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Portishead Soundtrack Acne Studios Runway Show With Two Classic Tracks

The band created a bespoke mix of "Roads" and "The Rip" for the fashion label's womenswear show

By Jonathan Zavaleta

Jonathan Zavaleta

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March 4, 2026

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Portishead band: members Beth Gibbons, Geoff Barrow, and Adrian Utley

Portishead members Beth Gibbons, Geoff Barrow, and Adrian Utley Eva Vermandel

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Paris Fashion Week is upon us, and Portishead will soundtrack Acne Studios‘ FW26 womenswear runway show with a new mix of two of their classics. The show will include the tracks “Roads,” from the trip-hop icons’ 1994 debut album, Dummy, and “The Rip” from Third.

In a statement shared with Rolling Stone, Portishead explained why they worked with Acne Studios on the show’s soundtrack, writing, “We have always tried to keep our creative partnerships with an ethical standard, so Acne Studios are the perfect partners for us, with their commitment to sustainability and work practices.”

It marks the first time that Portishead have worked with a fashion brand in this way. It’s notable, given the relative dormancy of the band since 2008’s Third. They have reunited occasionally for benefit concerts, including in 2022 for a War Child concert benefitting Ukraine and in September for a Together for Palestine benefit.

The set for the Acne Studios Show Acne Studios

Vocalist Beth Gibbons has worked on solo material in the years since, including a sensational feature on Kendrick Lamar’s 2022 track “Mother I Sober” and her 2024 solo album, “Lives Outgrown.” Geoff Barrow has worked as a composer on films like Civil War and Ex Machina, while Adrian Utley has played guitar and synthesizers for artists like Torres and Mark Lanegan.

“The soundtrack by Portishead unfolds slowly, the lyrics of ‘Roads’ from an earlier time echoing with melancholy and defiance, gradually building with the energy of ‘The Rip,'” explains a release from the fashion house. “Here, heritage is not a celebration of the past for its own sake, but a bridge to the future classics of Acne Studios.”

The show will be available to watch on YouTube and the brand’s website, and you can shop Acne Studios online or at retailers like SSENSE and Nordstrom.

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