
Give it a listen below…
