Gig Review: Tony Bontana At The Brixton Windmill

A chaotic history with The Windmill finally gives way to a night of clarity, connection and total command at the hands of Tony Bontana.

Historically, I have not had a successful experience at The Windmill. The celebrated venue in Brixton helmed for being a base for a slew of post-punk, emerging acts during the early 2020s and latter end of the 2010s did not possess the same appeal to me that it did for a lot of music fans. In 2021, I experienced the ill-fated Euros final, a once optimistic crowd that eventually simmered and left with hung shoulders by the end of the night. In September 2025, I went to review ebbb, an electronic synth heavy trio. A heroic dose of hash tea taken much earlier in the day meant that by their performance around 9pm, I was still on the cusp of astral projecting, having to leave their set earlier than anticipated to get an Uber home on seven percent battery. Thus, I don’t share the same reverie for this hailed venue to a lot of friends and peers, but I was looking to change this course of events tonight, at the hands of Tony Bontana. 

The left field, experimental rapper from Birmingham is prolific in his output, even more impressive that the standard of quality remains the same if not improves upon itself with each release. Last year saw the release of ‘TUMPIT’, a mixtape with a dulcet air to its production, as well as the collaborative album ‘The Beautiful Malaise’ with Psychedelic Ensemble (Everything is Psychedelic being the group name) that embodied a caustic freneticism and playful vigour paired with insightful and astute lyricism. More recently, his album ‘My Name’ furthers the testimony of Bontana’s offbeat production style and sincerity, bringing in the personal and political into the fold. 

With two openers helping to ease up the crowd, I walked in through the doors just as the first act was commencing. Thom Dehli’s performance was an eclectic and sporadic effort. Just as you thought you’d make sense of the beat, a switch up was imminent, forever on your toes for what was to come next. A sound collage realising itself in real time that was defined in its jarring, incongruent and off kilter mannerisms. This set was a display of a left field, anti-pop that was ultimately challenging and intriguing.

The next opening act would be wing! Combining melodic, soft synth sounds with propulsive drums and anchoring bass performance that unfurled as each track would progress. An early applause for the drummer warming up was an initial demonstration of the skill that each musician on the stage possessed, culminating in a seamless set that saw tracks flow into one another. Songs were remixed and expanded upon, giving a new lease of air to the limited discography available online. Tracks like ‘Pack It In’ are spurred on by. Closing with the ever euphoric ‘In A Second I Will Need A Second’ was the perfect way to close out a triumphant set, encapsulating the strength of this project in its emotional progressions and trippy production. Shared smiles, kinship and thoughtful experimentation convert the already astute producer to a must-see live act. 

And then, we finally welcome Mr Bontana to the stage. It’s a no BS start from the rapper, launching into ‘Free Dem’ from ‘The Beautiful Malaise’. The sweeping energy that carries this project proves itself to translate even better in a live setting. The show is marked by Bontana’s ability to switch from the slow, lo-fi to upbeat throughout the set is commanding, a task that bares no ease and can easily lose the attention of the audience if not carried out by enthusiasm and intention. Tracks from ‘My Name’ like ‘Absolution’ and ‘Soft Dreams’ are given the space to sit within their meditations whilst still containing a captivating power. Witnessing Bontana talk about the loss of his mother so directly on stage, showcasing this grief in an admittedly vulnerable setting, was moving and evocative in a space where his thriving energy would’ve been enough to please the crowd. He delves into tracks from last year’s ‘TUMPIT’, displaying his prolific rate of producing music. We are even treated to a gem of an unreleased that we are informed won’t see the light of day, no matter how much we plead. His time on stage emphasises his effortless charisma, engaging with the audience aptly and with ease, facilitating a safe space to thrash and engage at the same time. He warms an admittedly reserved audience with jovial prods for us to interact with him.

Recognising his shy but attentive audience, he takes matters into his own hands, an immediate response from eager fans at the front would follow in suit of his charge. By the next track, the audience knew what to deliver as the pit widened in anticipation for the beat drop that would be the peak of energy exhausted. A man takes to the middle with swinging arms that present him as assertive, set, ready; 

“Damn, not like that,” 

To the audience’s amusement as well as the pit starter’s.  

Partially drenched in beer, sticky and sweaty, I walked out of the venue smiling to myself.  Alas, the Windmill curse had been broken. By no way am I reducing the show to being a positive experience of The Windmill. It was more of a shift in my luck with the venue. It was the witnessing of a man who had complete helm of the room, a confidence and command that was so easy to fall into. Beat machine and a microphone in tow, Tony Bontana revealed himself as a leader with a message. With such a fervent, contagious energy, it felt like the audience were locking into the journey of a man defining his own path, on his own terms, all of us willing to watch and follow. There’s no doubt that this ability to command a space would translate in larger venues, a space Bontana could easily occupy with the abundance he carries and brings to his live set. If you’re not invested in this musician’s trajectory, it’s time to lock in.