Nitelife February 2018 by NITELIFE

COVER SHOT: DOMINIKA SCHEIBINGER

INFLUENTIAL VENUES // ESSENTIAL EVENTS AND PARTIES // MONTHLY GUIDE

O FEBRUARY - 2018

HOSPITALITY DNB X T H E B L AST P R ESEN T

S AT U R D AY 2 4 T H F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 8 THE BAT H & W EST SH OW GROUN D STAGE ONE: THE BLAST

J H US

SHY FX HYPE B2B HAZARD FLAVA D HOLY GOOF DARKZY CHIMPO B2B SAM BINGA & TRIGGA THE BLAST DJS

VERY SPECIAL GUESTS

M Y NU LEN G & DREAD MC HOSTE D BY: E KS M AN / B RU- C / STAM I N A

STAGE TWO: HOSPITALITY

H IG H CON T RAST

DANNY BYRD LONDON ELEKTRICITY S.P.Y METRIK KINGS OF THE ROLLERS NU:LOGIC ETHERWOOD KEENO

SPECIAL GUEST

DIMEN SION HOSTED BY: DYNAMITE / GQ / RUTHLESS / INJA

STAGE THREE: DRUM&BASSARENA X ON A MISSION X RUN

SASASAS

THE PROTOTYPES MAMPI SWIFT B2B CRISSY CRISS KASRA B2B RAN DALL LOGAN D FT. EVIL B ANNIX B2B TURNO D*MIN DS RIPRAW & BROOKSIE N EWTON & IN NA

SPECIAL GUESTS

FA BIO & G ROOV ERIDER

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HIGHLIGHTS

best events this month 16-19

COMPETITION

My Nu Leng & M8s 20

PROFILES

poisonous birds 21 Verb T & Pitch 92 21

LOCAL TALENT

way out west 22-23

PREVIEW

subloaded X tectonic 100 24-25 cosmic soul collective 26-27

BEHIND THE SCENES WITH

February 2018

Electric Harmony 28-29

FEATURED VENUES

51 Stokes Croft 32 O2 Academy 33 colston hall 34 Crofters Rights 35 exchange 36

The Fleece 37 The Full Moon 38 GALLIMAUFRY 39 The Golden Lion 40 hy-brasil 41

the lanes 42 the lantern 43 MArble Factory 44 MotherSâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Ruin 45 Mr Wolfs 46

THE OLD BOOKSHOP 47 swx 48 THekla 49 to the moon 50 Trinity 51

Photography: Dominika Scheibinger / Lukasz Kaminski / Martin Thompson / Ania Shrimpton / Khali Photography / Soul Media / Jessica Bartolini / shotaway.com / Leora Bermeister www.nitelifeonline.com | facebook.com/nitelifebristol | info@nitelifeonline.com | Tel: 07590 993 523 Director Carlos Javier

Editor Rachel Morris Commercial Manager Jodie Guichard Art Director Steve Hughes Features Abi Lewis, Georgie Partington Photo Editor Dominika Scheibinger Print Stephens & George Distribution Javier Fox

8 // SELECTION

SELECTION // 9

10 // SELECTION

SELECTION // 11

12 // SELECTION

SELECTION // 13

FEBRUARY 4TH 2018 / 1– 5 PM

A LIVE NATION PRESENTATION BY ARRANGEMENT WITH TKO

BRISTOL DBS MUSIC SCHOOL

17 ST THOMAS STREET, BRISTOL, BS1 6JS

plus special guests +

NATIVE MEETUP : BRISTOL

tue 6 FEBRUARY 2018

O2 ACADEMY bristol

LIVENATION.CO.UK | TICKETMASTER.CO.UK

CONNECT, COLLABORATE AND SHARE KNOWLEDGE, WITH NATIVE MEETUPS AT DBS. POWERED BY NATIVE INSTRUMENTS. REGISTER FOR YOUR FREE TICKETS AND FIND OUT MORE ABOUT NATIVE MEETUPS BY JOINING THE FACEBOOK PAGE HTTPS://BITLY.COM/NM-BRS

1. NATIVE MEETUP: BRISTOL

WORKSHOPS, MUSIC MAKING TIPS AND TRICKS, COLLABORATIVE PRODUCTION SESSIONS

2. ALIEN ANT FARM

3. SHAKE

6 Feb // £20.75 // O2 Academy

11 Feb // Free // Rough Trade

AAF, SOIL, LOCAL H

4 Feb // Free // dBs Music

flyer wall

PRINTS, ZINES, COMICS, PATCHES, PINS, TEES

flyer wall

THU 22 FEBRUARY

O2 ACADEMY BRISTOL NEW ALBUM A DEEPER CUT RELEASED 16.02.18 LIVENATION.CO.UK | TICKETMASTER.CO.UK

A LIVE NATION & FRIENDS PRESENTATION IN ASSOCIATION WITH UTA

4. THE TEMPERANCE MOVEMENT

THE TEMPERANCE MOVEMENT, THOMAS WYNN, THE BELIEVERS

5. BANG’S 15TH BIRTHDAY BASH

6. SWINGROWERS

23 Feb // £5 // Exchange

9 March // £14 // Exchange

BANG DJ’S, LIVE BANDS, FANZINES

22 Feb // £17.73 // O2 Academy

flyer wall

SWINGROWERS, SUPPORT TBA

flyer wall

7. CROWHURST

8. ELECTRIC SWING CIRCUS

9. THE CORRESPONDENTS

22 March // £7 // Exchange

29 March // £16 // The Fleece

13 April // £13.50 // Exchange

CROWHURST, ATRAGON, AGE DECAY, GLACIAL PACE

ELECTRIC SWING CIRCUS, MR TEA, THE MINIONS

THE CORRESPONDENTS, DJ CHRIS ARNOLD

16 // HIGHLIGHTS

1. BRING YOUR OWN BRASS + ANDY V + DJ DAHYBRID Love a good brass band mash-up of your favourite hip hop tunes and tropical flavours? Well look no further. With a generous portion of bass, Bring Your Own Brass putd on a show that’s not for the faint hearted. Plus Andy V, DJ Dahybrid and Stevie Bear. 2 Feb // 8.30pm – 2am // £4 // The Full Moon & Attic Bar

2. JIMI NEEDLES FULL LIVE BAND

Well known scratch, DJ Jimi Needles will be touching down at The Lanes with his full live band as part of their first tour. Consisting of jazz and blues musicians, this band will bring a party filled with rocking funk and electronica, with a hip hop edge. 2 Feb // 7.30pm – 11pm // £5 // The Lanes

3. MOGWAI

Twenty years on from their debut release, few bands have been as consistent as Mogwai. Their ninth studio album, Every Country’s Sun, is a well-crafted return from a band that has rarely deviated from brilliance. Moving between moments of pensive tension and brutal clashes, they deliver a graceful serenity to their audience. 3 Feb // 7pm – 11pm // Sold Out // Colston Hall

4. BAD LIFE CHOICES CLUB - KARAOKE

After the festive sing song, To The Moon look forward to bringing you the next BLCC crew event. Expect singing, dancing, prizes, drink offers and lots of fun. Much more than your average karaoke night. 3 Feb // 8pm – 12am // Free // To The Moon

5. DBS NATIVE INSTRUMENTS MEETUP

Join dBs Music for the first Native Meetup of 2018. Take part in hands-on workshops, learn music-making tips and tricks, and join collaborative production sessions. Open to all abilities and ages, register for your free ticket and meet like-minded producers and enthusiasts. 4 Feb // 1pm – 5pm // Free // dBs Music

6. FORTH & BACK: HOSTED BY MADLY

Golden era hip hop house band Forth & Back will be taking centre stage at The Gallimaufry, accompanied by Cassie Madly. Reigniting a time when it seemed every hip hop single reinvented the genre, Forth & Back will power through the best tunes from the best era. 4 & 18 Feb // 8pm – 12am // Free // The Gallimaufry

7. REVINYL SESSIONS 053

Revinyl Sessions returns for another eclectic night of sound from artists who share appreciation for vinyl. New World Audio signed DJ Squarewave will be bringing you techno-dynamic performances, following his intuition to give what the dance floor wants. 7 Feb // 10pm – 2am // Free // Cosies

8. GLADE MARIE - J DILLA TRIBUTE

Paying homage to one of the greatest producers that ever lived, Resident DJ Glade Marie will be taking No.51 on a musical journey through Dilla’s catalogue - including original samples, anthems and remixes. 8 Feb // 10pm – 2am // Free // No.51 Stokes Croft

9. THE BAREFOOT BANDIT

Devon based collective The Barefoot Bandit are masters at getting the crowd to the dance floor with their roots, reggae and dub infused style. Come on down, grab a drink and have a dance. With free entry, it would be rude not to. 9 Feb // 10pm – 12am // Free // The Golden Lion

10. TORNADO WALLACE + SOUL SHAKE RESIDENTS

Get ready for an intimate evening at The Old Bridewell Prison Cells from Tornado Wallace. Bringing a flawless mix of electro, disco and heavy stompers, this Berlin based DJ will blow your socks off. Plus a grooving set from Soul Shake Residents. Get your tickets now. 9 Feb // 10pm – 3am // £8 – £12 // The Island

11. THE BON JOVI EXPERIENCE

With over 20 years of performing under their belts, The Bon Jovi experience is undoubtedly the world’s leading Bon Jovi tribute act. Join them at The Fleece this February for a chance to hear some of your favourite Bon Jovi songs live on stage. 9 Feb // 7pm – 11pm // £13 // The Fleece

12. EMINENT PRESENTS: THE KELLY TWINS

Eminent are back with their first show of the year, and what better place than The Crofters Rights. This time round, local talent The Kelly Twins will be taking over as purveyors of underground electronic music. Plus support from Eminent’s newest resident, Tramma. 9 Feb // 11pm – 3am // £4 // The Crofters Rights

HIGHLIGHTS // 17

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13. HAUS

16. CHICA BOOM! DJ ROCKA LULA

14. IGLOOGHOST (AV SET) + KAI WHISTON

17. ROBERT J HUNTER + JUKES + ALDO VANUCCI

5-piece a North Londoners share a mutual love for rock, hip hop and electronic influences. Setting foot on Hy-Brasil’s intimate stage this February, HAUS promise to perform their catchy hybrid material, as part of their 2018 Own Blood tour. 9 Feb // 7pm – 10pm // £7 // Hy-Brasil

Electronic music pioneer Iglooghost is one of today’s most inventive producers, gaining attention from Clash, Pitchfork and Loud and Quiet. His programmed beats fizz with kinetic energy and psychedelic twists as he borrows from jazz, grime and computer games to deliver tracks from his latest EP. 10 Feb 2018 // 8pm – 11pm // £9.14 incl. bf // The Lantern

