Bristol Live // Girl Ray

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BRISTOL LIVE LIVE & NEW MUSIC MAGAZINE

GIRL RAY B R I S T O L , U K & E U F E S T I VA L G U I D E

BRISTOL NEW MUSIC, RELEASES & MORE 1

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Tue 3rd Apr • SOLD OUT

Wed 25th Apr

Thu 5th Apr

+ CKY + Danko Jones

The Vaccines En Vogue Fri 6th Apr

The Amy Winehouse Experience ...A.K.A Lioness Sat 7th Apr • RESCHEDULED DATE

MØ + Skott Sun 8th Apr

Epica

+ Myrkur + Oceans Of Slumber Mon 9th Apr

Walk The Moon Wed 11th Apr

Dirty Sanchez Live

Feat. Lee Dainton & Matthew Pritchard Thu 12th Apr

Love From Stourbridge

The Wonder Stuff + Ned’s Atomic Dustbin Fri 13th Apr • SOLD OUT

Tokio Myers Sat 14th Apr

Skindred Fri 27th Apr • SOLD OUT

Frank Turner & The Sleeping Souls Sat 28th Apr • 10pm - 5am • over 18s only

Breakin’ Science Wed 2nd May • SOLD OUT

Gomez + John Smith Mon 7th May

Brothers Osbourne

Sun 2nd Sep

Oh Sees Fri 7th Sep

Guns 2 Roses Fri 14th Sep

Xavier Rudd Fri 21st Sep

The Smyths Sun 23rd Sep

Jungle

Jose Gonzalez & The String Theory

Sat 12th May • 10pm - 3am • over 18s only

Sat 29th Sep • SOLD OUT

The Carnival Of Light Mon 14th May

Halestorm

Nadine Coyle

Tue 2nd Oct

Tue 15th May

performs classic Deep Purple “Live”

Machine Head Fri 18th May • RESCHEDULED DATE

Cash

A tribute to the Man in Black Sat 19th May • SOLD OUT

Rita Ora Mon 21st May

+ The Treatment + The Amorettes

DMA’S

Mon 16th Apr

Fri 25th May

+ Code Orange + Power Trip + Venom Prison

The Breeders

Wed 9th May

The Dead Daisies Trivium

Tue 10th Jul • SOLD OUT

BA1 Records Showcase Wed 30th May

Glenn Hughes Fri 5th Oct • SOLD OUT

Jorja Smith Fri 19th Oct

Elvana: Elvis Fronted Nirvana Thu 25th Oct

Darius Rucker Thu 8th Nov

The Decemberists Sun 11th Nov

Public Image Limited

Blackberry Smoke

Fri 1st Jun

Sat 17th Nov • SOLD OUT

Sat 21st Apr

Broken Social Scene

The Cat Empire

+ Wage War + Sylar

Tue 5th Jun

Tues 18th Dec

Courtney Barnett

Clutch

Sun 17th Jun

Wed 19th Dec

Fri 20th Apr

The White Buffalo Of Mice And Men Mon 23rd Apr

Calum Scott + Daniel Docherty

D’Angelo

Bjorn Again

O2 Academy Bristol Frogmore Street, Bristol BS1 5NA • Doors 7pm unless stated

ticketmaster.co.uk

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Venue box office opening hours: Mon - Sat 12pm - 4pm • Tickets subject to booking fee

ticketmaster.co.uk • seetickets.com • gigantic.com

o2academybristol.co.uk

April • 2018

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LOST HORIZONS - THE LANTERN -

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SEETICKETS.COM - GIGANTIC.COM BRISTOLTICKETSHOP.CO.UK

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END OF THE ROAD 2018 30 Aug—2 Sept Larmer Tree Gardens

Vampire Weekend St. Vincent •

Feist • Yo La Tengo • Ezra Furman

Jeff Tweedy • John Cale • Fat White Family • Oh Sees Gruff Rhys • Julia Holter • Mulatu Astatke • Ariel Pink Big Thief • Josh T. Pearson • Wild Billy Childish & CTMF • Destroyer • Omar Souleyman

Titus Andronicus • Hookworms • (Sandy) Alex G • James Holden & The Animal Spirits

This Is The Kit • IDLES • Shame • Jonathan Wilson • The Low Anthem • Protomartyr Julien Baker • Hiss Golden Messenger • Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith • Damien Jurado • Lucy Dacus Shannon & The Clams • Amen Dunes • Imarhan • Stealing Sheep’s Suffragette Tribute

Japanese Breakfast • The Limiñanas • Richard Dawson • Du Blonde • Warmduscher Jim White • Flat Worms • Mdou Moctar • Lost Horizons • Colter Wall • Soccer Mommy The Weather Station • Adrian Crowley • Nilüfer Yanya • Sweet Baboo • Darren Hayman

Gwenno • Insecure Men • David Thomas Broughton • DUDS • Snail Mail • Cut Worms

Erin Rae • Caroline Spence • Samuel R. Saffery • Snapped Ankles • Haley Heynderickx Josienne Clarke & Ben Walker • The Orielles • Anna Burch • AK/DK • Penelope Isles Creatures • Red River Dialect • Warhaus • Tiny Ruins • Stella Donnelly • Saba Lou Lail Arad & JF Robitaille • Honey Harper • Zulu Zulu • Plastic Mermaids • Boy Azooga

Plus many more acts, comedy, film, literature and art installations. Dance ‘til you drop in magical fairy-lit woods and laugh ‘til you cry at some of the world’s foremost comedians, all while sampling delicious award-winning food and hand-selected craft beers and ales. Come make new friends under the stars and around the campfire.

endoftheroadfestival.com

★★★★★ 4

The Guardian

★★★★★

Daily Telegraph

PARQUET COURTS, P12

Festival season is nigh.

I’m so in love with the way the festival world has blossomed during the last couple of years.

Gone are the days of overpriced tickets for a smattering of lacklustre behemoths, giving way to a culture of boutique events and carefullycurated lineups. In this issue we run down the 25 you most need to know about – large and small – locally, nationally and internationally.

Propping up our cover this month are the inimitable Girl Ray, fresh from SXSW and heading to Bristol for a show at Thekla. Rhys Buchanan chats to them about the reception of their debut album and where they’re headed next.

Meanwhile, we round up the month’s best new releases, Live Editor, Jon Kean, ponders whether you should blab through a gig and, of course, we present plump live listings for the month ahead. Sock it to me.

Loki Lillistone Editor-in-Chief

Sales: loki@bristollivemagazine.com Ed-in-Chief Loki Lillistone / New Music Ed Christian Northwood / Live Ed Jon Kean / Release Ed Lor Nov / Plus many more.

