Dennis Lyxzen of Refused at Victoria Warehouse, 02.10.2025

Sometimes it’s dead easy to get a photo pass for a band. Sometimes I apply without being bothered either way, if it’s not accepted then it’s a night off. Sometimes though it’s for a band I really, really want to shoot and tell myself I have no chance for. However on this occasion…Refused was Accepted!

I’ve tried to shoot more punk and hardcore gigs this year – I grew up on punk – and around the start of 2025, Refused announced their final ever farewell tour. Only 3 UK dates were on there, London, Glasgow and…Manchester. So I sent my app in and accreditation was granted. SICK!

Even better, supporting Refused at Victoria Warehouse was another legendary band: Quicksand. QS is one of the many projects of Rival Schools frontman/legend, Walter Schreifels (who is also such a nice person). From 0 Schreifels shoots ever to seeing 2 of his bands in one year, 2025 is sound.

Opening for the bands were hardcore trio Shooting Daggers. Ones to watch and not at all awed by the size of the venue:

A quick scoot around the venue in between bands to check out the (extortionate) merchanidse before Quicksand took the stage:

Before finally Refused came on. I wasn’t sure how they would be – it can be hard to live up to such a lofty reputation. As well as frontman Dennis Lyxzen having a heart attack last year. But…they KICKED. ASS.

All energy, all the time – they owned the place, really impressive for such a large, cavernous venue.

Legendary!