15. ALTERNATE: MALA & COKI + DUB PHIZIX & STRATEGY + MORE

This is when your year will really kick off. Join Alternate this February for what will be their heaviest party to date, powered by Sinai Sound. Scattered across six rooms, look forward to an assortment of sounds from Mala & Coki, Aliz Perez, Jehst and more. 10 Feb // £18.50/£22.50 // 10pm – 5am // Lakota & Coroner’s Court

Finger snappin’, foot tappin’ DJ Rocka Lula will grace To The Moon with a veritable cornucopia of music. Be prepared for a night of soulful beats, daisy age hip hop, acid jazz and disco, with a few wild cards thrown in to keep the party going. 10 Feb // 8pm – 12am // Free // To The Moon

Dirty rhythm & blues from the depths of Alderney. Island born Robert J. Hunter combines his gruff and powerful voice with the wild thud of overdriven blues guitar. Plus support from cool indie-rockers Jukes, and DJ Aldo Vanucci spinning tunes into the early hours. 10 Feb // 10pm – 4am // £3 – £4// Mr. Wolf’s

18. HOLLIE COOK

The phenomenal Hollie Cook returns to Bristol this February for another reggae heavy show. Her unique delicate vocals melt softly into any instrumental, and captures the true essence of her charming charisma. This will be a warming performance you won’t want to miss. 13 Feb // 7pm – 11pm // £12.50 // Thekla

FEBRUARY

HIGHLIGHTS Brought to you by

18 // HIGHLIGHTS

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19. VALENTINES SPECIAL

22. HELL IS FOR HEROES

26. SUBLOADED: TECTONIC 100

20. FIVE10’S FUNKED UP FESTIVAL OF LOVE W/ JUST JACK

23. SELBY AND THE DHARMA BLITZ + LIL BO SELECTA

27. WILEY

This Valentine’s, Dazed bring their biggest ever garage lineup with So Solid Crew, Shapes, Sweet Female Attitude and more, plus very special guest MC Devvo – who is coming out of retirement for one night only. 14 Feb // 10pm - 4am // £5 - £10 // Motio

Everybody say love! For this year’s Valentines Day Five10 will be bringing you a fun filled evening with some of the best house sounds from the Just Jack guys. Spread across two venues, this night will give you everything you desire this Valentines day. Get ready for that warm fuzzy feeling. 14 Feb // 10pm – 2am // £3 // Crofters Rights & The Love Inn

21. CONCRETE JUNGYALS: VALENTINES SPECIAL

Roses are red, violets are blue, Concrete Jungyals have the party for you! Get on over to Hy-Brasil for some house, techno and disco flavours from some of the best DJs involved in the underground scene. Including Amy Amor, Luce, Kiia and A-Bee. 15 Feb // 9pm – 2am // £3 // Hy-Brasil

Celebrating their 15th anniversary, Hell Is For Heroes will be hitting O2 Academy as part of ‘The Neon Handshake’ tour. With support from A and Vex Red, this show will transport you back to your teenage youth, when only hardcore music and tight jeans mattered. 16 Feb // 7pm – 11pm // £20 // O2 Academy

Alternative hip hop, funk project Selby and the Dharma Blitz merge arresting lyricism with a unique musical direction. Fusing together folkloric storytelling with infectious groove, this eight-piece barrage of Brand and rap poetry animate audiences with their sculpted live performances. Joined by resident DJ Lil Bo Selecta. 16 Feb // // 10pm – 4am // £3 – £4 // Mr Wolfs

24. FRANZ FERDINAND

The iconic Scottish indie rockers are back with a new album, and to celebrate the release, Franz Ferdinand will be heading to Bristol as part of their album tour. Come and witness their live showcase of new material, plus favourites from their loved back catalogue. 21 Feb // 7pm – 11pm // £27.50 // O2 Academy

25. SŒUR + GOAN DOGS

An intimate performance stripping back all the heavy noise, featuring two of Bristol’s finest acts currently on the UK circuit. Come in, get cosy and indulge yourself in a night of beautiful acoustic sets. 22 Feb // 8pm – 11pm // Free // The Old Bookshop

That’s right, Subloaded returns. Celebrating the 100th release on TectonicRecordings this will be a night of serious dubplate pressure and vibes. Brought to you by Teachings in Dub and powered by the mighty Sinai Sound System. Bass weight guaranteed. 23 Feb // 10pm – 5am // £7/ – £13 // Trinity

Award winning recording artist and producer Wiley knows a thing or two about putting on a good show. The godfather of grime captures his audiences attention with rapping finesse and flawless influential instrumentals. Wiley promises to deliver one hell of a show. 23 Feb // 6.30pm – 10pm // £19.50 // Motion

28. KELELA

Kelela comes to Bristol to deliver her first headline performance in the city. With her powerful experimental RnB sound and critically acclaimed debut LP Take Me Apart catching everyone’s attention, this promises to be a memorable show. 23 Feb // 7pm – 10pm // £14.50 // SWX

29. BANG’S 15TH BIRTHDAY BASH

Get ready for an explosion of live bands, photo galleries and fanzines. Plus, vinyl mash ups of underground indie, new wave, northern soul, ska, punk and more. Its time to kick out the jams. 23 Feb // 8pm – 2am // £15 // Exchange

HIGHLIGHTS // 19

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30. DBS MUSIC DEGREE COURSES OPEN DAY

If you want to further your music knowledge and take the next step in progressing in your music career, then take a trip down to dBs Music’s open day. Explore the courses on offer and check out their outstanding recording studios and facilities. It’s never to late to educate. 24 Feb // 11am – 3pm // Free // dBs Music

31. COSMIC SOUL COLLECTIVE

Nitelife contest winners, Cosmic Soul Collective are back to announce their 1st birthday celebration at Exchange. Celebrating the power of art and music with an exclusive art exhibition at Two’s Company, plus live music from Ash Walker, Auxx, Indira May and more. 24 Feb // 8pm – 2am // £5 // Exchange

32. CHRIS FORSYTH + DR CHAN

Head down for a mixup medley of space jams and lo-fi garage rock. Lauded guitarist and composer Chris Forsyth who has earned the reputation as one of the most distinctive and critically acclaimed guitarists of today, plus Californian skate punk sounds from Dr Chan. 24 Feb // 8pm – 12am // £4 // The Old England Pub

34. CUT THROAT FRANCIS

Newly formed four-piece acoustic band Cut Throat Francis, are heading to The Golden Lion to showcase their folk, swing and upbeat Eastern European flavours. Featuring an array of instruments, rich-four part harmonies and a thumping beat from the cajon. 24 Feb // 10pm – 12am // The Golden Lion

33. VERB T & PITCH 92 + TRAFFIC MC + OCTO PI + ANDRES & CHANGO

After their successful album launch party in Bristol last year, Verb T and Pitch 92 are back to showcase material from their debut collaboration ‘Good Evening’. Witness Verb T, the High Focus regular and member of The Four Owls join forces with production wizard Pitch 92. 24 Feb // 8.30pm – 2am // £4 // The Full Moon & Attic Bar

35. HEY STUDENT!

Pinching those pennies already till next loan day? Well fear not student, because Mothers Ruin have got you covered. With drinks offers like pint and a jagerbomb for a fiver, you can’t go wrong. Every Wednesday // 9pm – 2am // Free // Mothers Ruin

36. RUTH ROYALL PRESENTS

Weekly residency featuring rising and established talent on a Soul, R&B and Rare Groove tip. This month guests include Prudent Primate & Brook Tate - plus a Lauryn Hill & D’angelo tribute session, and the single launch for Ruth’s new single Heart On Fire. Every Thursday // 8pm – 12am // Free entry The Gallimaufry

FEBRUARY

HIGHLIGHTS Brought to you by

20 // COMPETITION

competition

WIN Tickets • WIN Tickets • WIN Tickets

My Nu Leng & M8s warehouse special My Nu Leng • Sir Spyro • DJ Q • GotSome • Mampi Swift competition The much-hyped My Nu Leng & M8s tour is back for a special one-off party on 3 March. Headed up by My Nu Leng, the Bristol bass duo are upping the ante once again with a heavyweight lineup coming in for a series of very special back-to-backs at a secret-location warehouse near Bristol.

One b2b Dismantle, and of course My Nu Leng themselves for a two hour set with their favourite host, MC Dread.

Highlights include DJ Q b2b Sir Spyro, Mampi Swift b2b Crissy Criss with Eksman, Serum b2b Voltage b2b Upgrade, Gotsome b2b Klose

For your chance to win, head to nitelifeonline.com/win/mynuleng Winner selected 21 February.

Photos: Ross Silcocks

We’ve got a pair of tickets, plus an exclusive My Nu Leng & M8s t-shirt to give away to one lucky reader, including coach transport to and from the rave.

PROFILES // 21

profile - incoming

Photo: Rob Marsden

profile - HOMEGROWN

Poisonous Birds

Verb T & Pitch 92

Consisting of multi-instrumentalist Tom Ridley and percussionist Finn Mclean, former bandmates of tech metal and rock 5-piece Chronographs, Poisonous Birds’ sound is both unique and innovative. Tom Ridley’s mellifluous vocals cloaked in post-rock, electronica and industrial overtones, is accompanied by percussionist Finn Mclean’s visceral rhythm. Using live loops and sequencing, the duo reinterpret complex material for the stage and promise to deliver a mesmerising listening experience, whether at home or in the crowd. Their colourful debut EP Gentle Earth garnered a lot of attention locally through 2017, and now they’re back with their new 3-track EP Big Water, showcasing some of the ‘prettiest and most disgusting synth sounds’ Poisonous Birds driving force Tom says he has ever created. With some big shows and support slots in the pipeline, keep an eye on their website for forthcoming announcements. Until then, Tom answers a few questions for us…

After meeting on tour, The Four Owls’ Verb T joined forces with production wizard Pitch 92 on collaborative record Good Evening. Released last October, the brilliant new album was three years in the making. Mouse Outfit collaborator Pitch brings to the table golden soulful riffs and buttery bass lines over punchy percussion, while Verb T has crafted some of his most intricate and personal rhymes to date, building on the body of work that stretches back to the days of Lowlife Records and now sees him as a major part of the ever expanding High Focus Records movement. The duo brings the new material on tour to Bristol’s Attic Bar this month. The album was created very much with the live show in mind, so expect banging beats delivered live from the MPC and infectious hooks, infused with heavy crowd interaction. Ahead of the show, Verb T answers our 10 questions.

Band

Rap / production duo

Upcoming shows: 24 February, Attic Bar

THOSE QUESTIONS... 1. What have you learned today? I learnt a new word, ‘minutiae’ – meaning a small, trivial detail. I also learnt that for iTunes to categorise a release as an EP rather than a single, it needs to have four tracks. So our new EP Big Water now has an extra track that’s two seconds long named Minutiae. 2. Favourite track of all time? I don’t know, but my most played song in 2017 was Open Eye Signal by Jon Hopkins. We always blast it on the way to shows – it’s perfect. 3. It’s 3am and the party is winding down, what track do you play to get everyone going again? See above. 4. Who are your top three acts right now? In terms of local music, I watched Giant Swan close the last New Year New Noise this weekend and it was absolutely incredible. The dancefloor was a sweaty, naked wasteland. I’m also hoping for new Tame Impala and Death Grips records this year.