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GUEST PICKS:

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W H AT ’ S N E W ?

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BRISTOL NEW MUSIC

COVER:

G I R L R AY F E S T I VA L G U I D E NEW RELEASES BRISTOL BECAUSE:

1% OF ONE DEAR DICK I N C A S E Y O U M I S S E D I T:

INSECURE MEN LIVE LISTINGS THOUGHTS:

W H Y C H AT T H R O U G H A GIG?

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S.J.M. CONCERTS PRESENTS

PLUS SPECIAL GUESTS

PLUS BOOTHBY GRAFFOE

PLUS SPECIAL GUESTS

11 APR FLEECE

24 APR COLSTON HALL

27 APR MARBLE FACTORY

PLUS SPECIAL GUESTS

PLUS SPECIAL GUESTS

PLUS ANDY BROWN & SINEAD BURGESS

13 MAY THEKLA

14 MAY O2 ACADEMY

16 MAY COLSTON HALL

PLUS SPECIAL GUESTS

PLUS SPECIAL GUESTS

PLUS SPECIAL GUESTS

21 MAY O2 ACADEMY

25 MAY SWX

01 JUNE O2 ACADEMY

SOCCER MOMMY

mitski PLUS SPECIAL GUESTS

PLUS SPECIAL GUESTS

11 SEP LOUISIANA

25 SEP TRINITY

25 OCT O2 ACADEMY

PLUS SPECIAL GUESTS

PLUS SPECIAL GUESTS

PLUS SPECIAL GUESTS

05 NOV TRINITY

08 NOV O2 ACADEMY

19 DEC O2 ACADEMY

PLUS SPECIAL GUESTS

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Guest Picks

What our pals are into this month.

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KAS

Fri 20th – Sun 22nd April

Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith

Former IMAX | 22.04, 6.30pm & 9.00pm

When we saw Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith’s performance in The Lantern last June, we knew we’d witnessed a true pioneer of the contemporary music scene, so we’re thrilled to have her back and on the lineup for Bristol New Music.

Since we last saw her, Smith has released her album The Kid, which we’ve been 8

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This month:

listening to non-stop. Mixing psychedelic elements with dreamy instrumental samples, disco with drone, synths with African rhythms, it takes the phrase genredefying to a whole other level.

These alien compositions, combined with striking visuals make Smith’s shows a fully immersive and sensory experience, lending itself perfectly to the ambient setting of Bristol Aquarium’s former IMAX cinema. Trust us, you’re going to want to check this out.

Elysia Crampton: ‘Red Clouds’ + Coby Sey + Laurie & Olly + AUDINT Spike Island, 20.04, 8.00pm

Aymaran artist and electronic musician Elysia Crampton presents the UK premiere of her new solo show ‘Red Clouds’, plus a live set from illusive London bass music protagonist Coby Sey and a sonically-unruly new collaboration between UK composer/Slip label co-founder Laurie Tompkins and celebrated cellist/producer Oliver Coates.

A Hawk & A Hacksaw Sportsmans | 22.04, 8.00pm

The brainchild of former Neutral Milk Hotel drummer and accordionist Jeremy Barnes and violinist Heather Trost, A Hawk & A Hacksaw is a kaleidoscopic invention which blends influences of old and new, East and West, noise and melody. If their latest album Forest Bathing is anything to go by, we’ll be ending the festival with a bang with this one.

Bristol New Music weekend celebrates the innovators and boundary-pushers of contemporary music, taking place in venues across the city.

More at: bristolnewmusic.org

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wed 2 may trinity centre ÂŁ17.50 incl. booking fee

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0117 203 4040 www.colstonhall.org

VOTED TOP FESTIVAL

BY BBC 6 MUSIC LISTENERS

THE GUARDIAN

THE TIMES

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What’s New?

Fresh tales from the BLM radar with:

Christian Northwood New Music Editor

Anna McClellan Sometimes emotions don’t come out in the quiet, beautiful way they’re supposed to through music; sometimes they come out as emotions actually are: raw, imperfect and pissed-off. Anna McClellan harnesses this perfectly. The songwriter released her debut album Fire Flames way back in 2015 (technically not completely new, I know), but her latest album Yes and No, released on 12

Father/Daughter Records, has allowed Anna to truly define her sound. The record began on a road trip, with Anna making the decision to leave her native Omaha, Nebraska to travel to California, her keyboard in the backseat of her car the entire time.

It’s on these keys which Anna maps out her feelings, but from that, her sound expands with layers of sweeping violins, twinkling guitars and other delicate instrumentation clashing against her uniquely raw vocals. The overall effect is that of a musical where the lead role has reached breaking point, eschewing the usual saccharine lyrics for uncertain, stream-of-consciousness self-examination. A special artist to clutch close.

Heart of Hearts

fb.com/animalfelon

Captain Süün When I first pressed play on Captain Süün’s single ‘Beach Burrito’, I thought I’d be in for a ride as breezy and wholesome as the act of having a burrito at the beach. But within seconds, the chiming guitars take a turn and pick up layers of scuzz.

The group’s strength lies not in blasting the listener with noise, instead using their motorik rhythms and melodic vocals to draw you in like a hypnotist. The four-piece’s dark combination of surf and garage rock has found a home on Bristol’s Stolen Body Records, and with fans at 6Music, the band look set to spread their tendrils far outside of Bristol.

PHOTO: ROWAN ALLEN

Beach Burrito

Gork are brilliant dreamers. The Bristol-based five-piece are a bunch of old school friends pulled together by their love of the fuzzy and the weird, of garage-rock and psychedelia, but dragging a personal touch to the fore. Single ‘Gunk’ pulls you in with its soft gang vocals, before letting rip with sludgy, driving guitars, while the band’s first EP Get Porked bleeds with endless fun and experimentation. It’s a charming mix, and with the band building up a reputation for live performances all over the city, Gork are a band to get swept away with.

Gunk

fb.com/captainsuun

Gork

gork1.bandcamp.com

Get more new music from Christian every Monday via Tracks of the Week at bristollivemagazine.com 13

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R h y s B u c h a n a n P. J e n n F i v e

G_IR_L A R_Y North Londoners Girl Ray stole hearts with their poised debut album Earl Grey last year. Now that the dust has settled, they’ll be returning to Bristol this month for a show at Thekla. I caught up with the bleary-eyed trio while they were busy showcasing their wares over in Austin, Texas for SXSW.

The usual unconvincing rings of an international phone call struggle on before bassist Sophie Moss picks up and sleepily says hello.

“Iris and Poppy are here too,” she says, putting me on loudspeaker with vocalist Poppy Hankin and drummer Iris McConnell. After I promise to let them get on for a morning coffee shortly, we duly begin our chat.

