Dizzee Rascal @ Hindley Street Music Hall, Adelaide 5/2/2025
There was a sense of anticipation with Dizzee Rascal’s return to Adelaide which is hard to believe it has been a staggering five years. Nevertheless, this gig had been sold out for ages and whether they added another show or played a bigger venue one thing is for certain is that it would have been sold out. Predominantly a younger crowd there was a good time vibe simmering away waiting to peak when showtime starts. The floor was a bit squishy with people trying to get the best vantage point. Just after nine it was like a huge thunderbolt of energy descending on the venue as Dizzee Rascal took the stage asking the question “Adelaide, what the fuck is going on”.
The fans had their mobile phones out to capture that moment when they huge ripping beat of Bad Behaviour got the crowd jumping. This was probably not one of those shows where you want to be a passive observer as you would have been picked up in the ground swell of crowd jumping in unison. It was quite the spectacle destined for an Instagram reel. If you didn’t know his name he made it pretty clear that “my name is Dizzee Fucking Rascal!” That energy flowed in to Jus’ A Rascal followed by each side of the room trying to out cheer the other echoing the sentiment “fuck that side” and encouraging the one finger salute. If you weren’t pumped you would be by now as they ripped through Fix Up, Look Sharp.
Dizzee asked what day of the week it was suggesting we should be treating this like a Saturday. Chase & Status cover Heavy was done brilliantly and Dizzee revelled in the adulation. The crowd jumped, they bounced and they were right on it to. His fans absolutely love him and didn’t put a foot wrong. Whether you love him or not you have to be in awe of the show he puts on leaving nothing in the tank afterwards. Dirtee Cash, Can’t Tek No More and AwStopBro were just epic. Chillin’ wiv da Man Dem was for all the besties and Dizzee took a second to mention all the beautiful Adelaide women and all the churches then asking “you want no bass”, “make some noise if you want no bass” which got the crowd chanting “we want bass!” Hells bells! Bassline Junkie is bombastic and with that thumping beat rattling through our bones kicked things up a gear.
Dance wiv Me is a banger with this tour set list loaded with great songs which kept coming. Dizzee said if it wasn’t so far he would be here all the time escaping the cold back home and swapping that for the holiday feels here in Australia. Perfect intro to Holiday finishing the main set in fine fashion on You’ve Got the Dirtee Love.
The stage was literally smouldering and there was a brief moment of respite before Dizzee Rascal returned for an encore. The crowd made plenty of noise getting more with another monster track in Filthy Bassline followed by Stop Dat. The parting message was “see you on FaceTime” and “represent” with a promise to return sooner than later. Asking the crowd if they are a little “bonkers” it was that epic closer in Bonkers that got the crowd jumping one last time. Dizzee Rascal delivered big time and it was time to drag these old bones home.
Live Review By Rob Lyon