Nitelife May 2019 by NITELIFE

COVER SHOT: DOMINIKA SCHEIBINGER

DOCUMENTING BRISTOLâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S NIGHTLIFE CULTURE SINCE 2007

L MAY - 2019

CROSSTOWW N CONCERTS

P R E S E N T S

PLUS

PLUS YUSSEF DAYES

WEDNESDAY 26 JUNE

THURSDAY 27 JUNE

BY ARRANGEMENT WITH CODA AGENCY

BY ARRANGEMENT WITH UNITED TALENT AGENCY

UK TOUR

SILENT ALARM PLUS AND L I Z

L AW R E N C E

T U O D L O S

PLUS AND

FRIDAY 28 JUNE

SATURDAY 29 JUNE

BY ARRANGEMENT WITH 13 ARTISTS

BY ARRANGEMENT WITH X-RAY

SUNDAY 02 JUNE 2019

THE EXCHANGE BRISTOL

METHYLETHEL.COM

PLUS SPECIAL GUESTS

SUNDAY 30 JUNE BY ARRANGEMENT WITH BLOW UP LIVE

CANONS MARSH AMPHITHEATRE BRISTOL HARBOURSIDE @BRISTOLSOUNDS

T @BRISTOL_SOUNDS

f /BRISTOLSOUNDSOFFICIAL

SUBJECT TO LICENCE

13 september

uk europe 2019 pixiesmusic.com

motorpoint arena

TUESDAY 15 OCTOBER

TRAMSHED CARDIFF

The New Album RECKLESS AND ME Out Now

cardiff

by arrangement with ATC

by arrangement with x-ray

TRAMSHED CARDIFF

14+ . 7pm komedia . bath wednesday 27th november

THE NEW ALBUM GALLIPOLI OUT NOW ON 4AD BY ARRANGEMENT WITH CODA AGENCY

T I C K E T S AVA I L A B L E F R O M

BRISTOLTICKETSHOP.CO.UK - TICKETMASTER.CO.UK TICKETWEB.UK - SEETICKETS.COM - GIGANTIC.COM @CROSSTOWN_LIVE -

/CROSSTOWNCONCERTS -

@CROSSTOWNCONCERTS

PLUS SPECIAL GUESTS

SUNDAY 25 AUGUST

BEIRUT

new album - out september 2019

UK TOUR 2019

TH JUNE 2019 8 Y SATURDA

L O T S I BR

BBQ

Y AREA 1: HOSPITALIT E ROLLERS NGS OF TH

KI ICITY R T K E L E N O LOND AFIX R G B 2 B K I R T ME LOGISTICS KEENO E HUGH HARDI UNGLUED LENS SPECIAL GUESTS: YPES THE PROTOT HOSTED BY

C DYNAMITE M EXAS T / Y H S 2 / INJA

AREA 2: S.P.Y PRESENTS DUBPLATE STYLE

S.P.Y LTJ BUKEM RANDALL DJ DIE NICKY BLACKMARKET DAZEE PARTICLE THE BLAST DJS SPECIAL GUEST: DJ ZINC

(TRUST ME I WAS THERE SET) HOSTED BY

GQ / LOWQUI / JAKES CARASEL / CHUNKY

AREA 3: DAZED

SUB ZERO DJ LIMITED SAXXON DUTTA KY DAZED DJS 12:00-22:0 MOTION C 0 O 74-78 AVO URTYARD N TICKETS: HO ST, BS2 0PX SPITALITY DNB.COM

BAM!BAM!BAM! P R E S E NTS

madlib DJ SET

kamaal williams LIVE

the heliocentrics LIVE

carista DJ SET

24 AUGUST MARBLE FACTORY BRISTOL THE LEGENDARY PRODUCER LEADS AN UNMISSABLE SONIC INVAZION OF GROOVES, MOVES & RHYTHM

HIGHLIGHTS

best events this month 22-25

WIN

Win tickets to Bristol sounds 26

PROFILES

the rupees 27 prok | fitch 27

PREVIEW

alfa mist 28-29

PREVIEW

crazy p 36-37

LOCAL TALENT

cut capers 38-39

THE INFLUENCERS

MAY

john blakeley 40-41

FEATURED VENUES

51 Stokes Croft 44 O2 Academy 45 the Canteen 46 colston hall Presents 47 Crofters Rights 48

Exchange 49 The Fleece 50 The Full Moon 51 GALLIMAUFRY 52 hy-brasil 53

the lanes 55 Motion 55 Mr Wolfs 56 Old Market Assembly 57 swx 58

THekla 59 to thE moon 60 Trinity 61

Photography: Dominika Scheibinger / Martin Thompson / Ania Shrimpton / Khali Photography / Mark Bub Watts / Paul Lippiatt / Connor Baker / Rigo Luchi / Dean Forrest / Darren Andrews 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 adhesive-design.co.uk | Accounts Executive Luke Guest Features Abi Lewis, Sarah MacPherson, Archie Edwards | Head of Photography Dominika Scheibinger | Print Stephens & George | Distribution Javier Fox

10 // SELECTION

SELECTION // 11

12 // SELECTION

SELECTION // 13

14 // SELECTION

SELECTION // 15

16 // SELECTION

SELECTION // 17

The Best UK Stand Up Comedy in Bristol

promotes

Operating since 1994

1994 2019 STAND UP FOR THE WEEKEND 25 YEARS OF OPERATION 21 YEARS AT THE HEN & CHICKEN

TOP UK CIRCUIT STAND UP COMEDIANS IN BRISTOL'S BEST VENUE FOR LIVE COMEDY THE HEN & CHICKEN STUDIO, 210 North St, Southville, Bristol, BS3 1JF

THURSDAY 9 MAY 8PM £13

SAT 11 MAY 8.30PM £12 ADV/ £14 OTD*/ £15 DOOR U

K TO UR CHRIS McCAUSLAND

JOE SUTHERLAND

One of the UK's top stand-ups Chris McCausland is on tour. He's blind. He's a dad. He's a husband. He's third in command. He'll speaky about all of that, and loads more. "A joke heavy show with gags a plenty" The List

Joe Sutherland is a baby-faced comedian with the voice of an angel on 40 B&H a day. With a caustic, catty wit and unapologetic confidence, he has taken the UK comedy circuit by the balls. "Demands attention... He exudes a star quality, and on his own terms...." Chortle

SPEAKY BLINDER

SAT 18 MAY 8.30PM £12 ADV/ £14 OTD*/ £15 DOOR

with MARK SIMMONS

SAT 25 MAY 8.30PM £12 ADV/ £14 OTD*/ £15 DOOR

ANDREW RYAN

JARLATH REGAN

Irishman Andrew Ryan is one of the most sought-after comics in recent years. His storytelling abilities and cheeky, friendly demeanour makes him a natural observational stand-up. "Made his set look easy, left us wanting more. A must see act" The Stage

Award winning comedian, writer and star of the hit Irish panel show, The Panel, Jarlath Regan has gained a reputation with the industry and audiences for his uplifting, inventive and relentlessly funny stand-up. "A subtle yet sublime helping of observational wit" The Herald

with FERN BRADY

THURSDAY 30 MAY 8PM £15

with CHRIS BETTS

UK T OUR

SAT 1 JUNE 8.30PM £12 ADV/ £14 OTD*/ £15 DOOR

ASHLEY BLAKER & IMRAN YUSUF

PAUL MYREHAUG

Two great religions. Two great comedians. The descendants of Abraham may have gone their separate ways but now stand-up comedian friends Ashley Blaker and Imran Yusuf are joining forces in the most-unlikely double-act. "A slickly funny stand-up show." New York Times

Canadian Paul Myrehaug is an international touring comedian with frequent appearances on TV, radio and at festivals all over the world. He is a sharp performer with a great stage presence. "Dry, dark but with an irrepressible youthful charm" The Toronto Star

PROPHET SHARING

SAT 8 JUNE 8.30PM £12 ADV/ £14 OTD*/ £15 DOOR

with NAOMI COOPER

SAT 15 JUNE 8.30PM £12 ADV/ £14 OTD*/ £15 DOOR

MATT RICHARDSON

ANDREW BIRD

Star of E4's The Hangover Games, comedian and TV presenter Matt Richardson is back for more. Heat Magazine's Weird Crush Of The Year 2014 headlines with his high wattage charisma and charm. "Talented young comic whose star is on the rise" The Guardian

Andrew Bird has supported many of the UK's top comedians on tour, including Rhod Gilbert, Rob Brydon and Michael McIntyre. Join him for a show jam-packed with observations and stories about the petty grievances of modern life. "Truly an excellent comedian" Michael McIntyre

with ROSS SMITH

with ROBIN MORGAN

* ADV = Advance booking online/ OTD = On The Day online

See more / book online: THECOMEDYBOX.CO.UK

22 // HIGHLIGHTS

MAY

3. PETER DOHERTY

Words: Abi Lewis

4. NORMAN JAY

HIGHLIGHTS 1. JAPANESE TELEVISION + THE PROHIBITION

New to the scene band, Japanese Television bring their own interpretation of psychedelic rock to the table. The instrumental band will be performing their soundscape sounds to Mr Wolfs this month, alongside The Prohibition who’ll be delivering their rhythmic ‘dream pop’. 3 May // 9pm – 3am // £3-£4 // Mr Wolfs

2. LA RUMBA: AFRO-LATIN NIGHT

You can’t beat finding your happy place on the dancefloor and busting out your favourite dance moves until the venue lights go up. Get ready for a night of Afro-Latin and African music with DJ La Rumba that will guide you in your happy place. 4 May // 8pm – 12am // Free // To The Moon