Despite the glamour of touring stateside, it’s clear that they’re looking forward to coming back home. “I think it should be fun, it’s just getting to a point now where we’re quite homesick for Tesco, British people and the general 16

negativity,” says Sophie. They’re also excited to hit places they’re already acquainted with. “There’s a familiarity that comes with the venues,” says Poppy, “We’re looking forward to being the cool kids on the block again. It’ll be nice to not feel so different.” The scale of venues the band are hitting on this tour feels like something of a testament to how well the record was received.

Sophie says, “It’s exciting but it’s scary as well. I just hope it sells really. It’s nice when it’s off the back of your own thing and people are supportive.”

The band should have a renewed confidence after playing SXSW. “I

“We’re quite homesick for Tesco, British people and the general negativity.” think it would be a lot scarier to do the big UK tour if we hadn’t done all these international shows,” says Iris. Even in the brief few minutes our chat has been taking place, there seems to be an overarching modesty behind Girl Ray. Sophie picks up this loose end: “I don’t know how to explain it but you don’t really give as many shits about how many people show up and stuff. It’s almost like the only way is up for us.”

Now that the album has had time to settle in, they’ve found themselves tweaking and evolving the material in the live environment. Poppy says, “It’s nice

to get to know the songs inside-out so you can shake it up a little bit and offer something slightly different to the record.” Sophie continues, “It feels like people know it now and it’s settled and found its place, but we still want to keep it sounding fresh and new.”

For those who haven’t caught Girl Ray live yet, you can expect things to be slightly different from on-track. “We tend to play our songs a bit rockier live; it sounds a lot noisier in comparison to the record,” says Iris.

There’s a hint that some new material might be aired on the upcoming tour as well. Sophie 17

says, “There’re a couple of new tunes we’ve been working on at home. We’ll probably continue working on them when we get some down time. I think it’s important to bring something a little new to the tour this time.” It doesn’t sound like there will be a dramatic change in direction, though. Sophie continues, “There hasn’t been a new style arising or anything; we’re just happy taking it as it goes.” Polly says time on the road might have rubbed off on them, however: “Touring around 18

with Porches and other bands, it’s almost like a rock school; you go there and you learn new things around compositions and you think about things. I feel quite inspired and willing to do some more writing.”

The band don’t remember the recording process for Earl Grey with as much fondness, however.

“We didn’t have a lot of time in the studio,” says Sophie, “I think we had around fourteen days to do as many songs. It wasn’t stressful but

“We had around fourteen days to do as many songs… It was a case of staying up until 4am most nights.”

it was intense and we definitely had a very specific job to do.” Poppy continues, “It was a fun experience recording, it would have been nice to take our time with it, though.”

The resulting album, by contrast, doesn’t suggest there were any time constraints at all. Iris says, “We did get it done, but it was a case of staying up until 4am most nights, in the zone. We were buzzing on coffee the whole time. It happened though; it got done and it sounds good.”

And they’re not wrong. Looking back on the last year, it’s staggering to think of how much the band have achieved.

Poppy says, “It’s been a pretty incredible experience. I think we always hoped for it in a weirdly optimistic way. It hasn’t been really overwhelming in itself, but actually arriving here was, because we’ve been thinking about it for so long. We’re taking it one step at a time.”

Girl Ray play Thekla on 10th April, presented by 1% of One. Earl Grey is out now on Moshi Moshi.

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The Gallimaufry

Waldo’s Gift

Out of this world musicianship combines Hip-hop, Math, Jazz, Groove & Electronica

7 March ~ Waldo’s Gift Trio

Alun Elliott-Williams – Guitar, Harry Stoneham – Bass, James Vine – Drums

14 March ~ Reworks: Cinematic Orchestra

Paying tribute to an artist, producer, composer or label

21 March ~ Feat. Zeitgeist

Apocalyptic groove trio from Leeds join Waldo’s Gift

28 March ~ Open Collaboration

Waldo’s Gift opens the stage to musicians who wish to join them in the spirit of improvisation and the free flow of ideas

thegallimaufry.co.uk 21

Festivals 2018 Whatever the weather. Whatever your vibe. Whatever the amount of money left in your wallet after an ill-advised bank holiday weekend, we’ve got just the thing. The festival scene has just exploded in the last couple of years, and it’s our pleasure to round up the best of the fests in handy A6 form.

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Bristol Live Presents...

Dot to Dot

Various Venues 26.05 // £13adv

Key Acts: The Horrors, Marika Hackman, Pale Waves, Bad Sounds, Mahalia, The Regrettes The fact that, after over a decade in the game, our much-loved Dot to Dot is still breaking sales records is a testament to just how special it truly is. Their commitment to new music over the years has been commendable, and as the adage goes: ‘It’s the bands you didn’t plan to see…’.

of Me’ and ‘Sober’ show where honing your songwriting for the entirety of your formative years can get you.

What’s more, we present the entire Louisiana this year, with choice UK breakthroughs in the main room and a carefully-curated lineup of our favourite

To reel you in this year, however, leftfield stalwarts, The Horrors, head up the bill, with Marika Hackman, Bath’s Bad Sounds, Mahalia, The Regrettes and more, having all likely piqued your interest in the last twelve months. Marika’s coming-of-age album I’m Not Your Man, alone, turned heads with its dark humour and directness last year, all wrapped in a certain deceptive sweetness.

Recent D2D In Focus pick, Mahalia, is one of those irritatingly-talented young women who was writing great songs while you were stressing about moving up to big-boy school. She’s only bloody nineteen now, and recent tracks ‘Proud

Bristol acts in the bar. Get your finger on the pulse of new music and party like it’s 2018.

Read on for more...

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Bristol & NeaRby...

End of The Road

Larmer Tree Gardens 30.0802.09 / £195adv

Key Acts: St. Vincent, Ezra Furman, Vampire Weekend, Yo La Tengo, Hookworms, IDLES. Lineup? Lineup! Yes, EOTR is famed for its unique vibe and friendly faces, but can we just list

Green Man Brecon Beacons 16-19.08 / £189

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more of their stellar new-music programme, please? Nilüfer Yanya, Big Thief, Ariel Pink, Shame, Omar Souleyman, James Holden, Protomartyr, The Weather Station, good lord. We’ve never been so convinced that this is a festival for us and all of our friends.

Fat Lip Fest Various Venues 28.07 / £20adv

Key Acts: The War On Drugs, King Gizzard, John Maus, Kelly Lee Owens

Key Acts: Mallory Knox, Black Peaks, Hacktivist, Decade, Pushing Daisies

Green Man wins the diversity award this year, with exemplary acts plucked from more genres than even your drunkest Spotify playlist. All this in the gorgeous Brecon Beacons, with additions that include Mount Kimbie, Dirty Projectors, Cate Le Bon and, like, loads more.