6. What was the last book you read? The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera.

THOSE QUESTIONS...

7. Favourite thing on TV? I don’t have a TV.

1.)What have you learned today? That staying up making beats until 2am after having just done gigs for two consecutive days makes me grumpy. I’ve learnt this before but keep forgetting.

8. Are you afraid of anything? Making the wrong choices. Some people find comfort in ideas like ‘it wasn’t meant to be’. I don’t believe that. Everything could be if I make the right decisions. Which is empowering, but scary.

2.)Favourite track of all time? Train wise, Eurostar. Music wise, I don’t know. I don’t really have five hours to get into that discussion right now. Simply Beautiful by Al Green is one for now, that’s in the discussion.

9. Tell us something people don’t know about you... I’m allergic to milk, walnuts and cats.

3.)It’s 3am and the party is winding down, what track do you play to get everyone going again? No Limit by 2 Unlimited, or maybe Bat Out of Hell by Meatloaf – both good.

10. What are you doing tomorrow? We’re working on another record that’s provisionally called Songs for Dark Rooms. It’s about half done. Finn’s coming round, we’ll crack a bottle of red and keep plugging away at these songs.

5. If you couldn’t work in music, what would you be doing instead? There’s a part of me that wants to disappear and live quietly somewhere remote – perhaps Sweden. If this all ended, I might do that.

poisonousbirds.com // soundcloud.com/poisonous-birds // @PoisonousBirds_

4.)Who are your top three acts right now? This changes hourly, but the last hour I have listened mostly to $ha Hef, Nick Hakim, Nolan the Ninja and Evidence, and also Nai Palm. That’s five, five is the new three and tomorrow I’ll have a different five. Having this streaming thing now and a massive addiction to listening to music is crazy. 5.)If you couldn’t work in music, what would you be doing instead? Darts player, I’m no good at darts but I reckon if I had not been a rapper I would have really worked on my darts game and been good at it.

6.)What was the last book you read? The Big Payback by Dan Charnas – it’s amazing. 7.)Favourite thing on TV? I need to see the new series of Curb your Enthusiasm, it’s wrong that I haven’t seen it yet. Just saw Ozark, I liked that. Sopranos is the all time best, there hasn’t been a drama that comes close for me. People say Breaking Bad, but I never got into that. 8.)Are you afraid of anything? My own imagination and people with only one eyebrow, because it’s harder to tell what they are thinking (not really). To be honest I try not to approach any situation with fear. I’m a bit of an anxious traveler though. 9.)Tell us something people don’t know about you... I can’t ride a bike. Actually, some people know that, but yeah it’s true, I never learned and to be honest I’m not that bothered. 10.) What are you doing tomorrow? Sorry, I can’t predict the future.

soundcloud.com/highfocusrecords // verbt.bandcamp.com // @realverbt

22 // LOCAL TALENT

DBS MUSIC PRESENTS LOCAL TALENT

WAY OUT WEST

After an eight-year release hiatus, Bristol-based dance music pioneers Nick Warren and Jody Wisternoff returned last year under their duo pseudonym Way Out West to release their new album Tuesday Maybe through Anjunadeep – the much-respected Anjunabeats offshoot label dedicated to the deeper sounds of house and techno. The release also sees the duo embark on their first UK tour in a very long time, stopping in to Thekla on 10 February, with support from fellow Bristol electronic giant Phaeleh who joins them on all six UK dates.

We come together well. We’re more than the sum of our parts Not afraid to push boundaries, the duo strives to continuously evolve and Jody’s ambitious attitude has seen him go from the DMC hip hop finals at the mere age of 13, to recording on Smith & Mighty’s Three Stripe label two years later with his younger brother under their Tru Funk alias, to filling the world’s most illustrious dance floors from Ibiza to Berlin.

After a chance meeting in a local record shop here in Bristol, Jody founded WOW with Nick, who was becoming increasingly popular at the time with his residency at former Bristol superclub Vision, as well being invited to tour with Massive Attack as their official DJ. Together, they were able to capture a unique sound that saw them burst onto the mid-nineties dance scene with hits such as Ajare and The Gift. The electronic duo has crafted a formidable reputation during the 25 years of working in partnership, both juggling incredibly successful solo careers and constant touring globally. We caught up with Nick and Jody as they took time away from their busy schedules to talk about their new album and fast-approaching UK tour. Both were quick to reassure us that, despite eight years since their last new release, they never did stop working on WOW. ‘Way Out West has always been ticking away in the background’, explains Jody. ‘Though about three years ago, we decided to actually get our arses in gear and finish off some tracks. Then came our single Tuesday Maybe and our vibe was still really strong, so our management was like right, do another album boys’. Their new album Tuesday Maybe, WOW’s first release since their 2009 album We Love Machine, was released in June

2017 and combines melodic content with interesting grooves. Taking six years in total produce, the album has helped make sure the pair’s return is as emphatic and as welcome as it could ever be. The duo explain that it wasn’t a case of writing from scratch, as they had a tonnes of half-finished or just started tracks, so it was about finding the time to get together to finish everything off. ‘You could be working on a track for six months to a year, and all you need is that final ingredient to pull it all together quickly’, says Jody. ‘Because we started some stuff years ago, it needed updating’, Nick explains. ‘We weren’t really happy with how it was now, whereas we would have been if it were released at the time.’ With careers spanning three decades and counting, Jody and Nick have witnessed an entire evolution of dance music and are extremely in-tune with the ever-progressing world of music and technology, as they strive to stay one step ahead of the game. ‘We’re listening to new tracks every day,’ says Jody, ‘we’re on the cutting edge. There’s no holidays really, I was still checking my emails on my honeymoon – apologies Luce!’

LOCAL TALENT // 23 and breaks label Hope Recordings and his impressive discography includes eight compilation albums for the illustrious Global Underground series, the inaugural Back To Mine mix in 1999, and several single releases on labels including Hope and John Digweed and Nick Muir’s Bedrock Recordings. Jody has released solo singles on Anjunadeep and Dinstinctive Records, achieving Beatport No. 1 with his excellent Cold Drink, Hot Girl; as well as his solo studio album Trails We Blaze in 2012. Despite such successful and demanding solo careers, with often-aggressive touring schedules to boot, it’s clear that both Nick and Jody remain passionate about working together. Talking about what drives them to keep going with WOW, despite having a load on their plate already, the answer was clear cut: ‘I make my best music with Jody’, says Nick. Jody agrees, ‘I think we come together well. We’re more than the sum of our parts and I hope people recognise that. I think we’re cool by ourselves, but when we’re together the quality control goes up as we have two opinions’. ‘I might start something and Jody will be like that’s good, that’s not so good and vice versa’, explains Nick, ‘we bounce ideas off each other’. Reaching a compromise and combining the different elements of their music tastes is what makes for such a fruitful partnership, hitting a sweet middle ground with a distinctively WOW sound. ‘I personally don’t have any influences when I’m doing WOW’, says Nick, ‘I don’t listen to anything else and think I want to do that. It’s very much us just doing our own thing – I don’t like to be influenced by anyone else’. ‘I’m actually more influenced by technology’, says Jody, ‘the latest synths and soft-synths and plug-ins. Though stylistically, older, more obscure stuff that you can’t believe were even released, and probably wouldn’t be in this day and age by a record company’. ‘We’re very lucky’, adds Nick, ‘because loads of producers send us their music for us to test out anyway, so you kind of know what’s happening. Our style of music is very, dare I say it, classical, as we want to make music that still sounds great in 10 years. ‘If we were to make a dubstep album, for example, it might have a very short lifespan, so we tend to go for a more Western idea of things, which is using samples and melody and various tempos’. The new album’s title track features a sample from 80s pop band Scritti Politti’s track Petrococadollar, with the title Tuesday Maybe taken from the song’s lyrics – paying tribute to the fact that sampling and melody are an essential part of the duo’s signature sound.

‘The sound collage concept that we’ve had from the beginning’, says Jody, ‘is probably because we couldn’t afford synthesisers so we had to sample to get the sound we wanted. I think it’s nice to keep our original collage-style sound, because it gives our music a bit of a weird flavour and I don’t think enough people do that’.

There will be a lot of our bigger tunes remade for this era It’s clear that the pair has been doing something right all these years. Nick is head of A&R for the progressive house

Although the duo is more than accustomed to touring, they are usually working the dance music circuit in sunnier climes around the globe. Playing their first home crowd show in a very long time means added pressure for the duo, who cut their teeth on the Bristol music scene. ‘It will be slightly nerve-racking’, says Nick. ‘I haven’t played in Bristol for at least five years. It’s exciting too, as there will be loads of old friends there and people that we’ll know. Though it will also be a challenge as live shows are different to DJing, where everyone is there for a night out and to dance with their mates. Live shows, people come and stand and watch you’. ‘You’re paying for an experience so you kind of have to step it up’, says Jody, ‘I think the challenge is to get people dancing and watching at the same time.’ ‘We kind of do the live shows on the fly’, says Nick, ‘so each one is completely different. Jody is controlling the main bit of the track and keyboards and I’m playing sounds and samples that aren’t triggered at exactly the same time as they were last time, so I think it’s about experimenting live and freestyling’. Nick informs us that the live tour will be a complete mix of material, with plenty from their new album alongside some classics. Plus an opportunity to experience some of the great music the pair has been creating together over the last 25 years, re-jigged for the present day. ‘There will be a lot of our bigger tunes remade for this era’, adds Jody. ‘Similar to our show at Glastonbury last year, though a bit more involved as we will have more equipment’. Luckily for new and longtime fans of WOW, the recentlyconcluded long hiatus doesn’t look set to be a pattern for the duo, with a remix album and new single already in the pipeline, as well as some new track ideas. ‘There’s a version of the album coming out called Sunday Maybe’, says Jody. ‘It’s got five of the tracks remade for listening to on a Sunday – as in just chilled remixes. It’s all finished and it’s our favourite tracks from the album with no house drums. It’s all chilled half beat drums or no drums at all’. They’ve got a new single lined up for release this summer that Jody describes as ‘something completely fresh’. Both Nick and Jody assure us that there is always stuff bubbling, which prompts Nick tell Jody he has about five tracks he’ll be sending over to him, to which Jody replies: ‘Wicked man’.