Pretty sure at some point or another we’ve all shared a worried thought about The Libertines frontman Peter Doherty, but to be fair to the guy, he’s proved us all wrong and pushed through. Now, with his new band The Puta Madres, Doherty is coming to Bristol to showcase his new material. 5 May // 7pm – 11pm // £31.70 // O2 Academy

Bambalan’s roof terrace transports you to the other side of the world where the sun is always shinning and the tunes are always playing. This May, the Bambalan crew are kicking off the first of their Summer Sessions in style with an exclusive terrace party, headlined by the incredible Norman Jay MBE. 5 May // 3pm – 10pm // £11.25 - £13.92 // Bambalan

5. DAY + NIGHT SUMMER PARTY

It’s back to our favourite time of the year when all the beer gardens of Bristol come to life. No.51 will be welcoming the sun with an all-day terrace party and all-night knees up to get us in the mood, bringing disco, house, techno and of course, pizza 5 May // 3pm – 3am // Free until 9pm // No.51 Stokes Croft

6. COLSTON HALL PRESENTS: FLAMINGODS

The Flamingods are a disco-funk-psych combo for your ears. Their new album Levitation is set for release on the 3rd of May and to celebrate, Colston Hall Presents are taking them to Exchange for an evening of psych-funk. 8 May // 8pm – 11pm // £10.90 // Exchange

7. PEARL CHARLES + JOSIE BLAKELOCK

Pearl Charles likes to take both ends of the musical spectrum from garage pop to country-rock and create a new spectrum of sound in its own right. Her relatable lyrics from the 2018 album Sleepless Dreamer caught our attention and we hope they catch yours too. Support from Josie Blakelock. 10 May // 7.30pm – 10.30pm // Free // Hy-Brasil

8. RUM BUFFALO

We instantly had chills after listening to Rum Buffalo for the first time. Blending together hip hop with prog rock and moulding it into a listening experience you won’t forget in a hurry. See their melodies come to life at Old Market Assembly this May. 10 May // 11pm – 1am // £4.50 // Old Market Assembly

HIGHLIGHTS // 23

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9. DESIIGNER

Brookylyn-born rapper has turned a few heads with his experimental flow and singer-songwriter techniques. The 21-year-old ‘Panda’ artist is heading to SWX this month to perform music from his 2018 album Don Talk amongst other classics. 11 May // 7pm – 10pm // £19.50 // SWX

10. PERPETUAL: SASHA + CASSY + JONAS RATHSMAN Sasha is without a doubt one of the biggest and most iconic names in dance music. He returns to Bristol for a rare appearance with support from Cassy, Jonas Rathsman and more. Don’t miss it! 11 May // 10pm – 5am // £15.30 - £20.13 // Motion

11. KRS ONE

All hail one of the most respected figures in hip hop history, KRS One. Pioneering with Boogie Down Productions and then going on to continue with a solo career, KRS One is the godfather of hip hop many MCs look up to. Catch him life at Trinity this May. 14 May // 7pm – 11pm // £19.80 // Trinity Centre

12. SHOTGUN DRUM & BASS SESSION

Join the Shotgun crew for their weekly drum & bass night. Showcasing home grown talent from the heart of Bristol and powered by an in-house Void Acoustics sound system, this opendecks night welcomes to all local DJs to come along and have a go. 14 May // 8pm – 1am // Free // Faraway Cocktail Club

13. ALFA MIST

Alpha Mist has been making huge waves in the jazz community, including his recent collaborations with leading jazz percussionist Yussef Dayes. Alfa Mist will be taking his perfect blend of jazz, hip hop and soul to a whole new level at Trinity this May. 15 May // 7pm – 11pm // £13 // Trinity Centre

14. STEREO MC’S

Stereo MC’s are heading to Bristol to bring back the sweet sounds of the nineties, educate the younger ears and deliver a nostalgia trip for others. Famous for singles like Connected (think ’98 Carphone Warehouse advert) and Step It Up, this music will take you back to the simpler times. 16 May // 7.30pm – 11pm // £16 // The Fleece

15. DOT TO DOT FESTIVAL

It’s that time of year again and we cannot wait. Dot to Dot Festival is back with another huge lineup to get your eclectic taste buds dancing. Split across venues across the city, this year’s lineup includes headliners Crystal Fighters, Jordan Rakei, Swim Deep and more. 25 May // 11am – 11pm // £15.40 // Various Venues

16. COOL CALM COLLECTIVE PRESENTS: AUXTERIOR MOTIVE

We love a good hands-on immersive event. Auxterior Motive have some special tricks up their sleeves to create an event for the people, by the people. You can even post a song request when you purchase your ticket! Grab yours now to avoid missing out on this music event. 16 May // 11pm – 3am // £4 // The Crofters Rights

17. MCABRE BROTHERS

UK hip hop collective featuring Lee Scott, Milkavelli and SUMGii are back with their new single Tell A Friend and are ready to show Bristol their twisted humour in their verses are still as bold as ever. 16 May // 7pm – 11pm // £15.40 // Attic Bar

18. CRAZY P

Crazy P know how to bring the essence of disco to life. Now, the pop, electronic fusion are about to embark on their 2019 tour, to celebrate their latest release Age of the Ego. 18 May // 7pm – 11pm // £18 // Trinity Centre

24 // HIGHLIGHTS

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HIGHLIGHTS 19. BIMM LIVE SHOWCASE

BIMM is a creative hub for local talent, so what better way to check out the future generation of Bristol music than to attend the Live Showcase at Thekla this month. Featuring 20 acts, this night will be back to back with material from a whole host of genres. 20 May // 7pm – 10pm // Free // Thekla

20. GAIKA

UK rapper Gaika has been riding the wave of success since the release of his debut album last year Basic Volume. Now he is heading to Exchange this month as part of his album tour. Expect big beats, bracing lyrics and a whole lot more. 21 May // 7.30pm – 11pm // £10 // Exchange

21. CHILDREN OF ZEUS

“Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.” Children of Zeus are returning to Bristol for another memorable show. This duo brought the spark back into soul with a healthy dose of hip hop. 21 May // 7pm – 10pm // £14.85 // Thekla

22. ORLATA

Lizzie Kirwan’s soothing vocals is enough to put anyone at ease after a long day. Join Lizzie and her band Orlata at The Canteen for an evening of gorgeous soul-jazz and easy-going beats. 22 May // 9.30pm – 11.30pm // Free // The Canteen

23. FOREIGN BEGGARS + LIVE BAND

Yes, you read that right, Foreign Beggars are hitting up The Attic Bar this month with a brand new live band. The pioneering UK rap collective will be performing some new unreleased material, along with some of their classics. 23 May // 7pm – 12am // £15.65 // Full Moon & Attic Bar

24. ERRATIC BATTING PRESENTS: MILDLIFE

Erratic Batting are bringing Mildlife all the way from Melbourne to Bristol this month. We cannot wait to get stuck in and witness their sun-kissed sounds as they perform their Herbie Hancock and Can infused jazz, electronica. 23 May // 7pm – 12am // £10 // The Lanes

25. KAMASI WASHINGTON

Kamasi Washington is one of the biggest names in contemporary jazz right now and his music sends shivers down our spines. The American saxophonist has performed with the likes of Flying Lotus, Ibeyi, Thundercat and Herbie Hancock. Catch him at the O2 performing music from his latest album Heaven and Earth. 23 May // 7pm – 11pm // £32.80 // 02 Academy

26. CHAPTER AND VERSE

You may not have had the opportunity to see Chapter and Verse before, but things are about to change. The London based alt-rock band are hitting the road for their debut UK headline tour. Plus, support from Delaire the Liar, Winchester, Scandals and Verus. 23 May // 6pm – 11pm // £7.70 // Hy-Brasil

27. SKUTCH MANOS

Looking for some high energy and entertainment to prepare you for the weekend? Look no further because Skutch Manos have got you covered. Just like if Led Zeppelin, Santana and Nick Drake had a baby. 23 May // 9pm – 12am // Free // The Canteen

HIGHLIGHTS // 25

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28. BODYROCK PRESENTS: RED RACK’EM

Glorified party starters, Bodywork will be taking over Crofters Rights this month with their very special guest, techno-house DJ and producer Red Rack’Em. His style and energy behind the decks makes this seasoned selector the perfect dancefloor filler. 25 May // 11pm - 3am // £5 // The Crofters Rights

29. TO THE MOON 3RD BIRTHDAY

To The Moon are celebrating their 3rd birthday this month and you’re all invited. Join the To The Moon family for an evening of celebrations, with DJ’s and irresistible drinks offers at your favourite cosy venue. 25 May // 7pm – 12am // Free // To The Moon

30. LOVE SAVES THE DAY

Love Saves The Day is back for its eighth year of fun, sun and great music. This year’s eclectic lineup boasts a selection of your favourite names from all genres. Grab your tickets to check out the likes of headline acts, Lily Allen, Maribou State, Chase & Status and Not3s. 25 – 26 May // 1pm – 11pm // £49.50 // Eastville Park

31. FORTH & BACK HIP HOP JAM

Forth & Back are returning to The Galli for an extended session with special host, Dee Gomez. Together, this jamming session will explore the golden era of hip hop through the lens of Forth & Back. 26 May // 9pm - 1am // Free // The Gallimaufry

32. THE NECKS

The Necks transport you to another musical dimension where jazz-meets-avant-garde fusion. To top it off, every live show performed by the improvising musicians is unique to one another. Prepare to be taken to a higher musical plane at the Exchange this month. 28 May // 7.30pm – 11pm // £18 // Exchange