The festive embodiment of the rock and pop punk-steeped subculture that the FL crew have been nurturing in the city, Fat Lip Fest is a mecca for anyone into riffs, skinnies and moshing while trying not to spill double-fisted pints. Doing the scene proud once more.

Bristol Psych Fest Key Acts: The Wytches, Night Beats, Stonefield, Nebula, Special Guest, Anthroprophh, Pigs Pigs Pigs...

Can you believe it’s been five years of Psych Fest already? From humble pub-floor beginnings, we’ve seen it grow

Love Saves...

Eastville Park 26.05 / £75w/e Key Acts: Sampha, Loyle Carner, Fatboy Slim, Four Tet, Smerz, Shanti Celeste Love Saves The Day really know their crowd. Hot out of the gate and smashing it ever since, theirs is a sun-soaked, studentfriendly party, where glittered-up fest-folk come to bask in an array of producers, MCs and alt-pop songwriters.

Various Venues 07.07 / From £15adv

into a high-cap multi-venue blowout that gives the long-standing Liverpool event a serious run for its money. This year is an impressive celebration of the (rather bewildering) breadth of psych music, from heavy to hypnotising and all points in between.

The Downs Clifton Downs 01.09 / £49.50adv Key Acts: Noel Gallagher, Paul Weller, Orbital, The Heavy, Nadine Shah, Dream Wife Back after a successful opening year, The Downs returns to shine up September with a flurry of big-name acts in its eponymous green space. With 30,000 set to attend its two main stages, various bars and stalls, it’s not to be underestimated.

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Bristol Pride Key Acts: TBA More than just a music festival, Bristol Pride’s ‘Pride Day’ is the culmination of over a week of events – and decades of social change – in celebration of all things

Wilderness Cornbury Park, Ox. 02-05.08 / £179w/e

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Amphitheatre 14.07 / £TBA

LGBTQ. The 2018 lineup is still to be announced, but if past years are anything to go by we can expect a mix of pop new and old, some choice local additions and DJs late into the night. You do you, boo.

Follow @BristolPride for announcements

ArcTanGent Fernhill Farm 16-19.08 / £99w/e

Key Acts: Jon Hopkins, IAMDDB, Bastille, Nile Rodgers, !!!, Confidence Man

Key Acts: Glassjaw, Shellac, And So I Watch…, Giraffes? Giraffes!, Alcest

Just up from Bristol, on a rather beautiful old estate, sits the aptly-named Wilderness Festival. Their programme spans the arts, meaning that in addition to the those acts picked out above (and then some), you can also find panels, podcasts and gatherings on various subjects, theatre and more.

ArcTanGent know exactly what they’re doing. Their laser focus on math, post and alt-rock has called their tribe to great effect, with them regularly hosting UK exclusives for some of their niches’ biggest names. Taking place on the outskirts of Bristol, there’s really no excuse.

St. Paul’s Carnival Key Acts: TBA After a small stint of blank years, this sorely-missed Bristolian staple is back to smash out their 50th anniversary.

With much still TBA at time of writing,

Simple Things Various Venues Oct TBA / c. £40adv

St Paul’s 07.07 / Free

we can expect the usual celebration of Afro-Caribbean culture; meaning music, the carnival itself and (heck yes!) food.

We can’t wait to revel in the best of soundsystem culture and eat our bodyweight in jerk-everything.

Harbour Festival Harbourside 20-22.07 / Free

Key Acts: TBA

Key Acts: TBA

In many ways saving the best for last, new music behemoth Simple Things can never come around fast enough. With everything still currently TBA, we can only postulate the lineup, but if previous years are anything to go by it’ll be worth the wait indeed…

Harbour Festival is a true Bristolian tradition. No lineup out as yet, but with highlights always being on the independent bills from our friends at The Louisiana, Thekla and so on, we have the utmost trust that they’ll be booking our favourite Bristol acts.

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BEST OF THE UK...

Field Day

Brockwell Park, London 01-02.06 / From £84w/e

Key Acts: Erykah Badu, Fever Ray, Gilles Peterson, Four Tet, Mount Kimbie, IAMDDB The first year in their new home of Brockwell Park (bye bye Victoria), Field Day brings outdoor field-

Great Escape Brighton 17-19.05 / £65w/e

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based funtimes and small-town charm to the heart of London. See some of the best names in new music, then go spin a tombola at the village green before marvelling at some well-grown marrows. Other acts include Loyle Carner, Earl Sweatshirt, Daphni and Sassy 009.

Festival No. 6 Portmeirion 06-09.09 / £195w/e

Key Acts: Japanese Breakfast, Nilüfer Yanya, Pale Waves, Phoebe Bridgers, The Orielles, Yellow Days

Key Acts: Friendly Fires, Jessie Ware, Everything Everything, Django Django, Gengahr, Ride

What can be said about The Great Escape, probably the biggest parading of underground acts on British soil? The multi-venue fest to end all multi-venue fests, we’ll be out in force, not least as our sister magazine, London In Stereo is presenting a stage. Boom.

With a lineup that features a great number of past BLM features, Festival No. 6 is making a convincing case to forget who you are and immerse yourself in Portmerion, famed for being the eerily beautiful set for 60s TV show, The Prisoner.

Latitude Key Acts: Solange, Alt-J, Wolf Alice, Jon Hopkins, Mogwai, Alvvays, Superorganism, Tune-Yards People are always calling Latitude the best ‘big festival’, aren’t they? One look

Live at Leeds Various Venues 05.05 / £36adv

Henham Park, Suf. 12-15.07 / £197.50w/e

down the lineup each year leads us to draw similar conclusions – and 2018 is no exception. Joining our picks above are Ibeyi, Hinds, Breeders, IDLES, Benjamin Clementine, Parquet Courts, La Femme, Black Honey and more, proving that if you’re going to go big, go Latitude.

Electric Fields Dumfriesshire 30.0801.09 / £105w/e

Key Acts: The Vaccines, Circa Waves, Peace, Ash, The Horrors, British Sea Power

Key Acts: Young Fathers, Ghostpoet, Ezra Furman, Lady Leshurr, Shame, IDLES, Sunflower Bean

Live at Leeds always come out with a powerful band lineup for their ticket price, and this year sees some strong contenders. It’s a textbook city-wide guitar takeover where bang-for-buck is the name of the game. Sausage fest, mind.

As an English(wo)man, it’s easy to forget the insane beauty to be found in Scotland, available to us at all times, with no #hardborder crossings necessary. Well what better excuse to head north, than an eclectic lineup of new-music faves?