Words: Georgie Partinton Photos: Dominika Scheibinger 10 February – Way Out West, Thekla wayoutwestmusic.co.uk

24 // PREVIEW

PREVIEW

PINCH: SUBLOADED X TECTONIC 100

The iconic night that established Bristol’s dubstep scene is back for a one-off special at Trinity Centre this month, in honour of Pinch’s pioneering Tectonic Recordings’ 100th release. The event will see the return of some Subloaded originals like Joker and Cyrus, with hosts Sgt. Pokes and Koast back on mic duty, plus some newer faces from the Tectonic ranks like Ipman, Mumdance and Logos. Founded in 2004 by Pinch and DJ Blazey, Subloaded is the stuff of actual legends; frequently cited as the night that Bristol’s next generation of producers – Kahn, Neek et al. – got their musical education. It was famously described by Mary Anne Hobbs as a night that would ‘change your life (…) as seminal as Forward or DMZ in London’. Its early (and latter) days saw sets from the likes of Digital Mystikz royalty Mala, Coki, Loefah and Sgt. Pokes; alongside dubstep luminaries Plastician, Kode 9, Youngsta, Hatcha, Skream and Bristol’s own Joker, Peverelist, Hodge and Pinch himself. Tectonic has been similarly influential, known for sound evolution and experimentalism, Pinch launched the label in 2005 with his P Dutty collaboration War Dub / Alien Tongue; followed the same year with releases by Moving Ninja, Loefah and Skream, and Cyrus. The next 13 years saw Tectonic push an ever-expanding roster of forward thinking, exceptional electronic artists. The label found its beginnings in classic dubstep, though in recent years has branched into different tempos – though

always with the deeper, moodier sounds of dubstep and related genres at its core. While Tectonic can be credited with helping bridge the gap between dubstep and more technoid sounds, Pinch – aka Bristol producer Rob Ellis – is keen to dispel any myths that Tectonic is moving towards techno finitely. ‘The tempo of some of the music we’ve put out has been compatible with techno and house, but it’s more about taking those moods and sounds and sonic pallets from dubstep, grime, jungle, drum and bass… and bringing it to that tempo. ‘For example, Logos and Mumdance did a key album on the label a couple of years ago and a lot of that is around 130bpm, but it’s not techno. ‘It’s an element that was also introduced to Subloaded. In some of the later years when Peverelist and Hodge were playing, they would bring that kind of techno influence, but it’s all done a little bit differently – I don’t think of it as having the same resonance as more typical techno and house.’ Unlike some of his contemporaries like Skream, who swore off the genre after watching it massacred by the brostep movement, Rob has kept faithful to the dubstep underworld (alongside other influences) without being restricted by it. Through his own productions and label releases, Rob has been instrumental in helping driving the sound’s evolution forward with a thoughtful and constant output that equates to 100 releases this March.

‘I’ve just always followed my heart and part of the thrill comes from the unfamiliarity of the sound and territory. After several years of being very closely engaged with dubstep, if you get that close to something for that long, you can’t get the same kick out of it, simply. ‘So for me, it’s always been a case of trying to pursue and find things that interest me and engage me. After around 2011, I moved more in the direction of a slower tempo, trying to bring aspects and lessons I’d learned from dubstep and related sounds and bring it to a different tempo, where you get different grooves, you get a whole different mood out of it, and it creates a different ambience and atmosphere. ‘In more recent years, I try to be less tempo bound in sets. Sometimes there’s jungle and drum and bass, or interesting things that are happening with labels like Cylon, moody drone stuff – there’s all sorts that you can tie together. For me, there’s a mood you can capture that can cross tempos and that’s what I’ve been trying to do and present, rather than just saying I play 140 (bpm).’ The hundredeth release also marks a first for the label that primarily focuses on producers, with a 6-track EP from MC Riko Dan. Due 2 March, Hard Food features collaborations with label friends Joker, Walton and Mumdance, as well as Bristol producer Ziro and two tracks from Pinch. ‘Riko is one of the most underrated vocal talents in the UK. He’s got uncompromising, very hard lyrical content and his energy is expressed in that hardness as well. He was there

PREVIEW // 25 on the Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday. I realised maybe it wasn’t needed so much as it was. After a couple more years of putting things on, I thought: it’s cool, it’s doing its thing anyway, it’s spread and people are putting on nights; I don’t need to deal with this side of things.’ Subloaded x Tectonic 100 is being presented by Teachings in Dub and Trinity Centre, who have teamed up to bring us a series of special one-off events from friends and labels. Although they’re keeping the rest of their plans under wraps for now, if this is the opening event, it’s safe to assume we’ve got a lot to look forward to in the series. TiD founder and longtime Subloaded collaborator DJ Stryda tells us: ‘Pinch and I joined forces in 2007 at the now bulldozed Clockwork nightclub on Stokes Croft, with Subloaded hosting upstairs and Teachings in Dub powering downstairs. These sessions were infamous and had a big impact on the city. Considering this long history, it’s very exciting to present Subloaded’s return. We’ve called in Sinai on soundsystem duties to ensure maximum bassweight.’ Heading up the Trinity side of things is Jamell Ackford, who says, ‘Trinity has always been a melting pot for talent, with endless artists passing through. We build many relationships within the arts, and working with Teachings In Dub for years has opened up collab opportunities across many genres. To be able to bring back Subloaded for this special event and to celebrate the hundredth release on Tectonic is an honour. Keep your eyes out for more TiD x Trinity inna combination.’ Although intended as a one-off special, it’s hard to deny Subloaded’s influence on the city and Rob hints that if the response to this event is as we’re expecting, a Subloaded 2.0 might be on the cards. Rob continues: ‘It’s something I’ve been thinking about and warming up to the idea of again, but tying in with the hundredth release on Tectonic gave me the boot up the arse I needed.

There’s a mood you can capture that can cross tempos and that’s what I’ve been trying to do and present, rather than just saying I play 140 ‘The music has changed and is changing, but I never saw Subloaded as a straight up dubstep event – that was the main emphasis for a lot of it and for a long time, but lots of things have changed in the last ten years musically in Bristol and otherwise. There’s room to celebrate some of the dubstep aspects but there’s also room to showcase new and exciting things that are happening as well. ‘I’m going to see how this event goes. If it really feels like it’s having a big impact and it provides a useful aspect to the music community in Bristol, then I’ll get off my arse and get on with doing something, because I think it’s a good thing to do if people respond to it like that. ‘There is an element of Subloaded having become a bit of an institution and if there is demand for it, it would be unfair to deny it. But as I said, I have to keep an element of being excited, so for me, moving forward it’s going to be about pushing really obscene, experimental bass. ‘Bristol’s long had a wicked history of pushing the movement forward with lots of exciting developments in not just bass music, but all sorts of scenes. There’s a very open mind here and we’re all willing to take much more of a chance than perhaps some other cities. in the early days of drum and bass, he was there in the early days of garage with Pay As You Go Cartel and Roll Deep Crew. ‘He was involved with a lot of pivotal moments in UK dance music and I personally think it’s an atrocity that he’s not more well known as a result of it. So this EP has been a long time in the making.

For the hundredth release, it felt good to do something a little bit different ‘For the hundredth release, it felt good to do something a little bit different. I’ve always had an interest in grime, but never really focused on releasing vocal grime. It helps it stand out as a more special release and also ties it all back together into the label in terms of involvement – Riko has represented in sound clashes for Tectonic, Mumdance has been a key figure on the label in recent years, Joker

is someone we’ve worked with since he was 14. The associations are important for me, so I think it comes together as a cohesive package.’ There has been call for Subloaded’s return since Rob retired it in 2013 (aside from a 10 years of Tectonic special in 2015), although he explains that he began and ended Subloaded in line with what he felt was needed in Bristol at the time. ‘From the beginning it felt like a very special event. In those earlier years especially, it was new form of music and it was without boundaries. It was a very simple ethos, we just used to pack the room with as much soundsystem as we could get away with and run the kind of music that would make the best of that situation. Dark room, good selection upfront, dubplates – that was the recipe and I guess it had an impact on some people. ‘After 10 years of doing it, I never really thought of myself as music promoter. I put on nights because of the pragmatism of the fact that none else was doing it, so I wanted to help build something here in Bristol. ‘To put it into context, there was an event in 2009 where Subloaded was on the Friday and there was a dubstep event

‘This edition, there’s going to be some well established, classic dubstep label associates and there’s going to be some newer faces. One of the things I always did with Subloaded was plan not just the lineup, but how it would start from 10pm and how it would go on until the end of the night, because the narrative, the story, how it all unfolds, was important to me. ‘Starting off we have Cyrus, who was the first person to release an album on Tectonic, he’s going to open with some classic dubstep. Then we jump into Ipman, who is one of the more recent producers releasing an album on Tectonic. Then Distance, who is a dubstep king, absolutely, in my opinion. Then myself, Mumdance and Logos are going to do a three way back-to-back for two hours with Riko. After that we’ve got Joker, and then closing up the night is DJ Die playing a classic Bristol jungle set from the nineties. With Sergeant Pokes and Koast on the mic.’

Words: Rachel Morris Photos: Dominika Scheibinger 23 February – Subloaded x Tectonic, Trinity Centre tectonicrecordings.com

26 // PREVIEW

PREVIEW

COSMIC SOUL COLLECTIVE Last October, DIY music and art collective Cosmic Soul Collective were crowned the winners of Nitelife’s #NITELIFENITEOUT competition in association with Reon Energy – a Bristol-wide hunt to find an independent local promoter offering something unique to our alreadyexcellent nightlife scene. Together with an expert panel of judges from some of Bristol’s most established promoters including MJR, The Blast and Crosstown, Nitelife named Cosmic Soul Collective the prize winners and handed over £1000 to help make their idea a reality. Sticking true to their motto, “organic, experimental, expression”, Cosmic Soul Collective is putting together an event that truly combines live music and art, with a week-long art exhibition at Two’s Company Studios kicking off with a launch party on 24 February from 3pm – 7pm, followed by a night of live music down the road at Exchange from 8pm – 2am. With a lineup that includes funky, trip hop-infused dub project Ash Walker Experience; Urbnet-signed, multi-genre experimental producer AUXX; soulful R&B producer-vocal talent Charli Brix, singer songwriters Indira May and Aaliyah Esprit (who has been recruited to Gilles Peterson’s Future Bubblers scheme), and Cosmic Soul DJs, this will no doubt be the benchmark night that helps put the brilliant creative collective firmly on the Bristol map. Nitelife sat down with CSC founder Neil Corcoran to learn about the driving force behind the collective and find out how they’ve put their prize winnings towards their biggest event to date. ‘I originally came up with the idea of Cosmic Soul Collective. It was always in the back of my mind as something I wanted to do. I had this idea of doing something creative with close friends, so when I moved to Bristol where all of my friends live, it all just fell into place.’ Cosmic Soul Collective share a mutual passion for all things creative, whether it be art, music or design. Consisting of founder Neil, and producers Akira, Jevon Ives, Mendaya, Cruz and Athereal, DJ duo 2Honeys, singer songwriter Aaliyah Esprit and artist coordinators Lola Ives and Jade Thomson, this group have a lot to offer when it comes to curating alternative nights. ‘We are a group of friends who enjoy going out and having fun, so we wanted to create our own series of events by merging the two worlds of art and music.