33. BRY + DAVE GILES

Bry has an endearing charm about him that travels through his personality into his music. This singer songwriter is on a mission to spread his music worldwide and bring joy to every city. This month, Bry stops off at Thekla to perform music from his debut album Bry and more. 29 May // 7pm – 10pm // £11 // Thekla

34. CHICKEN PICNIC: A PLEASANT OUTING

Chicken Picnic events are finger lickin’ that’s for sure. This time round, the crew will be dishing up an all-night session with a great selection of DJ’s at Crofters and Take Five Café. Lineup includes Zebrafi, Jemima Coulter, Stout and more. 31 May // 7pm – 10.30pm // £5-£8 // The Crofters Rights

35. THE ALLERGIES

The Allergies are returning to Colston Hall foyer once again to set the stage on fire. These local gems make you proud to live in Bristol. Joined by silver tongued Ugly Duckling vocalist Andy Cooper, this is set to be one hell of a party. 31 May // 7.30pm – 11.30pm // £13.08 // Colston Hall Foyer

36. WALDO’S GIFT TRIO

This month, Bristol’s leading jazz trio will be bringing their re-work of Weezers Blue Album to the table on the 8th. Plus, they’ll be teaming up with Run Logan Run on the 15th and Pyjaen on the 22nd with an open collaboration on the 29th May. Wednesdays // 9pm - 11pm // Free // The Gallimaufry

26 // COMPETITION

Win TICKETS • Win TICKETS • Win TICKETS

competition

Win 4 x VIP tickets to Bristol Sounds Bloc Party • Tom Misch • Elbow • Cat Empire • Cinematic Orchestra competition Bristol Sounds returns to Canons Marsh Amphitheatre this June for a five-date nightly concert series, featuring some of the biggest and best names on the circuit as the sun sets over Bristol’s scenic Harbourside. Between 26-30 June, Bristol Sounds is inviting Bloc Party, Tom Misch, Elbow, The Cat Empire and The Cinematic Orchestra to take over the outdoor arena in turn. If this year’s headliners weren’t enough, they’ve announced some huge support acts for each show. Hip hop meets jazz-soul trailblazer Tom Misch will be joined by one of the UK’s most exciting jazz artists, Yussef Dayes. The Cat Empire will be enthusiastically warmed up for by Ibibio Sound Machine.

Bloc Party, who will be playing their seminal Silent Alarm in full, is receiving double support in the shape of She Drew the Gun and Liz Lawrence. Mercury Music Prize winners Elbow are also joined by two support acts, The Village and Another Sky. And while The Cinematic Orchestra’s support is yet to be officially announced, you can trust us that it’s a goodun. We’ve got 4 x VIP tickets to give away to the Bristol Sounds show of your choice, including queue jump, access to the VIP guest and viewing areas, and three drinks tokens. For your chance to win, head to nitelifeonline.com/win/BristolSounds2019

PROFILES // 27

profile - HOMEGROWN

profile - incoming

The Rupees

Prok | Fitch

Bristol four-piece The Rupees have been making noise since 2015, though the end of last year saw them come back with a new lineup and more synth-driven sound, with new single Terror Lover. Outer worldly synths meet baritone vocals with just a hint of glam rock. This combined with grizzly guitar and upbeat percussion has earned The Rupees fans up and down the country. The Rupees have been fittingly compared to Kasabian and The Black Keys, and have already received airplay from BBC Radio kingpins Huw Stephens and Steve Lamacq, though it feels like they’re on the cusp of something bigger. The Rupees’ follow up track Titanic is due for release this month, in line with a headline gig at Crofters Rights. Songwriter and frontman Ryan answers our 10 questions...

Ben Prok and James Fitch aka Prok | Fitch have earned worldwide recognition as key players in the dark and techy realms of house. The prolific duo rarely catch their breath with releases coming out of their pores, though at no cost to quality – holding an impressive 16 weeks at the top of the Beatport charts with their Green Velvet collaboration, Sheeple. Between headlining sets around the globe, they’re flying HOME for not one but two sets to celebrate HOME Events’ second birthday this month. Starting off early at Colston Hall’s atrium and roof terrace, Prok | Fitch will then move the party over to The Doghouse till late. In honour of the date, there will be a suitably Star Wars theme running throughout the night, with attendees given the opportunity to side with the Empire or join the Rebellion.

Upcoming shows: 10 May – Crofters Rights

Upcoming shows: 4 May – Colston Hall & The Doghouse

Producers

Band

THOSE QUESTIONS... 1. What have you learned today? Singing with a bad throat sounds good for about two minutes and The 1975 are still utterly terrible. 2. Which song by another artist most inspires you? The Who – Won’t Get Fooled Again. It is completely nuts and awe inspiring. There is a synth line that runs all the way through it and is covered by some massive guitar work and the vocals are absolutely booming. That mix of guitars and synths is something that inspires me in a huge way. Bands like Kasabian in the last 10 years have really taken that mantle, but The Who were doing it back in the 70s. The lyrics are pretty punk and have an us-against-them theme, which is something that appears in my songs quite a lot. 3. Who are your top three acts right now? The Blinders – Loving that BRMC sound they have going on. Some sleazy, muddy rock n roll. The Black Keys – their new track Lo-Hi is a T-Rex inspired boogie fest. IDLES – have to say these guys. They just tear shit up really, really well.

5. If you couldn’t work in music, what would you be doing instead? Trapped in an office somewhere, wishing I could be a musician, or worse, still working for my Dad (that is another story for another time). 6. What was the last book you read? Norwegian Wood – Haruki Murakami. 7. Most recent binge watch? The OA – some mind bending parallel universe shiz going on. Not for everyone, but I love it. 8. Do you have a party trick? I do a good Stewie Griffin impression. 9. Tell us something people don’t generally know about you... I used to be a carpenter… like Jesus. 10. What are you doing tomorrow? Painting the inside of my house. I have gone for brilliant white.

4. It’s 3am and the party is winding down, what track do you play to get everyone going again? Donna Summer – I Feel Love. You have to be a robot not to get excited when this comes on.

THOSE QUESTIONS... 1. What have you learned today? Today has been a promo day: Have spent a large of chunk of the day listening to endless forthcoming releases and ended up with four tracks that we might play out. We’ve learned that perhaps going through all of the promos is more than likely a waste of time.

5. If you couldn’t work in music, what would you be doing instead? That sounds like a horrendous nightmare! Previously James was a slave to the 9 till 5, training people to sell insurance, whilst Ben would be in Sussex at a county pub and most likely drinking and eating away the profits.

2. Which song by another artist most inspires you? Mutually, pretty much anything Daft Punk have ever produced. Their sound is so unique and dancefloor friendly. We spend so much time crate digging for samples, these guys are the absolute masters.

6. What was the last book you read? Would love to say it was something cool, but sadly not at all – Alex Ferguson’s autobiography. Neither of us are fans of Man United, but there’s no doubt he’ll probably be the best manager of our generation.

3. Who are your top three acts right now? The house scene is absolutely buzzing right now and a great place to be. There are lots of very talented emerging artists. Our current favourite three would be Joseph Edmund – makes solid techhouse and is not afraid of using a vocal. We always support his tunes in our DJ sets. Next up, Ben Sterling – loads of hype around Ben and rightfully so, with a barrage of support from across the board, he’s very much got his own vibe and no doubt an exciting career ahead of him. Finally, and by no means a new name, Josh Butler – he’s on fire. We play everything he produces. Technically, his music sounds amazing and always works well in our sets. 4. It’s 3am and the party is winding down, what track do you play to get everyone going again? Funny enough, we recently did an edit of Double 99 Ripgroove, which has been doing this exact job! Having both been massive fans of the original, we’ve very much kept the vibe of the original and given it a modern spin with a rolling, subby bassline. It’s been a causing some serious damage. Can’t wait to drop this in Bristol in May.

therupees.co.uk // @therupees

7. Most recent binge watch? Narcos – we’re absolutely obsessed with this and it makes our trips to Mexico even more enjoyable. Obviously with our job we spend a considerable amount of time on a plane, so binging on a series is a regular thing. 8. Do you have a party trick? James has a very special talent of dealing with a ridiculous amount of shots and not getting too hammered. He’ll be demonstrating this in Bristol. 9. Tell us something people don’t generally know about you... We’re both obsessed by food and we make a habit of trying pretty much anything, with the exception of dog, human and cat. No real shock, but the most unusual thing we ate was in Tokyo: burst in your mouth Cod reproductive sacks filled with, yes, warm cod semen… Not a very pleasant experience. 10. What are you doing tomorrow? We currently couldn’t be any further from Bristol. At the moment we’re getting our sun fix down under and tomorrow we will be making our debut at the infamous Chinese Laundry in Sydney. The club is meant to be crazy, so can’t wait for that one.

prokandfitch.com // @prokfitch

28 // PREVIEW

PREVIEW

ALFA MIST British music culture is experiencing a marked increase in the interesting infusion of jazz and hip hop. The measure of which can be aligned to the influence of London-born producer, pianist, multi instrumentalist and rapper, Alfa Mist. Unlike your typical classically trained jazz pianist, Alfa came into music through making grime and hip hop, but was inspired by the jazz samples he was using, and began teaching himself piano at the age of 17.