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DESTINATION FESTS...

Primavera

Barcelona 30.05-03.06 / £190w/e

Key Acts: Björk, Cigarettes After Sex, Kelela, Warpaint, Superorganism, Jay Som Every year we’re wholly overwhelmed by the Primavera lineup, and every year we’re

OFF Festival Katowice, Poland 03-05.08 / £60w/e

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somehow surprised they’ve done it again. Each one is a tour de force of new music and alternative faves, with additions to the above including Slowdive, Shanti Celeste, Fever Ray, The National, Mogwai, John Maus, Jon Hopkins, IDLES, Ibeyi, Hinds y mucho, mucho más.

Flow Festival Helsinki, Finland 10-12.08 / £172w/e

Key Acts: Aurora, Jon Hopkins, Aldous Harding, Grizzly Bear, John Maus, Marlon Williams.

Key Acts: Kendrick Lamar, Sigrid, Brockhamption, Mura Masa, Alma, St Vincent, Shame

Did you read that right? £60? For a full weekend of cutting-edge music? Welcome to Poland, my friends, where the vodka is cheap, the bands are plenty and the kielbasa is of disconcerting length. More TBA.

Mate, lineup though. Flow Festival’s poster reads like our Albums of the Year list and takes place in gorgeous Helsinki. Joining the above are Bonobo, Fever Ray, Lykke Li, Susanne Sundfør and loads more.

Finland has been keeping secrets, but won’t for much longer.

Melt Festival Key Acts: The XX, Princess Nokia, Alma, Cigarettes After Sex, Fatima Yamaha, Florence, Fever Ray Loads of great bands, cool, got it. But what exactly is Ferropolis, also known as

Ferropolis 2hrs from Berlin 13-15.07 / £114w/e

the ‘City of Iron’? Turns out this festival takes place on a freaky lake peninsula that holds an outdoor museum for all kinds of decaying, outmoded machinery.

Industrial, ja? Come and you’ll be rewarded with a forward-thinking lineup in a defiantly backwards setting.

For more...

Nova Batida LIsbon, Portugal 14-15.09 / £87w/e Key Acts: Little Dragon, Mount Kimbie, Maribou State, Gilles Peterson, Seun Kuti A multi-venue city festival in sunny, cobbled Lisbon, presented by famed London promoters, Soundcrash. In its very first year, 2018 is your chance to get in on the ground floor and feel smug when your friends are clamouring for tickets next time.

Head to BLM online for full previews and updates on our favourite festivals, and why not let us know which ones you’re most excited about via @BristolLiveMag? Here’s to a rad 2018 festival season.

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THU.05.APR.18

WED.25.APR.18

FRI.04.MAY.18

FRI.06.APR.18

SUN.06.MAY.18 THU.26.APR.18

SAT.07.APR.18 SAT.21.APR.18

MON.07.MAY.18 FRI.27.APR.18

WED.11.APR.18 SAT.21.APR.18

FRI.11.MAY.18

FRI.13.APR.18 MON.23.APR.18

TUE.01.MAY.18 SAT.12.MAY.18

WED.18.APR.18 TUE.24.APR.18

FRI.20.APR.18

TUE.24.APR.18

THU.03.MAY.18

FRI.04.MAY.18

THE HORRORS

DERMOT KENNEDY • PALE WAVES MARIKA HACKMAN • MAHALIA

TURNOVER • BAD SOUNDS • GUS DAPPERTON PLUS LOTS MORE ANNOUNCED ACROSS MULTIPLE VENUES

MANCHESTER FRIDAY 25TH MAY BRISTOL SATURDAY 26TH MAY NOTTINGHAM SUNDAY 27TH MAY

FB.COM/DOTTODOTFESTIVAL • #D2DFEST • DOTTODOTFESTIVAL.CO.UK • ALTTICKETS.COM

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THEKLA

LIVE LISTINGS The Grove East Mud Dock Bristol BS1 4RB theklabristol.co.uk | thekla.club F L theklabristol | I X theklabris

alt-tickets.co.uk • gigantic.com • bristolticketshop.co.uk

SOLD OUT

MONDAY 23RD APRIL

TUESDAY 3RD APRIL

SUNFLOWER BEAN

+ SORRY

TUESDAY 24TH APRIL

WEDNESDAY 4TH APRIL

THE LOW ANTHEM

HORACE ANDY SOLD OUT

ISAAC GRACIE

WEDNESDAY 25TH APRIL

THURSDAY 5TH APRIL

JUSTIN NOZUKA

SHAME

FRIDAY 27TH APRIL

FRIDAY 6TH APRIL

THE QUIREBOYS

+ BLACK ACES

WILL HEARD SATURDAY 28TH APRIL

SATURDAY 7TH APRIL

GENGAHR

BLACK FOXXES

+ BLOODY KNEES + EMILY ISHERWOOD

TUESDAY 1ST MAY TUESDAY 10TH APRIL

GIRL RAY

+ FAKE LAUGH

SOLD OUT

+ JACK LADDER

THURSDAY 12TH APRIL

NOT3S FRIDAY 13TH APRIL

THE SEX PISSED DOLLS MONDAY 16TH APRIL

WIKI TUESDAY 17TH APRIL

FENNE LILY WEDNESDAY 18TH APRIL

AQUILO SOLD OUT

THURSDAY 19TH APRIL

ALFA MIST FRIDAY 20TH APRIL

NERINA PALLOT + CATTLE & CANE SATURDAY 21ST APRIL

THE HARA

+ THE HIP PRIESTS WEDNESDAY 2ND MAY

WEDNESDAY 11TH APRIL

ALEX CAMERON

ZEKE

WE ARE SCIENTISTS THURSDAY 3RD MAY

WE CAME AS ROMANS + ALAZKA + POLARIS FRIDAY 4TH MAY

PROTOMARTYR SATURDAY 5TH MAY

SAM BROOKES SUNDAY 6TH MAY

MOON HOOCH MONDAY 7TH MAY

SEUN KUTI & EGYPT 80 TUESDAY 8TH MAY

PINKSHINYULTRABLAST

+ TVAM + INSOMNICHORD THURSDAY 10TH MAY

GANG OF YOUTHS FRIDAY 11TH MAY

WEEDEATER 33

New Releases

Records cut, pressed & out this month.

Fenne Lily On Hold Self-release | 06.04

While Fenne Lily may have been branded a ‘folk’ artist early on, her debut album On Hold proves that, although the influence is still there, she’s working with a subtle blend of new sounds and textures.

From opening track ‘Car Park’, to recent single ‘Three Oh Nine’, Fenne manages to incorporate poignant lyricism, spine tingling-vocals and varied

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guitarwork in a way that blurs the line between folk, indie and ambient.

