Amsterdam, The Netherlands — Just over a year after his previous European tour, Skinshape (Will Dorey) is back on the road once again. The British multi-instrumentalist, known for his signature blend of laid-back psychedelia, deep grooves and soulful melodies, returned to the Melkweg in Amsterdam tonight.
Opening the evening was Rio de Janeiro singer-songwriter Pedro Mizutani, who also joined Skinshape on last year’s tour. Performing in a stripped-back setting with little more than an acoustic guitar, his understated songs provided a calm and intimate start to the night. Carried by his warm, inviting voice, the songs were given room to breathe in the minimal setting. Compared to last year, he looked far more comfortable on stage, delivering his set with greater confidence. Alongside songs in Portuguese, he also performed one track sung partly in English. While those at the front seemed fully engaged, the back of the venue remained rather noisy. Fortunately, several audience members stepped in with shouted calls to quiet down, followed by a chorus of “shhh,” allowing his music to resonate more clearly throughout the room. He was rewarded with warm applause at the end of his set.
Some shows like to start with a bang; Skinshape preferred to let the night slowly unfold, a fitting reflection of the music itself. Opening with “Stornoway,” the band drew the crowd into a hypnotic, groove-filled evening. A warm atmosphere quickly settled over the room, and by the time “How Can It Be” arrived, the audience had fully come alive, slowly dancing and moving throughout much of the set.
The band played with a laid-back confidence that never lacked impact, while Will Dorey’s vocals came across particularly well. This year’s venue was a size bigger than last time, yet the intimate connection with the crowd remained intact. Rich grooves, steady rhythms and warm melodies carried the show forward without ever needing forced theatrics. Interestingly, several songs from 2024’s Another Side of Skinshape found their way into the set after being absent last year, while the more recent Skinshape X Horus was not represented at all. Rather than focusing on the latest release, the evening felt built around flow, atmosphere and fan favourites.
There were several memorable moments beyond the core set. Keyboardist Oliver Pash took the spotlight for a cover of Mitski’s “My Love Mine All Mine,” which blended naturally into the evening’s mellow atmosphere. Guitarist Peter Anderson then stepped forward to sing “Inside,” earning enthusiastic cheers from the crowd after nearly every line and turning it into one of the night’s clear highlights.
“I Didn’t Know” sounded beautifully dreamy and felt like a fan favourite, while Pedro Mizutani’s return for “Eu Pensei” sparked one of the loudest sing-alongs of the evening. The summery glow of “Summer” kept the momentum going. The strength of the set lay in its refusal to rush anything. The encore brought “Take My Time” before a fully expanded “Mandala” closed the night in style, a final reminder that Skinshape’s understated approach can be just as powerful as louder, flashier shows.
Pedro Mizutani
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Setlist:
Stornoway
Oracolo
Don’t Call My Name
Ananda
How Can It Be
Amnesia
Can You Play Me A Song
After Midnight
Watching From The Shadows
My Love Mine All Mine
Inside
I Didn’t Know
Eu Pensei
Summer
I Won’t Be There
The Place Upstream
Take My Time
Mandala
Show date 21/04/2026