I got into jazz through digging for samples ‘I got into other types of music through digging for samples, but I stayed in jazz because there was something about it. I couldn’t understand what was going on, but I enjoyed what was happening.’ Our first introduction to Alfa Mist was his 2015 project Nocturne. He produced the 11-track EP collaborating with close friends and leading protagonists in the new wave jazzhip hop narrative, featuring names like Tom Misch, Jordan Rakei and Barney Artist. Four years on and a glimpse at the development and display of such musicians – alongside more recent collaborations with the likes of drummer Yussef Dayes – all in all, brings to light the calibre of talent within Alfa Mist’s circle of influence. Though a stand-out project in its own right, his follow up two years later was the first real taste of what this truly talented artist could do. 2017’s Antiphon presents a largely instrumental album and a more distinctly Alfa sound. Rather than a collection of songs, Antiphon takes you on a journey and this time Alfa Mist is the only one in the driving seat. That said, collaboration is innate to Alfa Mist and some familiar faces return, including Kaya Thomas-Dyke, who contributes vocals, bass and album artwork, and Jordan Rakei who flies almost under the radar with background harmonies on a couple of tracks. ‘Nocturne was me making music I thought fit the artists that were on it, but in my style. I finished that project and thought, before I carry on producing for others, I’m going to put out a project that is properly and truly myself. I wanted to get something out there that was all me, then I could move on and produce again, but I didn’t expect the massive response Antiphon would get.’ Recorded in only three days and now nearing six million views on Youtube, Antiphon speaks for itself. Rarely is music raw enough that a musician is able to speak through their instrument. A characteristic in tune with greats of the field such as Miles Davis – an inspiration for Alfa – and hip hop acts like 9th Wonder, Little Brother and Hi-Tek. Only time will tell, but through his Yamaha Montage, I’d stake a suggestion that Alfa is no exception to this specialised category. Snippets of speech included on his tracks complement the intricate musicality and brooding complexity resonating from Alfa’s keys. As with his distinct playing style, recordings of conversations with siblings are becoming a trait. On Antiphon his brothers are heard discussing family values, respect, selfishness and more.

a project that is properly and truly myself ‘Speaking to them helps me understand and process things because we all grew up in the same way. They are the closest thing to me trying to understand myself. Their opinions are the closest.’ This device of real, recorded speech supports the cinematic effect also prevalent in Alfa Mist’s sound, adding a layer of reflection to an already immersive listening experience. ‘I just want to raise certain topics with my projects, rather than

PREVIEW // 29

provide any sort of answers – topics that aren’t necessarily discussed or even just brought up, whether you think one way about it or not. I’m not saying one way or the other, I’m just kind of saying, “Hey! Let’s talk about this, let’s bring it up”. I’m not qualified to give any sort of answers, I just make music. That’s what I like doing. That’s how I get what I think across.’

their environment. Alfa Mist’s own upbringing placed more emphasis on stoicism rather than displaying emotion: ‘I grew up in a way where I need to relearn how to communicate, because my environment didn’t really allow me the space to.’

Alfa Mist’s new album Structuralism dropped last month on his own Sekito label. The eight-track record’s key theme of communication is upheld throughout with sentimental significance.

‘Jjajja means Grandma in Ugandan. And the screen is basically me not having a proper relationship with my Grandma because she can’t speak English and I can’t speak Ugandan, so we could never really have a proper conversation. I just thought that was interesting. It’s quite an interesting metaphor for life, I think.’

I just want to raise certain topics, rather than provide any sort of answers ‘On Structuralism I have a conversation with my sister. She’s talking throughout the new album about people not being able to communicate as well as we think we can, because we normally just talk to get our points across – we don’t really talk to understand’. Structuralism as a notion implies people are shaped by

A poignant point on the record that accommodates this sentiment is the album’s fifth track, Jjajja’s Screen.

In this engaged catharsis, Alfa Mist blesses us once again with another work of art not only confined to the jazz-hip hop genre, but in his passion for film music, which rings true in the effect of a string quartet on the album. ‘It’s about the mood as well with my stuff, it’s sort of melancholic. Working with strings gives it a more cinematic feel.’ His sister says at the beginning of the album’s opening track 01 44, ‘For me, now what I’m realising is that I’m done trying to treat people as if they are finished beings, because we are all unfinished. Basically, we are all unravelling.’ This translates through the mood, style, structure and function of the piece. The brilliance of the band seamlessly pulls

together, as with the whole of Antiphon, in the traditional jazz approach with improvisation. Tranquil, mellow and at times chaotic. Classical, groovy and filmic. It belongs here and there, and by not being completely contained, it becomes complete to itself. A piece of art, which correlates straight through to the artist. ‘I’m a part of a black diaspora and we are sort of in a place where I don’t really belong anywhere. I’m sort of everything and I’m sort of nothing at the same time.’ He has been described as ‘a shining light of the London jazz scene’, but it is in the darkness that he uncovers that illuminates Alfa Mist as a truly contemporary musician and band leader. Bristol will be welcoming Alfa Mist back this month for his Structuralism tour, coming to Trinity on 15 May. ‘I’m excited to go back to Bristol. Bristol is sick! The last show I did there was ridiculously good, man. It felt like a London show. Bristol is huge for me.’

Words: Archie Edwards 15 May – Alfa Mist, Trinity soundcloud.com/alfamist @AlfaMist

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36 // PREVIEW

PREVIEW

CRAZY P While today disco music is nearly as common on the circuit as any other style of dance music, Crazy P have been peddling their underground disco sounds far and wide long before it was so widely appreciated. Formed in 1995 by producers and multi-instrumentalists Chris Todd and Jim Baron, within a few years Crazy P had become a fully fledged band, complete with bass guitar, drums and lead vocals from Danielle Moore. Although disco, particularly of the house-driven variety, has surged in popularity over the last few years, as a live band Crazy P have remained an anomaly, with the baton mostly having been picked up by producers. Crazy P’s unique mix of electronic and live elements sets them apart – and makes for an infamously good show.

we have a massive youth following now Crazy P have been touring non-stop since the release of 2015’s Walk Dance Talk Sing, between the band’s three incarnations: the live band, Crazy P Sound System and Crazy P DJ sets. However, their new album Age of the Ego finally lands this month with 11 new tracks and a UK album tour to boot, stopping at in Trinity on 18 May and returning again in August for The Downs. We had a chat with Danielle about the new record, Crazy P’s success and not changing with the times – ‘We’ve just made music that, at any given time, we felt we wanted to make’ says Danielle. ‘We’ve pursued that disco angle because it’s what we like – we’ve been influenced by it, it’s our roots. And the house music element has come in along the way, as we’ve been growing up and we’ve gone to various clubs, for example. Every time we’ve written a piece of music, we’ve been true to ourselves. But with regards to disco coming into fashion, I suppose it’s given us a longevity that we never thought we were going to have. We’ve noticed that we have a massive youth following now. ‘I think we reached a point of exhaustion in late 2000 where our loyal crowd were getting older – as we all are – but they were stopping going out, they were having kids... And now we’ve got this sudden late surge of 20 something year olds breathing new life into our popularity.’ Crazy P have managed to maintain a balance of keeping true to the traditional sounds of disco that inspire them, and evolving to their own tastes to keep things interesting. They still offer something completely unique, despite more than 20 years in the game and eight albums now under their belt. ‘The good thing about the guys I play in the band with, and particularly Jim and Chris, who are the producers, is that they all play live instruments – they’re musicians. They can play a variety of instruments and can work with new sounds and modern technology, and intertwine the two. I think that the live band fuels a certain fire and the production side fuels another. We try and integrate the two constantly.’

the live band fuels a certain fire and the production side fuels another This fusing of the two sides of musicianship is not just confined to the studio and is very much a part of their live act, whether that involves Danielle’s live vocals over the Crazy P Sound System, or the full live band manipulating sound on stage. Crazy P’s reputation for a good live show often precedes them and they’ve recruited many new fans in festival fields around the world. However, their recorded material more than holds its own without the weight of a sound system and is as well suited to a late night afterparty as a Sunday barbecue. ‘Once you’ve given your record over to the public, I suppose

PREVIEW // 37

you’re just really pleased when they like it. We have had some quite interesting messages, like “we conceived our baby to this”. I suppose there’s two angles to our records; if people are listening to the lyrics, they might really get into the lyrical side of things, but I think usually it’s just a general feeling or emotion. When I used to listen to Steely Dan, or Prince, or The Cure or Madonna, I might get up and start dancing in the middle of the day, or I might recite all the words, or I might pretend I was playing guitar – music should inspire something. If that’s to get up and do something or feel an emotion, then I’d be happy with that. If it’s played at barbecues, or if Heartbreaker is played at a funeral – brilliant – it’s had an effect.’

before – to take two weeks out of life and all get together at the same time and do it.’

Crazy P as a Bristol band, with a long history of playing here and an iron fanbase.

There are also some more chilled songs on Age of the Ego, particularly the album’s closer, Night Rain, which comes as a bit of a surprise from such a dancefloor-orientated group.

‘Our agent was based in Bristol and we have strong connections with Dave Harvey and Future Boogie – he’s been a really good friend of ours. We met them the Garden Festival in Croatia, which is now Love International. Our manager lives in Bristol. So there’s always been kind of a Bristol family – that’s where the managerial heart is. It’s where the control centre is. That’s where that connection lies and still is.’

While there are plenty of synth-driven bangers on the album, Age of the Ego as a whole sounds more live than previous releases, particularly in songs like This Fire and Kari. It also presents as a more cohesive project altogether; two elements that come as a result of writing together as a five-piece band, within a limited space and time frame, Danielle explains.

