Bob Vylan’s SMR Festival 2025: Setlist, Review, and Punk Revolution

May 25, 2025 rocknews

Stevenage may not have the gloss of a festival capital, but on May 23, 2025, it was the molten core of punk’s ongoing revolution at SMR Festival. The stage at Lamex Stadium transformed into a war zone—not of destruction, but of pure, unfiltered energy. And leading the charge? Bob Vylan, the UK’s self-proclaimed “most violent boy band.”

Who Are Bob Vylan?

Formed in 2017 in London, Bob Vylan—vocalist Bobby Vylan and drummer Bobbie Vylan—is a genre-smashing duo blending punk, grime, and hip-hop. Their raw, politically charged sound, born from working-class roots, tackles issues like racism, inequality, and toxic masculinity. Albums like We Live Here (2020) and Humble as the Sun (2024) have earned critical acclaim, with NME calling them “the voice of a generation”. Known for incendiary live shows, they’ve stormed festivals like Coachella and Reading & Leeds, cementing their status as punk’s modern torchbearers.

The Warm Up Routine

Before Bob even set foot on stage, the atmosphere was primed for chaos. The hype man—volume cranked to 11—roared the eternal rallying cry, “What’s going on?” The crowd, like a turbulent sea, answered back louder and louder until the wave crashed with the words: “Bob f***ing Vylan!”

And there he was. Not bursting onto the stage in a fit of fury, but with an unexpected moment of serenity—stretching, meditating, bringing the crowd into a shared moment of calm before the storm. Then, with the words “Bob Vylan is killing punk rock” emblazoned behind him, the battle commenced.

Punk Theatre And Protest Rolled Into One!

“I Heard You Want Your Country Back” kicked off the set, a brutal critique wrapped in thunderous beats. “Get Yourself A Gun” followed, the crowd bouncing like they were about to crash through the floor. Between tracks, Bob Vylan unpacked his ethos—delivering fiery monologues on everything from the Fred Perry mafia to his notorious “Metallica killers” claim.

This wasn’t just a gig; it was theatre, punk, and protest rolled into one. A raw recounting of domestic violence turned into the dedication for “He’s A Man,” a blistering anthem of justice. The set took twists and turns—from Bobbie Vylan’s solo bathed in golden light, to the rabid moshing triggered by “The Delicate Nature.” Vylan, armed with a cricket bat, reminded the crowd: “We’re not a violent group, until we have to be.”

The highlight? A moment of unity. As Bob discussed sharing the stage with Kneecap at Coachella and their stance on Palestine, the crowd erupted in chants of “Free free Palestine.” Punk has always been political, but this was personal.

Closing with “We Live Here” and “Hunger Games,” Bob Vylan didn’t just end the night; he cemented himself as a must-see force of nature. Check their next show at bobvylan.com.

So, did Bob Vylan kill punk rock, or did he inject it with new life? Were you there, and how did it feel? Or are you now regretting missing one of the most electrifying performances of the festival? Let us know in our poll: Was Bob Vylan’s SMR set revolutionary?.

Bob Vylan SMR Festival Setlist

I Heard You Want Your Country Back
Get Yourself A Gun
Dream Big
He’s A Man
Ring The Alarm
Northern Light
CSGB (Chat S**t Get Banged)
The Delicate Nature
Wicked And Bad
Pretty Songs
We Live Here
Hunger Games

This was not just music—it was mayhem, unity, and defiance. If you weren’t there, you missed history in the making. Follow Bob Vylan on Instagram for updates.