Words by Rachel June

Bilk just announced their headline tour ‘Essex Drugs & Rock and Roll’, smashing their way across the UK and Europe from February 2025. Ahead of the excitement, ASBO got to chat with frontman Sol, who said “This is the tour I’m most excited for. It’s gonna be fucking chaos and we are taking over.” Their album of the same name will be ready to listen to on the 24th of Jan 2025. So, what can we expect? “Liberation, freedom, excitement and energy.”
Bilk’s fun lyrics, sung by a distinct Essex accent, shamelessly pierce through the head-bang-worthy guitar and adrenaline-filled drums. The lyrics are not parent-friendly, with some titled “Slag, Skidmark, F up”, but others have a softer indie edge, with lyrics about love and relationships. Bilk takes inspiration from “anywhere,” Sol likes Dizzee Rascal, Eminem, The Jam, The Streets, The Kooks, Blink 182, Green Day, Cypress Hill blues music, and more. Saying, “There’s good music in most genres.”

The lifestyle can be heard through the music. The girls, the rage against the system and society – but it’s fun, and you can hear Bilk are having fun. The band absolutely love what they do. Sol laughs, “I wanna be famous, I wanna be chased down the street in fucking limos and shit. But I also want the respect” He advises aspiring musicians to not get caught up in the “bullshit” and “statistics” and to just “keep it real”.
Borrowed from their hometown Essex and shared with us lucky lot, Bilk paid homage to their roots with the title of the album ‘Essex Drugs & Rock and Roll.’ Eager to perform their new music, Bilk shares their excitement for “The whole tour experience. Traveling around in a van, smashing a beer can, smoking out the window, late nights, eating food on the go, turning up to the venue, seeing the massive crowd queuing outside, chatting to the fans, playing to mosh pits, crowd surfing, sweat dripping off each other. All of it. The whole tour lifestyle, I’m completely up for it.” Their pre-show ritual is simple, “couple shots of tequila and walk on.”
If you get a chance to see them whilst in their prime, make sure to attend a live show, and if it’s anything like ASBO has seen before – it’ll be bonkers. So don’t miss it.
Sol’s songs on repeat: “It ain’t me babe”– Bob Dylan
“Wham Rap” – Wham