‘With Night Rain, initially we were almost joking around and doing a bit of a ballad, but then every day when we got back into the barn to jam, we’d say “shall we play that one again?” And so the hook kind of stuck with us. Then, lyrically, I remember sitting down one night and feeling a bit emotional because I was missing home and it was absolutely chucking it down, and just writing the song.

‘We actually wrote it on the estate of Gottwood Festival. We camped up on the Gottwood estate, we stayed in some of the outhouses and I stayed in the barn. We set up all our instruments and we just jammed for two weeks. ‘At times, when we were knackered, it felt like a prison sentence, but we managed to pull ourselves round and realise how lucky we were, because we’ve never had that opportunity

we are passionate performers and very sweaty performers

‘We’ve been playing it in rehearsals and, to be honest, it’s kind of our favourite one at the minute. It might be a reflection of our age collectively, or it might be because it’s really live, three of us sing on it and, I dunno, sometimes it’s nice to sing ballads.’ Despite Danielle’s Mancunian accent, it’s easy to think of

You can expect their show at Trinity this month to be buzzing to the steeples, as Crazy P bring the new tracks to life on stage for one of the first times. ‘I will say we are passionate performers and very sweaty performers. We’re working on our stagecraft as we speak – Tim’s threatening to wear some gold lamé shorts, but there’s been a warning about that! We’re feeling fuelled from these two weeks rehearsing, and it’s certainly coming from an incredibly passionate place.’

Words: Rachel Morris 18 May – Crazy P, Trinity // 31 August – The Downs Festival soundcloud.com/crazyp @crazypmusic

38 // LOCAL TALENT

BIMM BRISTOL PRESENTS LOCAL TALENT

CUT CAPERS

Formed in 2011, live hip hop, jazz and swing troupe Cut Capers have become part of the fabric of every summer’s festival scene, piling into their van and playing around the country from Glastonbury to Boomtown. They even have their own beer dedicated to them, after Cartref Brewing Company saw their set at Boomtown. Launched in Bristol last month, the Cut Capers-created 5.6% wheat beer is called Pinstripe in honour of Cut Caper’s first ever song. Eight years on and Cut Capers are ready to release their second album Metropolis this month. Recorded at Monnow Valley Studio (previously home to the likes of Queen, Black Sabbath and Iggy Pop), the big, brassy and bouncing record is testament to how far this now nine-piece has come. Cut Capers was born out of an old friendship, when school friends Mark (vocals and sax) and Nick (guitar) met bassist Zac and drummer Matt. They found an online ad posted by Bristolbased Galician MC Eloy and began jamming together as a five-piece, with a mission to create live, energetic hip hop. Cut Capers continued to grow in size and influences, recruiting baritone saxophonist Tom and vocalist Jane as their sound veered further into swing-infused, jazzy hip hop territory. Cut Capers’ quest to beef out their horn section was finally complete after rounding up Babyhead’s trombone player Long, who met Cut Capers at a gig as Babyhead was coming to a close, and Royal College of Music-trained trumpet player

Elliot, who had previously played with Imperial Leisure and The King Blues. ‘Nine is a good number – nine fits in a van!’ Jane laughs, as we sit down to chat with her, Mark and Nick. With members’ birthplaces ranging from Algeria to Essex, there is a mix of culture apparent in their sound that runs deeper than Elroy’s hard-hitting Galician rap vocals at the forefront of their sound.

There’s a more cohesive sound across this album ‘The basslines Zac comes up with when he’s jamming, he has a slightly different way of thinking’ says Mark. ‘He’s got an Algerian brain, doesn’t he?’ says Nick. ‘There’s a North African rhythmical element in the bass, and then Eloy with his Galician lyrics and vocals – those are the two big ones. And then I’d say Bristol’s sound is our main influence after that, that combination of reggae and hip hop and brass.’ Despite nine musicians’ individual personalities, there’s no doubting they’ve rubbed off on each other over the years

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and countless gigs they’ve played together. As a nine piece they have a fluidity and intuitiveness that can’t be feigned, no matter how many hours of practice are put in. The horns and rhythm anticipate ebbs and flows in the vocals and vice versa, allowing Cut Capers to improvise and give an in-the-moment performance every time. ‘You can definitely tell we’ve been together for a lot longer on this album’ says Jane. ‘The first album we did, we were just kind of forming’ says Mark. ‘There’s a more cohesive sound across this album.’ One of the things that makes Cut Capers so special is a sense of storytelling to the point of fairytale in the way their songs are delivered, that far transcends the cabaret-esque sentiment that often comes with swing-influenced music. ‘We always try and make everything we do enjoyable, so if it’s an escapist kind of angle, that’s fun for us’ says Mark. ‘It’s about creating that fun atmosphere and vibe’ says Jane. ‘Our songs are a reflection of what our gigs are like. Feet Off the Ground on the new album is basically written about when we were in Venice on tour in 2017.’ ‘Which was amazing’ adds Mark. ’It was like, oh my god, we can literally travel the world together and play music.’ A good statement of the band’s progression from a live party

LOCAL TALENT // 39 band into polished and professional recording artists is their choice to include the title track from their debut album Say What on the new record. With a few more years under their belt and a renowned recording studio at their disposal, they took the chance to give a great song justice. ‘The reason we rerecorded Say What is because we love Monnow Valley and the sound we produce there is amazing. We love Say What so much that we wanted to be able to give it that Monnow Valley sparkle.’ Cut Capers built their reputation as a live band and, aside from a collection of great original songs, the biggest feat on the new album is how well they have managed to capture their energy – something live bands routinely struggle with. ‘We just do the same thing!’ Jane explains. ‘We basically all got in a room and did the track live and jumped around to get that fun feeling and translate that live energy across the recording. It’s quite difficult if you’re all recording your parts individually to get that across.’ ‘Getting that energy on record is hard and that’s the main thing we really wanted to do’ says Nick. ‘We had all the horns recorded together facing each other and having a laugh’ says Mark. ‘And when me and Eloy did our rap stuff, we were in the room together with quite a lot of the band backing us up.’ ‘We’d switch the lights off sometimes, so people could go a bit crazy!’ says Jane.

It’s about creating that fun atmosphere and vibe Cut Capers signed to Freshly Squeezed at the beginning of this year, who will be putting the album out around the world this May. However, the album itself was pretty much finished by the time Freshly Squeezed got involved, with Cut Capers’ fans helping fund the project via an Indiegogo campaign, where fans could preorder the finished album, as well special perks including a credit on the album or even a drum lesson with Matt. ‘The album was pretty finished’ Mark explains. ‘They added some sparkly extra bits, but Freshly Squeezed have been more of a great platform for it really.’ Despite signing to a record label and putting out a highly accomplished and polished studio album, fans needn’t worry that Cut Capers’ focus has shifted. You can still expect to find

them at more than 20 gigs and festivals this summer. Cut Capers are growing in both directions, with an increasingly personal sound and bigger and better shows in the works – including their biggest Glastonbury show yet on this year’s Avalon Stage and a headline UK tour, kicking off with their album launch at SWX on 10 May. ‘We love gigging and we love recording, so any kind of music playing and making we can do, we want to do it’ says Jane. Talking about their album launch at SWX, Mark says: ‘We’ve got an 11-piece band for that show, with a five-piece horn section. It’s going to be big, brassy hip hop with singing and rapping – exactly what Cut Capers is. ‘And our usual jumping around with loads of fun antics’ Jane adds. Antics is a word anyone who has seen Cut Capers live would use to describe their performance. You can expect to see all members jumping, singing and having a right old knees up on stage, with an energy that feeds directly back into the crowd. Even after eight years together, they’re having as much fun as when they started and they don’t need any extra motivation to get their dance on. ‘It’s something that comes naturally’ says Jane. ‘I think because we have so much fun doing it, it’s not like “oh god, another gig tonight, I’ve got to go and put on face and pretend to have loads of fun”. We actually just go on stage and have loads of fun. It’s all natural, high-energy fun.’ ‘I feel like when you guys look round and you smile and we play the first note, it all comes to life. I get just as excited every time’ says Nick.

Words: Rachel Morris Photos: Dominika Scheibinger 10 May – Cut Capers, SWX 2 August – Valley Fest, Chew Valley cutcapers.com @CutCapers

40 // THE INFLUENCERS

THE INFLUENCERS // BEHIND THE SCENES WITH

JOHN BLAKELEY John Blakeley is the man behind the music booking at some of Bristol’s best loved intimate venues - Canteen, No 1 Harbourside, Old Market Assembly Rooms and Wardrobe Theatre. He also programmes the music for nearby hidden gem, Valley Fest. It’s during this long-standing career that’s focussed on bringing quality music to its deserved platform, that John has earned himself a trusted reputation on the Bristol music scene. John’s path into becoming a music booker was an organic one, originating from his early days as a band member. After discovering that getting booked for gigs as a little-known group was no simple task, John and his bandmates took getting heard on the Bristol music scene into their own hands, inadvertently starting his career as a music promoter and booker.

communication between venues in the general area – Bath, Stroud, Cardiff, etc. and that joins it all up for artists. Doing one gig down at the Canteen is going to earn you some spare change, but if you can do multiple venues within the same area, that’s some really good promo and it makes much more financial sense for the artists’. In addition to the many other projects under his belt, John has undertaken the music booking for Valley Fest just outside Bristol, on Chew Valley Lake. With the festival’s proximity to the city, increasingly impressive lineup, organic ethos, foodie offerings and lakeside location, it’s fast becoming a Bristol favourite.

‘Me and my group moved to Bristol, because we heard the music scene was so good, but we found out that getting promoters to put you on was tough. We decided to put on our own nights and I started promoting those; I just enjoyed it and carried on promoting from there.’