‘The Hand You Deal’ perhaps highlights her range most, echoing the sounds of London Grammar with its haunting vocals and arpeggiation.

Meanwhile, current single, ‘On Hold’, shows a grittier side to a Bristol artist we know and love, with a rhythm section that pushes forward and overdriven lead lines that even touch on grunge.

It all combines to bring a welcome moment of catharsis to an album that is otherwise defiantly mellow and melancholic. While there is no one standout on the album, Fenne Lily’s personality and faultless vocals tie together a record which maintains your attention. Hannah Rooke

UNKNOWN MORTAL ORCHESTRA SEX & FOOD Jagjaguwar | 06.04

Sex and food are true symbols for our society’s ability to turn primal human needs into consumer goods, a theme dear to Ruban Nielson, and one predominant on his latest album of the same name. With titles such as ‘Major League Chemicals’, ‘American Guilt’ and ‘The Internet of Love (That Way)’, it’s a clear record of our time.

Recorded in Portland with Jacob Portrait and Kody Nielson, but inspired by Ruban’s wandering the Earth, UMO’s fourth LP is a compendium of their experimentation to date, expanding their love for multifaceted psychedelia to the realms of funk and rock, with open guitar tunings, filtered vocals and counterpointed rhythms. An irresistible portrait of the contemporary world. Guia Cortassa

GOAT GIRL SELF-TITLED Rough Trade | 06.04

The long-awaited, self-titled debut from London’s Goat Girl sees the quartet cram nineteen tracks into forty minutes. Taking their home city as inspiration, Goat Girl draw influences from the capital’s rich musical history while evoking its creative excitement and seedy underbelly.

The grimey blues of debut single ‘Country Sleaze’ is the album’s highlight, which sadly comes to an end in less than two minutes. Such brevity is a theme, with a lot of tracks sounding like they could do with a little more work to turn them from ideas into something more fully realised. Goat Girl makes a decent listen, but struggles to demand your attention for too long.

Tim Ellis

SLONK / FLAT RUFUS SHERRIN SPLIT EP Self-release | Out Now

Better known by his pseudonym, Slonk, bedroom artist and Bristol native Joe Sherrin is renowned for his signature lo-fi sound and experimental style.

This month, he releases a brand-new split EP with his brother, Harry Sherrin (aka Flat Rufus), highlighting the raw, emotional intensity of the two siblings’ work.

Dreamy and upbeat, Slonk opener ‘Ladies Mile’ blends cheerful melodies with a hypnotic distortion, contrasted heavily by the haunting loops and dreadful atmosphere of ‘Familiar Air’. The second half fades in courtesy of Flat Rufus, with heartwrenching EP closer ‘Pixels’ taking a subtle spoken-word approach with post-rock influences.

Kelly Ronaldson 35

HALF WAIF LAVENDER Cascine | 27.04

Pulsing with ethereal synths, heady drums and rich, tender vocals, Lavender is a record of exhilarating, magical grandeur.

Imbued with an unguarded intimacy, the tracks purvey the pensive and insightful musings of Half Waif, aka Nandi Rose Plunkett, on the transience of life, relationships and the differing phases and fractures we experience within all of this.

Crafting lofty electronic soundscapes that glisten with delicate intricate melodies and effervesce with pounding, hypnotic beats, all embellished with fluctuating, brooding glitchy detail, Half Waif purveys her inimitable sonic authority. Every track on Lavender possesses a compelling blend of emotive fragility and soaring defiance that makes this record a deeply human and spellbinding work of art. Kezia Cochrane

CONFIDENCE MAN CONFIDENT MUSIC FOR...

Heavenly Recordings | 13.04

If long winter evenings oppress you, merely invest in Australian disco-kooks, Confidence Man’s debut album right now.

You need never be seasonally affected again. Janet Planet, Sugar Bones and their mysteriously-veiled bandmates could possess even the most dancefloor-averse amongst you. You’ll gyrate ‘round your kitchen like you’re in Studio 54.

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Think Basement Jaxx, New Young Pony Club, spurts of LMFAO and Jemaine from Flight of the Conchords. ‘Better Sit Down Boy’ defies being sedentary. ‘Bubblegum’ layers life goals over a limb-livening, funked-up beat. On ‘Boyfriend,’ Planet sings, “My boyfriend talks too much / Too much about our love / Our love is not enough,” proving that it’s not all fluorescent ear candy. Jon Kean

ALEXIS TAYLOR BEAUTIFUL THING Domino | 20.04

On his latest effort, the Hot Chip frontman blends reassuring familiarity with risky innovation to distance himself far enough from his band’s music whilst remaining artistically recognisable. Ambitious in length and scope, Taylor expertly crafts an alluringly murky world, complemented but not reliant on his distinctive and hypnotic vocals.

Charged with thumping basslines and moody synths throughout, Beautiful Thing is Taylor’s most personal effort yet, sonically reflective of the versatility of his life.

The bombastic titular track is ready-made for the club at 2AM, while ‘Oh Baby’ is full of jangling joy and ‘A Hit Song’ is an electric ballad crafted with a scarcelyfound precision. Will Perkins

L.A. SALAMI THE CITY OF BOOTMAKERS Sunday Best | 03.04

Lyrically, many albums shower you with flurries of abstraction and swell with powerful emotions, but it is rare to be delivered lengthier tales or developed messages.

That’s mainly because it isn’t easy for a songwriter to do (not do well, anyway). Bob Dylan does it. Leonard Cohen did it. Once you’ve heard L.A. Salami’s second album, you’ll concur that he is a troubadour of the very same pedigree.

Mixing a Dylanesque full-band, with a solo acoustic sound, he documents modern society, through an all-you-can-eat buffet of existential topics such as immigration, terrorism, spirituality and hipster gentrification. There’s balance and beauty in his poetry. Unexpected perspectives abound. It’s meaty stuff indeed. Jon Kean

ISLAND FEELS LIKE AIR Frenchkiss | 06.04

ISLAND’s debut LP is a consistent project encapsulating lead singer, Rollo Doherty’s iconic gravelly tones with fast-paced rhythmics and twinkling guitars. The band sits in the indie-pop-rock sphere, set apart by darker tones and a degree of cinematic atmosphere.

Tracks like ‘Something Perfect’ and ‘Interlude’ offer a mystical element which is beautiful, a word not obviously applicable to Doherty’s vocals.

Meanwhile, ‘Horizon’ and ‘We Can Go Anywhere’ have a slower pace with dreamier strands of their iconic percussion and strings. Emotive, dark lyrics flow throughout, reminiscent of previously-released tracks with their references to mortality and religion.

