Sonic Boom Six

Formed in Manchester in 2002 around Barney Boom and Laila Khan, Sonic Boom Six began in the British punk and ska scene before quickly broadening their palette to include ragga, hip-hop and electronic textures. Their sound mixes ska-punk rhythms, pop choruses, rap-like phrasing and rock energy, with lyrics often addressing social and political issues. After a self-released debut EP in 2002, the band issued short releases such as The Turbo EP (2003) and Sounds to Consume (2004), while touring the UK with acts from the ska and punk scenes like The Toasters, King Prawn and Catch 22. Sonic Boom Six moved to the album format with The Ruff Guide to Genre-Terrorism in 2006, followed by Arcade Perfect (2007), City of Thieves (2009), the self-titled Sonic Boom Six (2012) and The F-Bomb (2016). Their trajectory has taken them to stages such as Glastonbury, Reading and Leeds, Slam Dunk, 2000 Trees and the Warped Tour, marked by several line-up changes but an identity that has remained true to the intersection of political engagement, sound-system culture and melodic punk.