European folk group Sheelanagig, collaborating with the country singer Yola, whilst simultaneously performing as a member of a 12-piece afrobeat collective. With such passion and relatability to Bristol musicians, it becomes clear to see why John’s path has led him to work with the smaller, more intimate venues in Bristol. As either free or low-cost entry gigs, the venues under John’s promotion represent an important step into the music industry for many artists. Able to provide a platform for artists to make themselves heard, these venues simultaneously provide the audience with an ever-changing, fresh sound that keeps them coming back. ‘It’s really important to have that first step up, and while the fees aren’t amazing, the gap between a ticket selling act and someone just starting out is important to recognise. Someone that comes to do a free show will so often come back to do a ticketed show and it’s great to see that growth’. There is a community that develops between these small venues, not just in Bristol, but across the South West. John describes how this impacts on artists who are starting out, by making touring more financially feasible: ‘There’s lots of

My booking style is definitely on the left field ‘My booking style is definitely on the left field – I book a lot of jazz, folk, world music and things that associate to that. At Valley Fest we have moved way more over into the mainstream with headliners Razorlight, Basement Jaxx and Tom Odell, but we’ve also got bands like Nubian Twist, who some people would see as a more left field group, but they’re really popular with Bristolians and easily draw the crowds at the music venues like Trinity’. That doesn’t mean there’s no room for personal accolade in the music booking industry though, and as John tells us which upcoming acts he’s most excited about, his enthusiasm for his career is evident. ‘I’m really excited about Basement Jaxx – they’re a favourite of mine after I saw them the first time I went to Glastonbury in 2000, it was mind-blowing and they were a real feat for me to book!’

John’s not one to shy away from opportunity though and after being asked to curate the music upon the Canteen’s opening around 10 years ago, opportunities continued to arise as he took on more of the small venues around Bristol. Eventually this led to the creation of his company Ear Trumpet Music, who now curate and promote the music for several venues across Bristol. His career as a music booker remains only a portion of his focus though, with John seeing his primary undertaking as being as a musician. His current music projects include creating and performing with Bristol

we found out that getting promoters to put you on was tough

John understands how booking music programmes can often be a balancing act between personal music taste, attracting the crowds and keeping the music scene healthy as a whole.

Valley Fest was born five years ago when ex-organic farmer Luke Hassel wanted to create a festival that remained true to its foodie roots, whilst offering an eclectic mix of music, great vibes and stunning scenery. ‘Valley Fest was always about putting on great music alongside great food, great ethics and a really great location’. Valley Fest has seen their capacity double in size, which John tells us has affected the music program and vibe of the festival, saying that this year attendees can expect ‘a much bigger, grander line up’. There will also be more of a late night party scene at this year’s festival, which hasn’t been so prominent in previous years.

It’s really important to have that first step up This year’s Valley Fest is headlined by Razorlight, Tom Odell, and Basement Jaxx and Leftfield with DJ sets. Other highlights include Normal Jay MBE, The Magic Numbers, Dutty Moonshine Big Band, Stealing Sheep, Nubiyan Twist, The Nextmen, Cut Capers, Icarus, Ishmael Ensemble and many, many more. ‘The last couple of years, we’ve been dubbed a family event, but this year we’re moving away from that branding. It’s a festival for everyone to come and party at. That translates into the music programme and we’re going for a mixed variety of headliners, spanning several generations of music.’

It’s his passion for music that still drives John’s love of what he does today, along with the culture that exists within Bristol that continues to pave the way for impressive artistry. ‘Bristol is a phenomenal city for music and what helps drive that is putting the right music on the right platform. As a result of that we have great touring artists, great venues and a great community of people who put that music on. It’s a collaborative drive and it means we can all come and see these artists play, and artists are getting the audiences they deserve.’

Bristol is a phenomenal city for music and what helps drive that is putting the right music on the right platform John Blakely’s varied career is testament to the potential opportunities Bristol offers for a career in music, but for anyone hoping to carve a similar path, John offers some words of advice: ‘You have to decide what you’re passionate about and whether other people have the same passion, because you need an audience. You have to decide if there’s a space to nurture that passion, and if there is then go for it. Work well with others; listen to what they have to say and learn from your own and other people’s mistakes.’

Words: Sarah MacPherson Photos: Martin Thompson // @thefacecollective eartrumpetmusic.co.uk valleyfest.co.uk

THE INFLUENCERS // 41

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51 stokes croft

44 // VENUES

51 Stokes Croft, Bristol, BS1 3QP | @51StokesCroft | facebook.com/51stokescroft | 01179 148 048 | 51stokescroft.com

Located in the heart of Stokes Croft, No.51 offers cosy dining, late night dancing as well as community minded events like charity fundraisers and quiz nights. Here you can grab a tasty woodfired pizza, sip on a delicious cocktail, listen to great music and chill out with friends in their spacious garden.

DAY + NIGHT SUMMER PARTY

No.51 will be welcoming the sun with an all-day terrace party and allnight knees up to get us in the mood for the summer ahead. Bringing disco, house, techno and of course, pizza.

5 May // 3pm – 3am // Free until 9pm

REVRT

Revrt will be hitting the decks this May to showcase his scratching and beat juggling technique. This DJ’s finesse is awe-worthy, so don’t miss out on the best selection of hip hop, funk and soul.

17 May // 10pm – 4am // £3-£4

02 academy

VENUES // 45

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 some of Bristol’s most Notorious Weekly club nights.

PETER DOHERTY

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

Peter Doherty is back on top with his new band The Puta Madres. This month he is heading to Bristol to showcase new material and more. Dig out your trilby hat and grab your tickets now.

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

5 May // 7pm – 11pm // £31.70 Fri 3rd May • 6.30pm

Thur 20th Jun

Wed 23rd Oct

Fat White Family

Taking Back Sunday

Heels Of Hell

Sun 5th May

Sun 30th Jun

Thur 24th Oct

Peter Doherty

The Mighty Mighty Bosstones

The Selecter

Mon 6th May • SOLD OUT

Dermot Kennedy

Wed 3rd Jul

Nahko and Medicine for the People

Fri 10th May • 6.30pm

Better Oblivion Community Center

Sun 28th Jul

River Town - Lucinda Williams

Wed 22nd May

Little Steven & The Disciples Of Soul

Mon 19th Aug • SOLD OUT

Skunk Anansie

Thur 23rd May

Kamasi Washington

Fri 6th Sep • 6.30pm

Guns 2 Roses

Sat 25th May

Dot To Dot Festival ft. Crystal Fighters, Jordan Rakei, Swim Deep, The Night Cafe, Dream Wife, The Orielles

Sun 8th Sep • 6pm

Tue 28th May • 6.30pm • Rescheduled date

Fri 13th Sep • 6.30pm

Jason & The Scorchers / Dan Baird & Homemade Sin / The Kentucky Headhunters

The Game

Pearl Jam UK

Wed 29th May

Thur 10th Oct

Black Star Riders

Fri 31st May • 6.30pm

Fri 11th Oct • 6.30pm

The Rasmus

Sat 1st Jun • SOLD OUT

Mon 14th Oct

Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley

Fri 18th Oct • 6pm

Roachford

BA1 Records Showcase

Mon 21st Oct

Sat 8th Jun

Hot Chip

The Wedding Present - Bizarro Tour

Fri 1st Nov • 6.30pm

The Smyths Fri 8th Nov

Snarky Puppy Sat 16th Nov • 10pm

Festival Of The Dead Tue 19th Nov

Yungblud Fri 22nd Nov • 6.30pm

The Macc Lads Sat 23rd Nov

Happy Mondays Greatest Hits Tour Tue 26th Nov • SOLD OUT

Lewis Capaldi Electric Six Sat 7th Dec

Aldous Harding Mon 9th Dec • 6pm

The Divine Comedy

Fri 7th Jun • 6.30pm

Charles Esten

Thur 28th Nov

Maren Morris Cash

Fri 25th Oct • 6.30pm

Dan Reed Network / Gun / FM Wed 18th Nov

Shed Seven Fri 20th Dec • 6.30pm

Tue 22nd Oct

Gary Numan

Alabama 3 ...A Celebration of Coldharbour Lane

O2 Academy Bristol

ticketmaster.co.uk

Frogmore Street, Bristol BS1 5NA • Doors 7pm unless stated Venue box office opening hours: Mon - Sat 12pm - 4pm

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

o2academybristol.co.uk

KAMASI WASHINGTON

May • 2019

Kamasi Washington is one of the biggest names in contemporary jazz right now. The saxophonist has performed with the likes of Flying Lotus, Ibeyi and Herbie Hancock. Catch him at the O2 performing music from his latest album Heaven and Earth.

23 May // 7pm – 11pm // £32.80

the canteen

46 // VENUES

Hamilton House, 80 Stokes Croft, Bristol BS1 3QY | @IntheCanteen | facebook.com/thecanteenbristol | 0117 923 2017 | canteenbristol.co.uk

The Canteen emerged out of the creative inspiration and collective efforts of a bunch of Stokes Croft and Bristol brilliants. With free live music every night, expect gentler tones from Sunday – Wednesday spanning folk, jazz and acapella ensembles, then Thursday – Saturday sees things ramp up from 10pm, when the tables are cleared for the unavoidable rip-roaring dancing times.

ORLATA

Lizzie Kirwan’s soothing vocals are enough to put anyone at ease after a long day. Join Lizzie and her band Orlata at The Canteen for an evening of gorgeous soul-jazz and easy-going beats.