This album solidifies what fans have come to expect, but also features some delightfully unexpected moments. Eloise Davis 37

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HINDS I DON’T RUN Lucky Number | 06.04

Following the success of their debut record Leave Me Alone, this month marks the return of Spanish indie-pop quartet Hinds and the release of their outstanding second album, I Don’t Run. Despite the band keeping their signature lo-fi garage undertones, Hinds’ sound is far more refined this time around, portraying their enthusiasm for this unapologetic new start

and highlighting the progress that the band have made since their breakthrough debut.

Here, the band light-heartedly address their development in dreamy pop single release ‘New for You’, while the latter half of the album presents a barefaced, unapologetic Hinds, through tracks such as ‘Finally Floating’ and ‘Ma Nuit’.

Kelly Ronaldson

A PLACE TO BURY STRANGERS PINNED Dead Oceans | 13.04

Pinned is the fifth album from Brooklyn’s A Place to Bury Strangers, a band known for their loud live shows where psychedelic drones get blasted with ear-splitting feedback. Guitars that sound like power tools are joined by menacing post-punk basslines and motorik drumming to build a sense of drama.

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The volume is pretty relentless until the album finally lets up with the drowsy shoegaze comedown of ‘I Know I have Done Bad Things’. Plenty of noisy bands have been inspired by the Jesus and Mary Chain’s Psychocandy LP, but by choosing not to turn down the volume, They almost manage to capture the visceral excitement of their live shows. Tim Ellis

ISAAC GRACIE SELF-TITLED EMI | 13.04

We all have those albums for when the rain is tapping against the window at an alarmingly consistent rate, the sky a sweatpants grey, with the idea of paradise an obscenely oversized blanket and a cuppa. This is an album to play on a day like that and, with April showers around the corner, it’s a timely release.

Two years have passed since her last release, and this time has given Gracie a chance to develop as an artist.

The demos which made the cut are unrecognisable, due in part to the professional production now on hand. Hopefully there won’t be another two year wait for more music. Callum Stevens

TOM MISCH GEOGRAPHY Beyond The Groove | 06.04

Tom Misch, London beatsmaker turned soloist draws on a spectrum of genres and instruments to produce an album that is him at his best. From the face-smushing basslines in ‘Before Paris,’ to the old-school summer vibes of ‘Cos I Love You’ and the gentle romance of ‘You’re On Your Mind,’ this album encapsulates a variety of moods and influences whilst retaining that breezy Misch feel.

Where he may lack lyrical genius, Misch does not lack talented friends and artistic license. Collaborating with soulful Poppy Ajudha on an upbeat heartbreak hit and soft rappers like Goldlink elsewhere, as well as carefully choosing obscure spoken-word samples, it all adds another dimension to the otherwise instrumental productions. Geography is sure to satisfy summer desires. Eloise Davis

EELS DECONSTRUCTION PIAS | 06.04

It’s time for another visit to ol’ uncle E’s house, and you just know he’s going to tell the same story he always does.

You know the one: it has the odd dramatic flourish (‘The Epiphany’, ‘The Deconstruction’), a little gruff rasping (‘Bone Dry’), those dark yet cutesy phrases you let him get away with (“These walls are unforgiving as the night is black / World can be a real mean place when no-one’s got your back”) and that mix of dark commentary and positivity you’ve always loved. The trouble is, we’ve been calling in at Uncle E’s house since 1996 now. Aren’t you starting to wish he knew a few other tales?

Adam Brooks

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BRISTOL BECAUSE...

City chat with our fave people.

with: Richard Walsh, 1% of One Promotions and Art Is Hard Records.

When did you first move to Bristol?

I’ve been here permanently since January of 2017, but have been coming back and forth to the city for years now.

Who’s your top Bristol artist at the moment?

There are too many brilliant new artists to mention but my current favourites are goth kids Wych Elm, scrappy punks Heavy Lungs, and Oliver Wilde and Nicholas Stevenson’s beautiful, Art Is Hard-approved don’t-call-it-a-side-project project, Oro Swimming Hour.

What are your favourite eats around town?

Find me in The Crafty Egg for brekkies and Pieminister for din dins.

What’s your favourite thing about the city?

Everybody knows everybody.

And your least favourite?

Everybody knows everybody.

Who are you most excited about bringing to Bristol with 1%?

More so than a particular artist, it’s the type of artist that excites me. There’s a range of international, alternative lo-fi and UK DIY acts that haven’t been able to make a stop through the city for a variety of reasons, something myself and several other flourishing promoters are making a good effort to change.

Having said that, the week-long run of Girl Ray (10th), Alex Cameron (11th), Florist (8th) and Pillow Queens (9th) is something to get excited about...

Richard co-founded Art Is Hard in 2010 and has been promoting since the tender age of seventeen.

He’s been bringing acts to Bristol under 1% of One since 2016. More at: 1percentofone.co.uk

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YOUR

MUSIC CAREER STARTS HERE

9

COURSES

GUITAR • BASS • DRUMS • VOCALS • SONGWRITING MUSIC PRODUCTION • MUSIC BUSINESS • EVENT MANAGEMENT MUSIC JOURNALISM

STATE-OF-THE-ART FACILITIES UNRIVALLED CONNECTIONS TO THE MUSIC INDUSTRY EUROPE’S MOST CONNECTED MUSIC COLLEGE

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BIMM.CO.UK/BRISTOL

Dear Dick The best bad advice for your musical problems...

Dear Dick, I’m a festival virgin and I’ve heard so many horror stories. But what’s the worst that could really happen to me out there?

Tim, Kingswood

Hedonism is Hell. Not everyone is cut out for making merry and there are many dangers lurking in the mud. There’s salmonella in the food, dysentery in the bogs and the campsites are full of crabs.

Here are the three most terrifying prospects of revelling…

‘Too much’ - Taking too much, drinking too much, eating too much, spending too much and talking too much are all fundamental cogs running the machine of fun, but be the organ grinder, not the chump. If you’re not careful you’ll only be only able to see in black and white, watching nothing but Breaking Bad for five straight days, noon to night.* ‘Losing your tent’ - A man’s home is his castle, and a woman’s for that matter. A

tent, not so much. If you stick around to the end you’re guaranteed some new digs, but be careful not to be swept up by the hordes of travellers rummaging through your carrier bags of old wet wipes and empty crisp packets. You’ll end up going full circle, living in the middle of the roundabout near yellow gate entrance B. ‘Seeing David Guetta’ - In the same way smoking more cigarettes increases the likelihood of cancer, the more festivals you attend... *based on true events

Do you have a question?

Email dick@bristollivemagazine.com 45

In Case You Missed It

Live from last month.

