Zack Polanski has hit out at Nigel Farage and lead a “tax the rich” chant at a Rizzle Kicks gig.
The Green Party leader made a surprise appearance during the London duo’s set in Bristol yesterday (November 12). The latest YouGov poll (as of November 10) shows them polling at 15 per cent – just behind the Conservatives (18 per cent), Labour (19 per cent), and Reform UK (27 per cent).
Introducing Polanski, vocalist Jordan Stephens said: “This guy is normalising hope again, alright? I had to bring him out, because he’s my boy now. So everybody make some noise for Zack Polanski!”
Walking on to huge cheers from the crowd, Polanski immediately started a chant, saying: “When I say ‘Rizzle’, you say ‘Kicks’!”. Following that, he then asked the crowd: “When I say ‘Tax The’, you say ‘Rich’!”
After complimenting the “energy” in the room, Polanski launched into a number of things “we are not down with”, including “racism”, “fascism”, and “the government”. He also named “Nigel Farage”, to extensive whoops from the crowd.
Finally, Polanski listed what he was “down with”, including “love”, “solidarity”, “community”, “musicians” – gesturing to Rizzle Kicks – and finally, “the trumpets”. The band then began to play their classic 2011 hit, ‘Down With The Trumpets’.
Watch Polanski’s appearance at the Rizzle Kicks gig below:
@boldpolitics The energy at Rizzle Kicks in Bristol last night was incredible 🫶 Zack Polanski joins on stage before encore
♬ Smooth Strut (Syn) – Ah2
We spoke to Rizzle Kicks earlier this year about their new album ‘Competition Is For Losers’, where they spoke about the inspirations behind their first record in over a decade.
“With ‘Competition Is For Losers’, we’ve been influenced by the new wave of funk-rap, in and around Anderson .Paak and the late Mac Miller, which was something me and Harley loved and didn’t feel was being done in the UK,” Stephens told NME. “We felt it was a continuation of the hip-hop we were doing when we were young. We kept our old vibe and brought our new influences in.”
Harley Alexander-Sulé added that “Anderson .Paak was a big influence”, with Stephens commenting: “I DM-d him – and he ignored me [Laughs]”.
We reviewed ‘Competition Is For Losers’ when it dropped, giving it a four-star review: “Despite some (very) minor missteps, ‘Competition Is For Losers’ is a triumphant return,” NME wrote.
“Not only do the pair reacquaint us with their wondrous world, but they also prove that – despite the time off – ring rust is of no concern here. Nine years after we last heard from them, Rizzle Kicks are just as mesmerising as their first run.”
Elsewhere, Rizzle Kicks have announced the biggest headline show of their career with their 2026 London Alexandra Palace gig.
The duo are set to take to the stage on Friday May 22 – you’ll be able to buy your tickets here.