We want to encourage people to get out there and be creative ‘As a collective, we all have our own passions, so we wanted to create a night with a big mash up of genres. We’re a group of DJs, producers and artists, so it’s all about coming together and making it happen.’ Formed in 2016, Cosmic Soul Collective have been quietly making a name for themselves on the Bristol circuit through a series of podcasts, live shows and DJ sets, small scale events, and a handful self-published releases from CSC members including field-recording experimentalist Mendaya and D-Los – Neil’s unrestrictive rap alias. ‘We’ve put on events at Surrey Vaults and The Volunteer Tavern, but nothing in comparison to the event coming up. We have been able to expand for our next event with the help of our Nitelife competition winnings. ‘The theme for the art exhibition is “Movement, Spirit, Growth”. Lola came up with the idea and sent it out to seven talented artists, who will be featuring in the exhibition.

PREVIEW // 27

‘On the music side of things, we’ve got the amazing Ash Walker Experience, who fuse together funk, trip hop and a bit of dub as well. We also have singer songwriters Indira May and Aaliyah Esprit, Charli Brix, Auxx, and the Cosmic Soul Collective DJs. ‘It’s going to be an eclectic night with lots of surprises. We wanted to create a night where you don’t know what’s next. We don’t want to give too much away

though, so people can come and experience it for themselves.’

putting on, but explained how it was still early days with what we were trying to create.

As the double-pronged event fast approaches, Neil told us how winning the Nitelife cash prize has helped the collective reach their creative goals.

‘Winning the prize money has really helped us find our feet as a collective and get the ball rolling with what we want to achieve. I couldn’t believe it when we found out we had won – I am still getting over the shock now!

‘I saw the Nitelife competition and immediately filled out an application. I described the events we had started

‘Some of the judges said that the reason we won was because of our aim to get loads of people together to collaborate across art, music and all different elements of creativity. We want to encourage people to get out there and be creative. ‘We mainly used the prize money to book out the venues and musicians, but we have also used some of it on stuff you will see on the night – but we’re keeping that under our hats for now!’

It’s going to be an eclectic night with lots of surprises. We wanted to create a night where you don’t know what’s next Aside from the growing momentum behind their experimental events, Cosmic Soul Collective has their fingers in a few other pies, helping them to expand their creative empire. Current projects include a monthly show on Ujima Radio from 10pm till midnight on the second Wednesday of every month, plus their budding record label. ‘We’ve done four releases so far and we’re currently working on more stuff at the moment, so keep your eyes and ears peeled for what’s next to come from Cosmic Soul Collective.’ Entry to the art exhibition at Two’s Company Studios is free and those who make it down will receive 10% discount to the live music event at Exchange afterwards.

Words: Abi Lewis PhOtos: Dominika Scheibinger 24 February – Two’s Company Studios & Exchange cosmicsoulcollectivebristol.bandcamp.com

28 // THE INFLUENCERS

THE INFLUENCERS // BEHIND THE SCENES WITH

ELECTRIC HARMONY and fuels the passionately genuine agency’s continuing success.

Rob McGee is the founder of Bristol-based international booking agency Electric Harmony. Over the past six years, they’ve build a sturdy reputation for recognising unsung talent, having previously worked with Bristol superstars IDLES, and currently represent swathes of hotly tipped acts, including Bristol’s own Harvey Causon, Rozelle, No Violet and Sleeptalking, to name just a handful.

‘There are no office hours, 7am starts and no real finishes, but I wouldn’t change it for anything. It’s the best job in the world. I get to meet all these incredible acts, go to amazing shows, book these amazing tours, meet amazing promoters and see beautiful venues across Europe and UK. ‘Another bonus is festival season during the summer, going to festivals and seeing our acts play these big stages – there’s nothing more satisfying than that.

In a typically Bristol fashion, Rob and his team are more interested in pushing genuinely good music over sure-thing, bookable acts. They frequently have a hand in great stuff going on in Bristol, such as DHP Family’s Beat The Streets charity festival last month, or bringing together loads of the city’s best artists, music agencies and platforms under one roof – including BBC Introducing, The Bristol Music Show, Tap The Feed, 1% of One, Leisure Records, Word On The Street and Nitelife – for a not-for-profit, all-out celebration of Bristol talent.

‘Time management is really difficult in this job, because there is always someone who will want something or want to talk about an act, but it’s just finding little gaps to take a break.’ With a growing company in a notoriously difficult industry, Rob explains how he found himself running his own booking agency: ‘I went to university and studied music business. I was in bands before that, but I hated being on stage and being centre of attention, so I decided I wanted to work in the business side of it, but I didn’t know where.

With their offices nestled above Hy-Brasil, they’ve also recently taken on looking after the books for the burgeoning live music venue downstairs. ‘I know the venue quite well. I know where they want to go with it and we’ve got the contacts across Europe, so it made sense for us to take on the books when they asked us.

‘I looked at engineer work, promoting and management. Engineer work wasn’t for me and I couldn’t really get into promoting. I tried putting on some shows but it was too stressful, which is why I have the utmost respect for promoters, because it’s such a hard job. Management was really daunting – being in control of so much and lots of different people coming to you for different things about this one act that you’re looking after. I couldn’t really see myself getting on board with that and doing it well.

‘The vision for Hy-Brasil is not necessarily being one of the main music venues, but being able to support the music scene in Bristol and the other venues. ‘We want Hy-Brasil to be more of a creative hub, where people can bring over their nights, new bands can cut their teeth here, new promoters can cut their teeth here... ‘With venues shutting down so much, especially in Bristol where they’re dropping like flies at the moment, we may as well be supporting each other and trying to build the city up together, instead of focusing on one individual business.’ True to his own eclectic tastes, Electric Harmony is home to a completely diverse roster of artists spanning from electro pop duo Avec Sans, blues singer songwriter Beth Rowley, indie band Childcare, R&B-hip hop-electronic project Only Girl and New Orleans-influenced hip hop troupe Lazy Habits, to classical guitarist Will McNicol, with plenty more in-between.

We may as well be supporting each other and trying to build the city up together, instead of focusing on one individual business

about how they handle themselves on stage and the crowd interaction – and that could be with five people or 500 people in the room. If you’re a band, you’ve got to build up your career like any career, but the main thing is that they put on a good show.’

‘That’s when I discovered booking agents, which I see as between the two. I started researching agencies and looking to join one, but after discovering acts and going to shows and talking to them about what the artist wants from an agency, or what they wished an agent would do for them, I thought, why not just start my own?

While on the face of things they are an artist booking agency, Electric Harmony strive to give their acts much more than a few shows or a spring tour. As well as monthly live showcase events to bring their acts to the stage, Electric Harmony go above and beyond to help new artists build up their careers.

7am starts and no real finishes, but I wouldn’t change it for anything

‘We can be pretty hands on as an agency. We’ve got a good, solid roster of artists at the moment and everyone gets the same attention, but some artists need more support than others. Harvey Causon, for example, who only has an agent at the moment – we might meet with him once or twice a week, be talking to him on the phone every day, introducing him to new managers, labels, distribution companies and people who can sit down and help him.

‘If I go to a show and I love the music, I’ll find a way to support them whether they’re an act with no management and no label, or an act who have got everything they need but an agent.

‘I’ve been working in music for 12 years and in that time I’ve built up a good database of people we can use – not just promoters and venues – other people in the industry from different hubs, whether that’s a manager of a label, PR or radio company. So we’re not just here to book gigs, we do take on young acts and help them build themselves up until they’ve got a solid team around them.’

‘I live live music, it’s what I do 24/7. For me, the main thing is going to a show and being blown away by a band putting on a performance. I don’t care if anything goes wrong, it’s more

As with most jobs in the music industry, the improbability of a healthy work-life balance can be a drawback. Luckily, Rob clearly loves what he does, which is what both keeps him sane

‘I threw myself into it about six and a half years ago and chucked everything I had into Electric Harmony. It has been difficult, but I wouldn’t change any of it. ‘Don’t get me wrong, I want to make lots of money and being able to retire one day. But if I can make a living and continue on like this and keep building a team around Electric Harmony, then there are no regrets. As I said earlier, it’s the best job in the world.’

Words: Rachel Morris Photo: Martin Thompson // instagram.com/thefacecollective electricharmonymusic.com

THE INFLUENCERS // 29

book 0117 203 4040 colstonhall.org

Colston Hall loudly and proudly presents great shows in venues across the city

Thu 1 Feb

Fri 16 Mar

Fri 20 Apr

The Howl & The Hum

sir Was

The White Buffalo

Rough Trade Records

The Crofters Rights

O2 Academy Sun 25 Mar

Sat 17 Feb

HmlTd The Station

Kathryn Roberts & Sean lakeman

Fri 20 Apr

Ought The Exchange

The Station Tue 6 Mar

dent may The Exchange

Sat 28 Apr Wed 28 Mar

Calexico

The dead South Anson Rooms

Trinity Centre Tue 6 Mar

Caro

Wed 16 May Tue 10 Apr

I’m With Her

The Crofters Rights

The little Unsaid

The Station

Fri 9 Mar

The Wardrobe Theatre

Sun 23 Sep

Karl Blau The Station

José González & The String Theory O2 Academy

CH_PresentsNitelifeAD_2jt.indd 1

16/01/2018 09:27

51 stokes croft

32 // VENUES

51 Stokes Croft, Bristol, BS1 3QP | Twitter - Coming soon | facebook.com/51stokescroft | 01179 148 048 | 51stokescroft.com

A vibrant and welcoming venue with traditional and historic roots, being one of the oldest Public Houses in Stokes Croft. The space is versatile and creative, blending homemade, locally sourced food with live music, art and late night party DJs and the beautiful garden offers a sunny sanctuary amongst the hustle and bustle of Stokes Croft.

GLADE MARIE - J DILLA TRIBUTE Paying homage to one of the greatest producers that ever lived, Resident DJ Glade Marie will be taking No.51 on a musical journey through Dillaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s catalogue - including original samples, anthems and remixes.

8 Feb // 10pm - 2am // Free

VELVET MAGNETIC

DJ Collective Velvet Magnetic delve straight into rhythm and vibrations across the decades in their explorative DJ sets, seeking to connect the mind and body and bringing good vibes and fluid movement to the dance floor.

15 Feb // 10pm - 2am // Free

02 academy

VENUES // 33

Frogmore Street, Bristol, BS1 5NA | @o2academybris | facebook.com/o2academybristol | 0905 5020 3999 | o2academybristol.co.uk

The o2 Academy is one of Bristol’s busiest music venues playing host to major touring acts as well as up and coming artists. They’ve established themselves as one of the best venues to catch your favourite bands in the Southwest, while also being home to Ramshackle - Bristol’s Notorious Weekly Rave: A fine selection of all thats good in music mixed by Patrick Nazemi, Chezney & Guests.