22 May // 9.30pm – 11.30pm // Free

Dakar Audio The Roamin’ Club • Sat4th Jasmine Thurs 9th Dakar Audio Club kick off their Spring / Summer road trip with a welcome return to The Canteen.. expect heavy afrofusion vines with the usual blend of hooky songs in soukous , mbalax and highlife stylings.

Neenboo • Fri 10th

Hailing from that other Montpellier, the Neenboo collective have steeped themselves in Arabic and North African musical influences. Rabie Houti’s soaring and searching violin jousts with Valentin Fernandez earthy trombone over the pulse of bass and synth, while a mess of percussion brews into shape behind them.

There’s New Orleans jazz and there’s jazz outta New Orleans and this lot’s got ‘em both. Singing bassist Taylor Smith pulled the Roamin’ Jasmine sextet together as a street band in the French quarter of the Big Easy.

Raise the Disco

presents: HotCoins+

Monkey S a t Orlata • Wed 22nd Wrench 11th Looking for soul-jazz with a contemporary ear? Lizzie Kirwan’s emotive vocals and intricate sax playing sit nicely alongside the spacious beats and textures of the Orlata rhythm section.

They are back and this one is special – before a big summer, RTD are opening the dancefloor once more for their 6th party.

Skutch Manos • Thurs 23rd

Skutch Manos combine a hypnotic brew of lightning classical guitar rhythms and melodies, crunching trans continental percussion and deep, groovy bass, forming a colourful, embellished and well journeyed musical landscape that will make your eyeballs sweat!

canteenbristol.co.uk * The Canteen, 80 Stokes Croft, Bristol BS1 3QY

SKUTCH MANOS

Looking for some high energy and entertainment to prepare you for the weekend? Look no further because Skutch Manos have got you covered. Just like if Led Zeppelin, Santana and Nick Drake had a baby.

23 May // 9pm – 12am // Free

Colston hall Presents

VENUES // 47

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

While Colston Hall undergoes a major redevelopment, Colston Hall Presents sees Bristol’s largest concert venue taking flight – loudly and proudly presenting great live music at independent music venues across Bristol. From the best emerging talent to international superstars, you can count on Colston Hall Presents to keep providing Bristol with eclectic and quality shows all year round.

THE ALLERGIES

The Allergies are returning to Colston Hall foyer once again to set the stage on fire. These local gems make you proud to live in Bristol. Joined by silver tongued Ugly Duckling vocalist Andy Cooper.

book

0117 203 4040 colstonhall.org

31 May // 7.30pm - 11.30pm // £13.08

Colston Hall loudly and proudly presents great shows in venues across Bristol Thu 2 May

Sun 12 May

Martin & Eliza Carthy

Ruston Kelly

River Town

The Crofter’s Rights

Various Venues

The Station

Mon 13 May

Thu 13 Jun

Thu 2 May

The Nude Party

Robert Vincent + Ethan Johns with Black Eyed Dogs

Ishmael Ensemble

Hy-Brasil Music Club

Rough Trade Bristol

Tue 14 May

Fri 3 May

Kaia Kater

Thu 13 Jun – Sun 28 Jul

Fiddlers

Carla Morrison

The Cube

Sat 15 Jun

The Station

Thu 30 May

Irish Mythen

Fri 3 May

Shakey Graves

The Folk House

Sister Nancy and Legal Shot

Fiddlers

Thu 20 Jun

Fri 31 May

The Mavericks

Fiddlers

Bristol Got Soul

The Allergies (feat. Andy Cooper) - Live

Colston Hall Foyer

Sam Morrow + William Crighton

Sat 4 May

Sat 1 Jun

The Louisiana

Grant Lee Phillips + Josh Rouse

Yola

Fri 3 May

Fiddlers

Mon 3 Jun

Wed 8 May

Imperial Wax

Bath Forum Mon 24 Jun

Tue 25 Jun

Jerron ‘Blind Boy’ Paxton The Winston Theatre

Alexandra Streliski

Rough Trade Bristol

Mon 1 Jul

Colston Hall Foyer

Thu 6 Jun

Keb’ Mo’

Wed 8 May

Flamingods

Dale Watson & His Lone Stars

Exchange

St George’s Bristol

COLSTON HALL PRESENTS: FLAMINGODS

The Flamingods are a disco-funk-psych combo. Their new album Levitation is set for release on the 3rd of May and to celebrate, Colston Hall Presents are taking them to Exchange for an evening of psych-funk.

8 May // 8pm – 11pm // £10.90

the crofters XX rights

48 // VENUES

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

Situated in the heart of Stokes Croft, The 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.

BODYROCK PRESENTS: RED RACK’EM

Party starters Bodywork welcome techno-house DJ Red Rack’em to their next discoteque. The techno-house DJ and seasoned selector will be sure to bring plenty of energy behind the decks and fill the dance floor.

25 May // 11pm - 3am // £5

CHICKEN PICNIC: A PLEASANT OUTING

31 May // 7pm – 10.30pm // £5-£8

exchange XX

VENUES // 49

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.

GAIKA

Gaika has been riding the wave of success since the release of his debut album last year Basic Volume. Now he is heading to Exchange as part of his album tour. Expect big beats bracing lyrics.

21 May // 7.30pm – 11pm // £10

THE NECKS

The Necks transport you to another musical dimension where jazzmeets-avant-garde fusion in their live improvised shows. Prepare to be taken to a higher musical plane at the Exchange this month.

28 May // 7.30 – 11pm // £18

the fleece

50 // VENUES

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

This 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.

SWERVEDRIVER

Swervedriver are heading to The Fleece to tick all your boxes. Indulge in some ‘space travel, rock ’n’ roll’ from Swervedriver who’ll be playing music from their latest album Future Ruins.

12 May // 7pm – 11pm // £16

STEREO MC’S

Stereo MC’s are heading to Bristol to deliver the sweet sounds of the nineties. Famous for singles like Connected (think ’98 Carphone Warehouse advert) and Step It Up, this music will take you back.

16 May // 7.30pm – 11pm // £16

THE FULL MOON / ATTIC BAR

VENUES // 51

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 & 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?

FOREIGN BEGGARS + LIVE BAND

VP PRODUCTIONS PRESENT

Foreign Beggars are hitting up The Attic Bar this month with a brand new live band. The pioneering UK rap collective will be performing some new unreleased material, along with some of their classics.

23 May // 7pm – 12am // £15.65

2019

DESIGN: INKIE

ONLYJOE

After receiving support from the likes of Congo Natty, Young Warrior and David Rodigan, Onlyjoe have gone from strength to strength. Bringing horns, basslines and deep vocals to the stage.

25 May // 8.30pm – 2am // £4

the gallimaufry

52 // VENUES

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 their website for up-to date info on menus and events.

FORTH & BACK HIP HOP JAM

MAY

Forth & Back are returning to The Galli for an extended session with special host, Dee Gomez. Together, this jamming session will explore the golden era of hip hop through the lens of Forth & Back.

thegallimaufry.co.uk

26 May // 9pm - 1am // Free

every single night

MONDAY

FRIDAY

Hosted by Mike Dennis

Through soul, jazz & electronica Hosted by Manami & Neathway 3rd Sydney (Black Acre) 10th Remotif (Alfresco Disco) 17th Sam Hall (Idle Hands) 24th Art Vandelay (More Than) 31st Manami & Neathway

Open Mic TUESDAY

Galli Live

7th Lewis Creaven’s Dharma Blues 14th Phil King 21st Seedling Sessions w/ Ceitidh Mac & Joe Element 28th Captain Jamaica & The Mellotones

WEDNESDAY

Waldo’s Gift

Hip-hop, math, jazz & electronica 1st Waldo’s Gift Trio 8th Reworks: Weezer ‘The Blue Album’ The eponymous debut studio album by Rivers Cuomo fronted LA rock band.

15th Presents: Run Logan Run 22nd w/ Pyjaen 29th Open Collaboration

SATURDAY

DJS

Satta Lites

Withdrawn, VMO$ & guests play beats, bumps & bass 4th Lemzly Dale (Pearly Whites / Sector 7) 11th Sam Hall (Idle Hands) 18th Titus 12 (Limbo Tapes) 25th Jiinx (Noods)

SUNDAY

6th The Jazz Reggae Sessions Classic roots and jazz reggae

1am licence

13th The Phantom Ensemble 20th More Soup!

THURSDAY

Snazzback

DJS

Feel Flows

Afro-funk & psych-jazz 2nd Snazzback 9th presents Vipertime 16th Global Groove Experiment: Japan 23rd presents Sundown Jazz Society 30th Open Stage

Comforting vinyl selections spanning half a century with a range of ingredients from soul to hip hop to jazz to blues

26th Forth & Back Hip Hop Jam

Hosted by Dee Gomez 1am licence Reigniting a time when it seemed every single reinvented the genre. Golden era hip hop, originals & special guests

WALDO’S GIFT TRIO

This month, Bristol’s leading jazz trio will be bringing their re-work of Weezers Blue Album to the table on the 8th. Plus, Run Logan Run will be joining on the 15th and Pyjaen on the 22nd.

Wednesdays // 9pm - 11pm // Free

Hy-Brasil

VENUES // 53

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.

PEARL CHARLES + JOSIE BLAKELOCK

Pearl Charles likes to take both ends of the musical spectrum from garage pop to country-rock and create a new spectrum of sound in its own right. Plus, support from the marvellous Josie Blakelock.