Insecure Men @ Thekla | 9th March Words: Ross Jones | Photo: Rowan Allen People will always scrutinise Saul Adamczewski’s work against his musical origins. Fat White Family emerged from the dingy Brixton pub they called home and shared their sense of vitriol and selfcontempt with the world freely. Yet now, we hear understated emotion on Insecure Men’s 2018 release. Tonight, within the cold iron cladding of Thekla, Saul, Ben Romans-Hopcraft [Childhood] and six friends provide a set that explores ample warmth, but ensures that an essence of menacing disquiet remains.

The group sound excellent as an eightpiece, with a rich, full live sound. Saul’s lyrics resonate with contemptuous, deadpan wit. Throughout the set, he is cheeky in his delivery, flashing a gleaming 46

smile at the band around him between songs and losing none of that sardonic edge in his vocals.

It’s particularly impactful when they delve into songs based on personalities past and present, like opener ‘Cliff Has Left The Building’ or ‘Whitney Houston and I’ that bookend the set. ‘I Don’t Wanna Dance (With My Baby)’ compels the crowd to gyrate. When just Saul and Ben performed a few weeks prior at Rough Trade, they showed a scaled-back sentimentality on tracks like ‘Teenage Toy’ and ‘The Saddest Man In Penge’. An eight-piece does not convey the same delicacy.

Insecure Men are an irresistible, sleazy joy to behold. Expect them to be a festival highlight come summertime.

The Bristol Fringe 32 Princess Victoria Street, BS8 4BZ The Canteen 80 Stokes Croft, BS1 3QY Colston Hall & Lantern Colston Street, BS1 5AR The Crofters Rights 117-119 Stokes Croft, BS1 3PY

The Louisiana Wapping Road, BS1 6UA Marble Factory / Motion 74-78 Avon Street, BS2 0PX Mother’s Ruin 7-9 St. St Nicholas St, BS1 1UE Mr Wolf’s 32, St Nicholas St, BS1 1TG

Exchange 72-73 Old Market, BS2 OEJ

No. 1 Harbourside 1 Canon’s Rd, Bristol BS1 5UH

The Fleece 12 St. Thomas Sreet, BS1 6JJ

O2 Academy 1-2 Frogmore Street, BS1 5NA

The Gallimaufry 26-28 The Promenade, BS7 8AL

The Old Market Assembly 25 West Street, BS2 0DF

The Golden Lion 244 Gloucester Rd, BS7 8NZ

Rough Trade Bristol 3 New Bridewell, BS1 2QD

The Grain Barge Mardyke Warf, BS8 4RU

SWX Bristol 15 Nelson Street, BS1 2JY

The Gryphon 41 Colston Street, BS1 5AP Hy Brasil 7-9 Baldwin Street, BS1 1RU

Thekla The Grove, BS1 4RB The Thunderbolt 124 Bath Road, BS4 3ED

The Kingsdown Vaults 31 Kingsdown Parade, BS6 5UE

Tobacco Factory Raleigh Road, BS3 1TF

The Lanes 22 Nelson Street, BS1 2LE

Trinity Centre Trinity Road, BS2 0NW 47

Ti c k e t s f r o m W e G o t Ti c k e t s . c o m

Live Listings with support from:

Simple, honest ticketing.

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W e G o t Ti c k e t s . c o m | S i m p l e , h o n e s t t i c k e t i n g

Ti c k e t s f r o m W e G o t Ti c k e t s . c o m

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W e G o t Ti c k e t s . c o m | S i m p l e , h o n e s t t i c k e t i n g

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New School vol.1 the free Bristol label download 2017-18

Get it at:ewschool om/n

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bristollivemagzine.c

Rehearsal Listings...

Dockside Studios Fully equipped in central Bristol. Free parking.

No fixed booking times. Equipment hire and storage facilities. Open ‘til 11pm (Sat ‘til 7pm). mail@docksidestudios.co.uk • 0117 934 9994 Albion Dockside Estate, BS1 6UT

Factory Studios Where music is made! Eleven practice rooms, a recording studio and great discounts for student and regular bands. Book by phone or online. info@factorystudios.co.uk // 0117 952 5655 Unit 23, Maze Street, BS5 9TQ

Firebird Studios By musicians for musicians. Friendly, helpful staff, six affordable rooms, onsite parking. Food and drink available. Book by phone or online. info@firebirdstudios.co.uk • 0117 972 1830 21-23 Emery Rd, BS4 5PF

Maverick Studios Rehearsal and recording (audio & video). Large 30’ stage, dedicated sound-booth and control room available. All rooms with PA and drum kit. maverickstudiosbristol@gmail.com • 07833 691 741 Office Tower, Foundry Lane, BS5 7UZ

RS Studios Largest independent rehearsal and recording complex in the Southwest. 18 individual, custom designed & built sound-proof studios. rsstudios@hotmail.com • 0117 971 1495 47-57 Feeder Road, BS2 0SE

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Thoughts Why Chat Through a Gig? by

Jon Kean, Live Editor

Imagine you’ve gone to see Talking Heads, supported by Talk Talk and an excitinglyreformed The Gossip. An unlikely combo, but what is likely in our hypothetical gig is that the subtle arrangement of a song will necessitate that the volume drops, maybe involving briefly-deployed silence for dramatic contrast.

Except there isn’t bloody silence. The second the volume drops from any significant clangour, the room is awash with a wall of audience shanter.

Supporting Lord Huron recently, Flyte delivered a stunning a cappella version of Alvvays’ ‘Archie, Marry Me’. I imagine it was stunning, anyhow, based on what I could actually hear. The only likely response ‘Archie’ could have given to the important request contained within the song would have been, ‘I didn’t catch that. Could you speak up a bit?’

Are we just being complete no-brainers? Are we short on manners, selfishly ignoring the bits we don’t know well? Are we being self-centred, talking out loud because everyone needs to know what we’re thinking the minute it crosses our minds, complete wands with no inner monologues? Even when the volume is cranked up, do the people within our immediate radius want to filter the band’s desirable noise through our unfiltered gobshite?

Interactivity seems to be reaching a whole new level. Having bought a ticket, have we bought the right to provide the sound, too? Isn’t the premise of live music events that someone else makes noise and we make judicious use of our eyes and ears? Imagine going to a big football match and invading one goalmouth, mid-contest, for a game of three-and-in.

We should bite the bullet and mic everyone up as they enter the venue; then everyone else can hear what they’ve got to say. If someone is still leaking verbal diarrhoea while The Gossip attempt to deliver their version of ‘Careless Whisper’, at least the band can stop and give the aforementioned goober a well-chosen ‘Fourletter Word’ instead.

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Find Jon’s work both in print and online at BLM, as well as Louder Than War and others.

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