HELL IS FOR HEROES

facebook.com/o2academybristol twitter.com/o2academybris instagram.com/o2academybris facebook.com/o2academybristol youtube.com/o2academytv

Celebrating their 15th anniversary, Hell Is For Heroes will be hitting Bristol’s O2 Academy as part of ‘The Neon Handshake’ tour. With support from special guests A and Vex Red.

twitter.com/o2academybris instagram.com/o2academybris youtube.com/o2academytv

16 Feb // 7pm – 11pm // £20 Sat 3rd Feb• From £15 adv 10pm-5am • over 18s only

Innovation

Mon 5th Feb • £16.50 adv

While She Sleeps + Counterfeit + Blood Youth

Tue 6th Feb • £18 adv

Alien Ant Farm + Soil + Local H

Fri 9th Feb • £20 adv

Wed 14th Mar • £23.50 adv

Wed 11th Apr • £18 adv

Thu 15th Mar • £27.50 adv

Thu 12th Apr • £25 adv

Fri 16th Mar • £24 adv

The Wonder Stuff + Ned’s Atomic Dustbin + Graham Crabb DJ set (P.W.E.I.)

The Wailers

The Stranglers + Therapy? Bristol Jazz & Blues Festival 2018: Incognito with Carleen Anderson

Don Broco

Tue 20th Mar • £25 adv

+ Man On A Mission

Skid Row

Sat 10th Feb • £26 adv

Thu 22nd Mar • £25 adv

The Damned

Wed 14th Feb • £19.50 adv

Arch Enemy

+ Wintersun + Tribulation

Thu 15th Feb • £22.50 adv

The Used

Fri 16th Feb • £20 adv

Hell Is For Heroes Wed 21st Feb • £27.50 adv

Franz Ferdinand Thu 22nd Feb • £15 adv

The Temperance Movement

+ Thomas Wynn & The Believers

Blue October

Fri 23rd Feb • SOLD OUT

Dodie

Sat 24th Mar • £12.50 adv

Vance Joy

Tom Misch

Sat 14th Apr • £20 adv

The Dead Daisies

+ The Treatment + The Amorettes

Mon 16th Apr • £24 adv / £75 VIP

Trivium

+ Code Orange + Power Trip + Venom Prison

Fri 20th Apr • £16.50 adv

The White Buffalo Sat 21st Apr • £20 adv

Mon 23rd Apr • £16 adv / £50 VIP

The Fratellis

Calum Scott

Fri 30th Mar • £20 adv

Wed 25th Apr • £21.50 adv

Alabama 3

Skindred + CKY

Sat 31th Mar • £20 adv 10pm-5am • over 18s only

Wed 2nd May • SOLD OUT

Tue 3rd Apr • £22.50 adv

Tue 6th Mar • SOLD OUT

Tokio Myers

Of Mice And Men

+ The Smith Street Band + Brick & Mortar

Cash - A Tribute to The Man In Black

Fri 13th Apr • SOLD OUT

Thu 29th Mar • £17.50 adv

The Wombats

Tue 27th Feb • £17 adv

Fri 2nd Mar • £12 adv

Love From Stourbridge

Wed 28th Mar • SOLD OUT

The Logan D & Majistrate Show

The Front Bottoms

Dirty Sanchez Live

The Vaccines

Thu 5th Apr • £28.50 adv

En Vogue

Fri 6th Apr • £14 adv

+ Wage War + Sylar

Gomez

Mon 7th May • £19 adv

Brothers Osbourne Tue 15th May • £27.50 adv

Machine Head

Sat 19th May • SOLD OUT

Rita Ora

Wed 7th Mar • SOLD OUT

The Amy Winehouse Experience ...A.K.A Lioness

Tue 10th July • £20 adv

Fri 9th Mar • £16 adv

Sat 7th Apr • £16 adv RESCHEDULED DATE

The Smyths

Feeder ‘The Best Of’ Moose Blood

Sat 10th Mar • £20 adv

MØ + SKOTT

The Breeders

Fri 21st Sep • £13 adv Sun 23rd Sep • £30 adv

Stiff Little Fingers

Sun 8th Apr • £19.50 adv

+ Ruts DC

Epica + Myrkur + Oceans Of Slumber

Jose Gonzalez & The String Theory

Sun 11th Mar • £16.50 adv

Mon 9th Apr • £18 adv

Fri 19th Oct• £13.50 adv

Mist

Walk The Moon

Elvana: Elvis Fronted Nirvana

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

ticketmaster.co.uk

Venue box office opening hours: Mon - Sat 12pm - 4pm

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

o2academybristol.co.uk

FRANZ FERDINAND

Feb • 2018

The iconic Scottish indie rockers are back with a new album this year. Come and witness the band showcase their new material, plus a couple of favourites from their much-loved back catalogue.

21 Feb // 7pm – 11pm // £27.50

colston XX hall

34 // VENUES

Colston Street, Bristol, BS1 5AR | @Colston_Hall | facebook.com/ColstonHall | 0117 203 4040 | colstonhall.org

Colston Hall is Bristol’s largest concert hall, presenting major names in rock, pop, jazz, folk, world and classical music such as Laura Marling, John Grant, Richard Hawley, Robert Plant and Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. It houses world-class comedy, film screenings and light entertainment, as well as local choirs, orchestras and schools.

MOGWAI

Twenty years on from their debut release, few bands have been as consistent as Mogwai. Moving between moments of pensive tension and brutal clashes, they deliver a graceful serenity to their audience.

colston hall highlights 0117 203 4040 colstonhall.org

3 Feb // 7pm – 11pm // Sold Out thu 1 feb dear esther live

thu 22 feb paul carrack

tue 6 mar raghu dixit

fri 2 feb the mavericks

thu 22 feb baxter dury

wed 7 mar solomon grey

sat 3 feb mogwai

fri 23 feb binkbeats

thu 8 mar blazin' fiddles

sun 4 feb kaia kater

sat 24 feb jake bugg

fri 9 mar field music

tue 6 feb transatlantic sessions

sun 25 feb nils frahm

mon 12 mar the fureys

wed 7 feb christine tobin

tue 27 feb chouk bwa libete

tue 13 mar yes

thu 8 feb leonard cohen celebration

wed 28 feb apocalyptica

tue 13 mar susanne sundfør

wed 28 feb martin harley & daniel kimbro

wed 14 mar the bellrays

sat 10 feb iglooghost (av set) & kai whiston tue 13 feb producer uncovered: ableton beginners tue 13 feb nick hakim wed 14 feb producer uncovered: logic beginners sun 18 feb seal

thu 1 mar broken brass ensemble fri 2 mar hannah williams & the affirmations mon 5 mar everything everything tue 6 mar brit floyd

thu 15 – sun 18 mar bristol jazz & blues festival mon 19 mar bob log iii fri 23 mar kamaal williams sat 24 mar jeremy ellis (the roots) sun 25 mar lady maisery

NILS FRAHM - ALL MELODY

After a two-year break from live performances, experimental composer and pianist Nils Frahm returns to the Colston Hall stage. With roots in electronic and classical music, Featuring ethereal piano compositions alongside percussive, synth-layered tracks.

25 Feb 2018 // 7:30pm – 11pm //Sold Out

crofters rights

VENUES // 35

117-119 Stokes Croft, Bristol, BS1 3RW | @Crofters_Rights | Facebook.com/croftersrights | 0117 2310079 | croftersrights.co.uk

Situated in the heart of Stokes Croft, Crofters Rights has an ever changing list of 17 keg and cask, draught beers and ciders. Ray’s Neapolitanstyle pizzas are served every day and the back room hosts everything from punk gigs to storytelling, comedy to experimental noise.

EMINENT PRESENTS: THE KELLY TWINS

9 Feb // 11pm – 3am // £4

1 THE HOWL & THE HUM 2 SHUTTER W/ HERRON 6 TERRACE PRESENTS: DEL-30 7 FRANKIE STEW & HARVEY GUNN 9 ELEA CALVET / YOUTH 9 EMINENT PRESENTS: THE KELLY TWINS 10 ESCAPE VELOCITY: RYE WAX BRISTOL EDITION 10 IT: TEMPLE KEYS / THE TIME SELLERS 14 FIVE10’S FUNKED UP FESTIVAL OF LOVE 16 DRIFT CONTINENTAL PRESENTS 002: HÉLÉLÉ (LIVE) 17 BRIDGES / WHY WE LOVE / TWO DAY COMA 17 SUPERSMASH W/ BEN SUN 23 PUMA BLUE 24 FRENCH KISS PRESENTS: JESS FARLEY 27 1%: CATHOLIC ACTION / WYCH ELM

BRIDGES

Bridges are back with a brand new line-up. With hard-hitting songs, this indie four-piece will be the perfect antidote for your weekend. Plus support from, Why We Love and Two Day Coma.

17 Feb // 7.30pm – 10.30pm // £6

exchange

36 // VENUES

72 - 73 Old Market, Bristol, BS2 0EJ | @exchangebristol | facebook.com/exchangebristol | 0117 930 4538 | exchangebristol.com

Exchange plays host to both gigs most nights of the week with Club Nights most weekends. Having opened in September 2012, Exchange has already hosted performances from a varied array of internally revered artists including The 1975, Four Tet, (the) Melvins, Jungle, Diplo, Haim and Sick Of It All to name but a few.

BANG’S 15TH BIRTHDAY BASH

It’s time to party with Bang’s as they celebrate their 15th Birthday. Get ready for an explosion of live bands, photo galleries and fanzines. Plus, vinyl mash ups of underground indie, new wave and more.

23 Feb // 8pm – 2am // £15

COSMIC SOUL COLLECTIVE

Nitelife contest winners, Cosmic Soul Collective are back to celebrate the power of art and music with an exclusive art exhibition at Two’s Company and a simultaneous night of mesmerising live music at Exchange.

24 Feb // 8pm – 2am // £5

the fleece XX

VENUES // 37

12 St. Thomas Street, Bristol, BS1 6JJ | @FleeceBristol | facebook.com/fleecebristol | 0117 945 0996 | thefleece.co.uk

The legendary live music venue has previously hosted the likes of Oasis, The Strokes, Goldfrapp and Bloc Party. Live music 7 nights a week and massive club nights like Propaganda, The Fleece is a must for music lovers and students. The in-house promotions team are also responsible for promoting many gigs across the city in other venues, so follow them all on Twitter and Facebook to receive updates on their upcoming gigs.

THE BON JOVI EXPERIENCE

Join The Bon Jovi Experience at The Fleece this February, for an epic performance and a chance to hear some of your favourite Bon Jovi songs live on stage from the worlds leading Bon Jovi tribute act.

9 Feb // 7pm – 11pm // £13

ZARA MCFARLANE

Zara Mcfarlane fearlessly explores original material and reworks well known classics from the worlds of Jazz and Jamaican music. Catch her at The Fleece to hear music from her latest album Arise.