10 May // 7.30pm – 10.30pm // Free

MAY 2019 Fri 3 Death by Unga Bunga Sat 4 Ryu Rocket Wed 8 Lowly Thurs 9 BDRMM Fri 10 Pearl Charles Sat 11 FRAU DJs Sun 12 Kal Marks & Modern Rituals Mon 13 The Nude party Weds 15 Talos Thurs 16 Arts2Life Fri 17 The Murder Capital Fri 17 The Back Room Sat 18 Oui La Disco Mon 20 Jam Night Tues 21 Quiz! Thurs 23 Chapter & Verse Sat 25 Dot-to-Dot Festival Fri 31 Audiophiles

WWW.HYBRASILMUSICCLUB.COM

CHAPTER AND VERSE

Get ready to witness London based alt-rock band Chapter and Verse live in Bristol as they hit the road for their debut UK headline tour. Featuring support from Delaire the Liar, Winchester, Scandals and Verus.

23 May // 6pm – 11pm // £7.70

theXX lanes

54 // 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 the 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.

STONEFIELD

We heart Stonefield. These four sisters have grown from psych-pop champions to heavy metal, psych-rockers. The combination of powerful vocals and spiral-like guitar riffs are something not to be ignored.

12 May // 7.30pm –11.30pm // £6

ERRATIC BATTING PRESENTS: MILDLIFE

Erratic Batting are bringing Mildlife all the way from Melbourne to Bristol this month. We cannot wait to witness their sun-kissed sounds as they perform their Herbie Hancock and Can infused jazz, electronica.

23 May // 7pm – 12am // £10

motion XX

VENUES // 55

74-78 Avon Street, Bristol | @MotionBristol | facebook.com/MotionBristol | motionbristol.com

Voted DJ Mag’s #11 best club in the world and UK #1, Motion is at the heart of Bristol’s throbbing underground music scene. This summer, Motion will be making use of the full warehouse complex, with indoor and outdoor parties from some of the world’s best artists, plus favourites from closer to home.

PERPETUAL: SASHA + CASSY + JONAS RATHSMAN Sasha is without a doubt one of the biggest and most iconic names in dance music. He returns to Bristol for a rare appearance with support from Cassy, Jonas Rathsman and more. Don’t miss it!

11 May // 10pm – 5am // £15.30 - £20.13 // Motion

OPEN AIR CLUB: HUNEE

Shortly following the first sold out Open Air Club of the year with Joseph Capriati, Eats Everything and co, OAC returns for round two with another huge lineup featuring Hunee, Shanti Celeste, Folamour and more.

1 Jun // 1pm – 10pm // £18.98 - £27.03

mr wolfs

56 // 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.

JAPANESE TELEVISION + THE PROHIBITION

Japanese Television bring their own interpretation of psychedelic rock to the table. The instrumental band will be performing their soundscape sounds to Mr Wolfs this month, alongside The Prohibition who’ll be delivering their rhythmic ‘dream pop’.

3 May // 9pm – 4am // £3-£4

PYSCHADELEPHANT + LESUIRE TANK + ASIAN HAWK Raw guitar riffs, heavy drums and the occasional cow bell. What more could you want? Pyschadelephant will be bringing their psych-pop style all the way from Arizona this month, for your listening pleasure.

31 May // 9pm – 4am // £3

the Old Market XX Assembly

VENUES // 57

25 West Street, Old Market Bristol | @oldmarketassembly | facebook.com/oldmarketassembly | 0117 373 8199 | oldmarketassembly.co.uk

The Old Market Assembly is a completely independent restaurant and arts venue situated in the heart of one of Bristol’s most up-andcoming nightlife hubs. Hosting everything from local bands to wild parties with touring artists. The Old Market Assembly perfectly combines locally sourced affordable food and hospitality with a wide array of live music and club nights.

RUM BUFFALO

We instantly had chills after listening to Rum Buffalo for the first time. Blending together hip hop with prog rock and moulding it into a listening experience you won’t forget in a hurry.

10 May // 11pm – 1am // £4.50

Rum Buffalo Friday 10th

You’ve got swing, but you hanker for hip-hop and your heart lies in prog. Have no fear, Rum Buffalo will play it all at once.

Saturday 11th

Cabaret Cruise Presents Surprise Surprise

Wig in a Box Promotions are proud to bring to you a very special one-off edition of Cabaret Cruise, celebrating Liverpool’s finest, British music and television legend, CILLA BLACK!!

Nu Wave / Old Market A Queerelsque Night

Nu Wave / Old Market is a brand new night celebrating the art of burlesque, inviting performers to come and get weird! Join the queen of the creeple Mx Dis Charge for a show where the only thing you can expected is the unexpected!

The Old Market Assembly, 25 West Street, Old Market, BS2 0DF bookings@oldmarketassembly.co.uk ; 0117 373 8199

CABARET CRUISE PRESENTS: SURPRISE SURPRISE! There’s no denying Surprise Surprise was golden TV back in the day, so head down to OMA and join Alyssa Van Delle, BagaChipz Mbe and Veronica Green for a night of cabaret Cilla Black realness.

11 May // 10pm – 1am // £5

SWX XX

58 // 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.

DESIIGNER

11 May // 7pm – 10pm // £19.50

TOO MANY ZOOZ

Too Many Zooz have risen from their busking days in NYC’s subway. This May they’ll be landing at SWX to showcase their afro-cuban rhythms and funk and jazz sound. See you in the front row.

18 May // 6.30pm – 10pm // £18.50

thekla

VENUES // 59

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

Located on board a converted German cargo ship, Thekla is an award-winning live music and club space. From live toe-tapping Americana to banging house and techno, the crew have all musical tastes covered. Playing host to weekly club nights as well as major national and international touring live acts, Thekla is one of Bristol’s best loved venues.

KIEFER

This slick Stones Throw signed jazz pianist from L.A is heading to Bristol to perform music from his latest release Bridges. Indulge in some kicked-back hip hop beats.

THEKLA

LIVE LISTINGS

8 May // 7pm – 10pm // £10.45

The Grove East Mud Dock Bristol BS1 4RB theklabristol.co.uk | thekla.club F L theklabristol | I X theklabris alttickets.com • gigantic.com • bristolticketshop.co.uk

SOLD OUT

WENESDAY 22ND MAY

THURSDAY 2ND MAY

THE JULIANA HATFIELD THREE

BUILT TO SPILL THURSDAY 2ND - SUNDAY 5TH MAY

THEKLA 35

THURSDAY 23RD MAY

A WEEKEND OF LIVE AND CLUB EVENTS CELEBRATING THEKLA’S 35TH YEAR AS A VENUE. #THEKLA35

SONS OF THE EAST FRIDAY 24TH MAY

GONG

TUESDAY 7TH MAY

JOEY LANDRETH

SATURDAY 25TH MAY

DOT TO DOT FESTIVAL

WENESDAY 8TH MAY

KIEFER

SUNDAY 26TH MAY

GIO SPANO

THURSDAY 9TH MAY

OH MY GOD! IT’S THE CHURCH

MONDAY 27TH MAY

LIGHTS

FRIDAY 10TH MAY

TUESDAY 28TH MAY

CAN’T SWIM

PETER PERRETT

SUNDAY 12TH MAY

WEDNESDAY 29TH MAY

SAMANTHA FISH

BRY

MONDAY 13TH MAY

THURSDAY 30TH MAY

WHEATUS

SWINGROWERS

WEDNESDAY 15TH MAY

DAVE HAUSE AND THE MERMAID

MONDAY 23RD SEPTEMBER

JOE NICHOLS FRIDAY 4TH OCTOBER

PIERCE BROTHERS

THURSDAY 16TH MAY

SOAK

WEDNESDAY 9TH OCTOBER

KOVIC

FRIDAY 17TH MAY

SECRET AFFAIR SOLD OUT

SATURDAY 26TH OCTOBER

CASSIA

SATURDAY 18TH MAY

J MASCIS

MONDAY 28TH OCTOBER

TUESDAY 21ST MAY

CHILDREN OF ZEUS

LITTLE SIMZ

SOLD OUT

SATURDAY 2ND NOVEMBER

COCO AND THE BUTTERFIELDS

CHILDREN OF ZEUS

“Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.” Children of Zeus are returning to Bristol for another memorable show. This duo brought the spark back into soul with a healthy dose of hip hop.

21 May // 7pm – 10pm // £14.85

to the XXmoon

60 // VENUES

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

A superb little 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 is currently on the lookout for more DJs and promoters to get involved.

LA RUMBA: AFRO-LATIN NIGHT

You can’t beat finding your happy place on the dancefloor and dancing ‘til the lights go up. Get ready for a night of Afro-Latin music with DJ La Rumba to guide you to your happy place.

4 May // 8pm – 12am // Free

TO THE MOON 3RD BIRTHDAY

25 May // 7pm – 12am // Free

trinity

VENUES // 61

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

Penetrating Old Market’s skyline and ear drums, Trinity is home of the sound system in Bristol, with their monthly Teachings in Dub nights and regular showings from some of the world’s best underground artists. The Grade II listed converted church also make very good use of their natural acoustics with live performances from a mixture of huge and upcoming names.

ALFA MIST

Alfa Mist has been making huge waves in the jazz community. This month he’ll be bringing his perfect blend of jazz, hip hop and soul to a whole new level at Trinity.

15 May // 7pm – 11pm // £13

CRAZY P

Crazy P know how to bring the essence of disco to life. Now, the pop, electronic fusion are about to embark on their 2019 tour, to celebrate their latest release Age of the Ego.

18 May // 7pm – 11pm // £18

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    pressurebristol • www.thekla.club • www.pressureclub.co.uk Please drink responsibly