22 Feb // 7pm – 11pm // £14

THE FULL MOON XX / ATTIC BAR

38 // VENUES

1 North Street, Stokes Croft, Bristol, BS1 3PR | Twitter - Coming soon | facebook.com/pages/The-Full-Moon-and-Attic-Bar | 01179 245 007 | fmbristol.co.uk

The Full Moon pub & Attic bar, with its Moonshine bar and Shisha bar are all the on the same grounds. This really is a hub for all nightime activities from events, parties, drink and food. To add to this there is also a backpackers hotel which adds an international vibe to a great night out. What more could you ask for?

BRING YOUR OWN BRASS + ANDY V + DJ DAHYBRID With generous portion of bass, Bring Your Own Brass put on a mashup show that’s not for the faint hearted. Plus Andy V, DJ Dahybrid and Stevie Bear in The Full Moon bar.

2 Feb // 8.30pm – 2am // £4

VERB T & PITCH 92 + TRAFFIC MC + OCTO PI + ANDRES & CHANGO Verb T and Pitch 92 are back to showcase material from their debut collaboration ‘Good Evening’. Witness the High Focus regular join forces with the almighty production wizard.

24 Feb // 8.30pm – 2am // £4

the gallimaufry XX

VENUES // 39

26-28 The Promenade, Gloucester Road, BS7 8AL | @thegallibristol | facebook.com/TheGallimaufryBristol | 01179 42 7 319 | thegallimaufry.co.uk

An independent bar, restaurant and music venue on the Gloucester Rd. A relaxed coffee shop vibe in the day, ‘The Galli’ serves food and drinks all day with live music and DJs 7 nights a week (always free entry). Working with local suppliers, artists & artisans wherever possible. Check www. thegallimaufry.co.uk for up-todate info on menus and events.

FORTH & BACK: HOSTED BY MADLY

mondays

Golden era hip hop house band Forth & Back accompanied by Cassie Madly will be taking centre stage at The Gallimaufry this February, to power through the best tunes from the best era.

Open Mic

4/18 Feb // 8pm – Late // Free

Hosted by Mike Dennis

tuesdays 6th Global gr oove experim ent w/ Sn

february

azzback: the Ca

ribbean 13th Osmoi d 20th From th e Fore A night of exst presents otic sounds w/ Inner Pie ces & Ben Ba ddoo 27th Moksh a+

wednesdays

special gues t

Waldo’s Gift

Hip-hop, Math, Jazz, Groove & Electronica

thegallimaufry.co.u

thursdays

7th Waldo’s Gift Trio ke 14th Reworks: James Bla Kula)

Ruth Royall Presents

sin feat. Jordan Woollgar (Cou t, producer, Paying tribute to an artis composer or label

All-star live So ul, R&B and Rare Groo ve

21st Open Collaboration

e to musicians who Waldo’s Gift opens the stag t of improvisation wish to join them in the spiri and the free flow of ideas

es 28th Feat. Andrew Neil Hay from -smashing saxophonist

Rulebook duo, Run Logan Run minimalist instrumental

1st ‘Heart On Fire’ release pa rty 8th Prudent Primate 15th The Trib ute Series do Lauren Hill & D’angelo 22nd Brook Ta te

saturdays

fridays

e Sun ts Childrenulowforth ks with gues Hosted by So

onic ythms, electr Worldwide rh e. us ho soul & lo-fi

sundays

Satta Lites

Whitey’s on the mo

Withdrawn, VMO$ + guests play beats, bump s & bass. 3rd Guest (Jabu / Young Echo) 10th D.Ham (Noods ) 17th Jiinx 24th Andy Paybac k

by Madly Forth & Back Hosted ts Hip Hop, originals & special gues

4th & 18th Golden era

ent Joining the dots soul melodies The Next Moveminto jazz rhythms, neo11th & 25th A jour ney some of Bristol’s finest and Afrobeat explorations with

RUTH ROYALL PRESENTS

Weekly residency featuring rising and established talent of soul and RnB. This month guests include Prudent Primate & Brook Tate - plus a Lauryn Hill & D’angelo tribute session, and the launch for Ruth’s new single Heart On Fire.

Every Thursday // 8pm – 12am // Free

the golden XX lion

40 // VENUES

244 Gloucester Road, Bristol, BS7 8NZ | @goldenlionbriz | facebook.com/goldenlionbristol | 0117 924 6449 | goldenlionbristol.co.uk

The Golden Lion is a renowned Bristol Music venue offering live music on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sunday Afternoon. A surprise mix bag encompassing the whole music spectrum. Keep up to date on their social media pages for full listings and details. Bar open ‘til 1am Friday and Saturday, and midnight Sunday to Thursday.

THE BAREFOOT BANDIT

GOLDEN LION

Devon based collective The Barefoot Bandit are masters at getting the crowd to the dance floor with their roots, reggae and dub infused style. Come on down, grab a drink and have a dance.

9 Feb // 10pm – 12am // Free

LIVE MUSIC FEB 2018

BIG FAT MOSTLY MUSIC QUIZ - MONDAY @ 9pm OPEN MIC NIGHT - WEDS @ 8pm THU FRI SAT SUN

1st 2nd 3rd 4th

LATIN DESCARGA Latino Live Jam Night NINEFIVE / MARCUS MANDIBLE / KMT Hip Hop PHEONIX RIVER BAND Americana Country Blues BON TEMPS PLAYBOYS Cajun Zydeco 4pm

THU FRI SAT SUN

8th ENTER THE LION Songwriters Showcase 9th THE BAREFOOT BANDIT Dub Roots Reggae 10th LEWIS CLARKE & the ESSENTIALS Folk Blues 11th RAZZOMO Balkan House / Gypsy Folk Duo 4pm

THU FRI SAT SUN

15th 16th 17th 18th

NEW HIP HOP NITE Watch This Space CRINKLE CUTS / HOT KNIFE CLUB £4 THE BULLTOWN BOYS Kickass Rockabilly THE LOVELY BASEMENT Expo Alt Country 4pm

THU FRI SAT SUN

22nd 23rd 24th 25th

PIGSTY HILL BLUES CLUB Open Blues Jam SUBDUCTION Reggae with a Twist CUT THROAT FRANCIS Gypsy Swing CRAZY PONY Bluegrass & Acrobaties 4pm

FREE ENTRY UNLESS STATED - PLEASE DONATE TO THE HAT CUT THROAT FRANCIS

24 Feb // 10pm – 1am // Free

Hy-Brasil

VENUES // 41

7-9 Baldwin St, Bristol BS1 1RU | @hybrasilmusicclub | facebook.com/HyBrasilMusicClub | 0117 930 4370 | hybrasilmusicclub.com

Named after a mythical island off the coast of Ireland, Hy-Brasil is a late night music venue located in the heart of Bristol. Join them for 2-4-1 burgers on Tuesdays, awesome drink deals and an array of live and electronic events throughout the week.

HAUS

5-piece a North Londoners share a mutual love for rock, hip-hop and electronic influences. Setting foot on Hy-Brasil’s intimate stage this February, HAUS promise to perform their catchy hybrid material.

9 Feb // 7pm – 10pm // £7

CONCRETE JUNGYALS: VALENTINES SPECIAL

Roses are red, violets are blue, Concrete Jungyals have a party for you. Get on over to Hy-Brasil for some house, techno and disco flavours from Amy Amor, Luce, Kiia and A-Bee

15 Feb // 9pm – 2am // £3

theXX lanes

42 // VENUES

22 Nelson Street, Bristol, BS1 2LE | @thelanesbristol | facebook.com/lanes.bristol | 01173 251 979 | thelanesbristol.co.uk

Rapidly establishing itself amongst the ranks of city’s most respected music venues. As well as playing host to both international and local live music and clubnights, The Lanes also offers round the clock bowling, an Italian style pizzeria, karaoke, a vintage shop and even a bed for the night. All in a genuinely laid back atmosphere.

JIMI NEEDLES FULL LIVE BAND

Well known scratch DJ Jimi Needles will be touching down at The Lanes with his live band. Consisting of jazz and blues musicians, this band will bring rocking funk and electronica with a hip hop edge.

2 Feb // 7.30pm – 11pm // £5

PRETTY GREEN & DEPARTMENT S PRESENTS: OSCAR HARRISON The Lanes favourites Department S and Pretty Green welcome special guest DJ Oscar Harrison, drummer of Ocean Colour Scene and The Beat, as part of the Pretty Green Bristol pop up event.

3 Feb // 9pm – 3am // £5

the lantern

VENUES // 43

Colston Street, Bristol, BS1 5AR | @Colston_Hall | facebook.com/ColstonHall | 0117 203 4040 | colstonhall.org

The Lantern at Colston Hall presents a packed programme of cutting edge artists playing everything from jazz, electronica and pop, to folk, world and hip hop. Recent visitors include Kamasi Washington, Julia Holter, Slum Village, This Is The Kit and Saul Williams. Grab a bite to eat at Beerd and relax in Colston Hall’s stylish modern foyer before you head to the show.

IGLOOGHOST (AV SET) + KAI WHISTON

Electronic music pioneer Iglooghost is one of today’s most inventive producers, gaining attention from Clash and Pitchfork. Iglooghost’s performance at The Lantern will be fused together with his AV set, to create an all-round sensory experience.

10 Feb // 8pm – 11pm // £9.14

Highlights Sun 4 Feb Kaia Kater Wed 7 Feb Christine Tobin

Fri 2 Mar Hannah Williams & The Affirmations Tue 6 Mar Raghu Dixit

Thu 8 Feb Leonard Cohen Celebration

Wed 7 Mar Solomon Grey

Sat 10 Feb Iglooghost (AV Set) & Kai Whiston

Thu 8 Mar Blazin’ Fiddles

Tue 13 Feb Nick Hakim Thu 22 Feb Baxter Dury Fri 23 Feb Binkbeats Tue 27 Feb Chouk Bwa Libete Wed 28 Feb Martin Harley & Daniel Kimbro Thu 1 Mar Broken Brass Ensemble

Fri 9 Mar Field Music Mon 12 Mar The Fureys Tue 13 Mar Susanne Sundfør Wed 14 Mar The BellRays Thu 15 – Sun 18 Mar Bristol Jazz & Blues Festival Mon 19 Mar Bob Log III

www.facebook.com/colstonhall @colston_hall instagram.com/colstonhall

Fri 23 Mar Kamaal Williams Sat 24 Mar Jeremy Ellis (The Roots) Sun 25 Mar Lady Maisery Tue 27 Mar Sarah Darling Wed 28 Mar Brigid Mae Power Fri 30 Mar Sabrina Benaim Fri 6 Apr Josienne Clarke & Ben Walker Sat 14 Apr London Astrobeat Orchestra Performs Talking Heads Tue 17 Apr Toko Telo Mon 23 Apr Blanco White

New music in The Lantern sponsored by

Box Office: 0117 203 4040 www.colstonhall.org/the-lantern

BLINKBEATS

Surrounded on stage by more than 50 strange instruments, Binkbeats is electronica’s Wizard of Oz. Returning for an intimate Lantern gig, Binkbeats will present his own material, using a myriad of weird and wonderful machines.

23 Feb // 8pm – 11pm // £15.05

MarbleXXFactory

44 // VENUES

74-78 Avon Street, Bristol | 0117 972 3111 | @MarbleFactoryUK | facebook.com/marblefactorybristol | marblefactorybristol.com

Set in what was formerly a skate park, Bristol’s newest live venue The Marble Factory has been completely re-developed and re-configured to host live music, club nights and much more. The philosophy applied throughout the process of developing the venue was to offer artists and promoters an enjoyable and affordable option with the emphasis on having everything needed in-house and ready to go.

FRED V & GRAFIX

Hospital Records signed duo Fred V & Grafix has taking the drum and bass underground scene by storm. As two keen musicians, instrumentation including guitar and drums have become a trademark for their production.

10 Feb // 6pm – 10pm // £16.82

WILEY

Award winning recording artist and producer Wiley knows a thing or two about putting on a good show. Taking over Motion this February, Wiley promises to deliver one almighty show.

23 Feb // 6.30pm – 10pm // £19.50

mothers’ ruin

VENUES // 45

7-9 St Nicholas Street, Bristol, BS1 1UE | @TheMothersRuin | facebook.com/The-Mothers-Ruin | 07546 082 009 | mothersruinbristol.co.uk

Bright Red, behind the market on St Nicks street, a three floor mad funhouse that specialises in super sweaty aural delights of Rock n Roll, Pop and Disco. The Mothers’ Ruin pride themselves on being Free to enter nearly every night, without compromising on entertainment. Upstairs or downstairs you won’t be going anywhere quite like here!

MOTHERS RUIN QUIZ! FREE FOOD AND BONUS ROUNDS Join Ash and co as they take you through the latest in music, news and general knowledge in the Ruin’s very own test of skill and endurance. Winning team takes pot.

Every Tuesday // 9pm – 2am // £1

HEY STUDENT!

Pinching those pennies already till next loan day? Well fear not student, because Mothers Ruin have got you covered. With drinks offers like pint & jagerbomb for a fiver, you can’t go wrong.

Every Wednesday // 9pm – 2am // Free

mr wolfs

46 // VENUES

32 St Nicholas Street, Bristol, BS1 1TG | @MrWolfsBristol | facebook.com/MrWolfs | 0117 923 2565 | mrwolfs.com

If your looking for a live music and a late night party then look no further than Mr Wolf’s. Open 7 day’s a week It’s the place you’ll get the opportunity to see up and coming bands, to bust some moves on the dance floor, watch talented artists paint live, hear some quality musicians come together and jam your heart out.

ROBERT J HUNTER + JUKES + ALDO VANUCCI

Dirty rhythm & blues with a thud of overdriven guitar from Robert J. Hunter. Plus support from cool indie-rockers Jukes and DJ Aldo Vanucci spinning tunes into the early hours of the morning.

10 Feb // 10pm – 4am // £3 / £4

SELBY AND THE DHARMA BLITZ + LIL BO SELECTA Alternative hip hop, funk project Selby and the Dharma Blitz merge arresting lyricism with a unique musical direction. This eight-piece barrage of Brand and rap poetry animate audiences with their sculpted live performances. Joined by resident DJ Lil Bo Selecta.

16 Feb // // 10pm – 4am // £3 – £4

the old bookshop

VENUES // 47

65 North Street, Bristol, BS3 1ES | @theoldbookshop | The Old Bookshop | 0117 953 5222 | theoldbookshop.co.uk

The Old Bookshop is an informal, sociable café-bar located on North Street. With its eclectic decor, homemade food, unique cocktail bar, boatyard beer garden, and famous Sunday roasts, The Old Bookshop is known for doing things its own way. The bar showcases guest ales and local craft beers week-by-week, and the ever-changing menu from guest chefs, pop-ups and street food vendors.

EL MORGAN AND THE DIVERS

Combining the darker side of folk, achingly beautiful country and a hint of something heavier, El Morgan and The Divers refuse to conform to expectations. Support from Neil Sutherland.

9 Feb // 8pm –11pm // Free

SŒUR + GOAN DOGS

22 Feb // 8pm – 11pm // Free

SWX XX

48 // VENUES

15 Nelson Street, Bristol, BS1 2JY | @swxbristol | facebook.com/swxbristol | 0117 945 0325 | swxbristol.com

SWX is a live music venue and event space in Bristol city centre. Equipped with a state of the art sound & lighting system, they host some of the biggest gigs the city has to offer. It’s also home to two of Bristols most loved Club Nights; Far Fetched every Friday and CODEC every Saturday night. Head to SWXBristol.com for their latest listings.

KELELA

With her powerful experimental RnB sound and critically acclaimed debut LP Take Me Apart catching everyone’s attention, Kelela’s first headline performance in Bristol promises to be a memorable show.

23 Feb // 7pm - 10pm // £14.50

WILKINSON

With chart topping RAM releases and Afterglow reaching over 60 million plays on Youtube, Wilkinson is no stranger to the drum and bass community. Catch him at SWX this March for a night to remember.

3 Mar // 10.30pm - Late // £7

thekla

VENUES // 49

The Grove, Bristol, BS1 4RB | @theklabristol | facebook.com/theklabristol | 0117 929 3301 | theklabristol.co.uk

Bristol’s only music venue and club on a boat! From live toe-tapping Americana to the dirtiest Dubstep this side of London and everything in between, we have all your musical needs covered. We play host to the cream of the city’s weekly club nights as well as national and international touring live acts every week. Welcome aboard!

GIRAFFAGE

Young American, multi-instrumentalist, Giraffage is a master at delivering the perfect blend of dreamy electronica to delight the ears. Catch him at Thekla this February, with support from special guests Hotel Garuda.

THEKLA

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

8 Feb // 7pm – 11pm // £12.50

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

TUESDAY 27TH FEBRUARY

THURSDAY 1ST FEBRUARY

THE OH HELLOS

HIGH TYDE

+ CAROUSEL

WENESDAY 28TH FEBRUARY

FRIDAY 2ND FEBRUARY

HOLDING ABSENCE & LOATHE

THE TEXAS GENTLEMAN SATURDAY 3RD FEBRUARY

HOT SNAKES

THURSDAY 1ST MARCH

ELLI INGRAM

THURSDAY 8TH FEBRUARY

GIRAFFAGE

+ HOTEL GARUDA

FRIDAY 2ND MARCH

K.FLAY

SATURDAY 10TH FEBRUARY

WAY OUT WEST LIVE

TUESDAY 6TH MARCH

MAHALIA

MONDAY 12TH FEBRUARY

THE ATARIS

THURSDAY 8TH MARCH

SOLD OUT

TUESDAY 13TH FEBRUARY

HOLLIE COOK

+ GENERAL ROOTS

THE DIY CLASS OF 2018 TOUR

FEATURING: PALE WAVES + OUR GIRL + BLOXX

WEDNESDAY 14TH FEBRUARY

FRIDAY 9TH MARCH

AMENRA & BORIS

INSECURE MEN

THURSDAY 15TH FEBRUARY

KING 810

SATURDAY 10TH MARCH

THE RAILS

+ COURTESANS + HEALER

SATURDAY 17TH FEBRUARY

SUNDAY 11TH MARCH

PARADISE LOST SUNDAY 18TH FEBRUARY

DERMOT KENNEDY

SOLD OUT

WEDNESDAY 17TH FEBRUARY

THE WORLD IS A BEAUTIFUL PLACE & I AM NO LONGER AFRAID TO DIE

BUTCHER BABIES

MONDAY 19TH MARCH

THE GARDEN

FRIDAY 23RD FEBRUARY

WILL HOGE

WEDNESDAY 21ST MARCH

ZAK ABEL

SATURDAY 24TH FEBRUARY

THE STYLE COUNCILLORS

THURSDAY 22ND MARCH

TOM WALKER

SUNDAY 25TH FEBRUARY

THE BOXER REBELLION

FRIDAY 23RD MARCH

MARY SPENDER

HOLLIE COOK

13 Feb // 7pm – 11pm // £12.50

to the moon

50 // VENUES

27-29 Midland Road, Old Market, St Philips, Bristol BS2 0JT | @tothemoonbris | facebook.com/pg/tothemoonbristol | 07845 700194 | tothemoon.cc

A new venue off the beaten track of Old Market’s main streets, To The Moon is a bar-come-boutique and vintage shop, serving up awesome cocktails, local beers and Pieminister pies, with a great spirit collection – particularly when it comes to rum, with over 20 top-notch rums to try. To The Moon also puts on a growing range of club nights and gigs and are currently on the lookout for more DJs and promoters to get involved.

BAD LIFE CHOICES CLUB - KARAOKE AT TO THE MOON After the festive sing song, To The Moon look forward to bringing you the next BLCC crew event. Expect singing, dancing, prizes, drink offers and lots of fun. Much more than your average karaoke night.

3 Feb // 8pm – 12am // Free

CHICA BOOM! DJ ROCKA LULA

Finger snappin’, foot tappin’ DJ Rocka Lula will grace To The Moon with a veritable cornucopia of music. Be prepared for a night of soulful beats with a few wild cards thrown in to keep the party going.

10 Feb // 8pm – 12am // Free

trinity

VENUES // 51

The Trinity Centre, Trinity Road, Bristol, BS2 0NW | @trinitybristol | facebook.com/trinitybristol | 0117 935 1200 | 3ca.org.uk

One of the few truly independent venues with performances from the likes of Gorillaz, Daniel Johnston, Roni Size and Animal Collective as well as a venue for great club nights like Teachings in Dub and now Bump Rollerdisco. Famous for hosting some legendary band names such as U2, Massive Attack, Portishead, Public Enemy and The Specials. Trinity can rightly claim to be the birthplace of the Bristol sound.

SUBLOADED: TECTONIC 100

23 Feb // 10pm – 5am // £7 – £13

47SOUL: BRISTOL ALBUM LAUNCH

The highly anticipated album launch by the Jordan, Syria and Palestine based musicians is finally here, and their exclusive performance at Trinity will be an unforgettable introduction to their full-length debut masterpiece, Balfron.

24 Feb // 8.30pm – 12.30am // £10 – £12

BRISTOL’S BIGGEST AND BEST INDIE A N D A LT E R N AT I V E C L U B N I G H T EVERY THURSDAY AT THEKLA BRISTOL

2 FOR 1 DRINKS DEALS ALL NIGHT ¬ ȝ ŧ pressurebristol • www.thekla.club • www.pressureclub.co.uk Please drink responsibly

EVERY saturday 11PM-4AM the fleece 12 St Thomas St, Bristol BS1 6JJ

drinks from £1 entry from £4

Tickets and info: www.thepropaganda.com propaganda djs playing Arctic Monkeys Blink-182 bastille blossoms The Strokes The 1975 ed sheeran CATFISH & THE BOTTLEMEN & more!