Yippee, it's here again! A celebration of music hosted at a trio of Bristol independent venues (SWX, STRANGE BREW & SWX), I'm like a kid in a musical sweet shop. Let's go!
Obviously I got there right at the start. Why wouldn't you? I was well rewarded as I caught The Parallels who breezed onto the Strange Brew stage, bright and breezy with their Smiths-esque riffs and mobile trumpet solo's marching through the crowd. They come accross as a band of brothers, each member mouthing lyrics eyes closed throughout the set, seemingly fully engrossed in their art.
The festival map is then unfurled with all its unknown possibilities and opportunities as we transition from triumphant trumpets to the full hearted folk of The Eve Appleton Band tucked away upstairs at SWX 2. A few then flocked back to Strange Brew the for King Heron for what I will refer to as ‘jazz time’. They provided the gentle grooves and the hard ass bass lines needed to shake away any cobwebs from the night before. Oobleck in particular, simultaneously mixing tempos to create a marvellously tight cacophony of sound.
Bristol’s own Langkamer then filled the dark space of the SWX main hall with upbeat indie sing-a-longs to a room now packed and buzzing, I'm left thinking why haven't I listened to this band before! A short skip accross the road to Rough Trade reveals an early ‘one in one out’ situation for Shania Twainsaw Massacre, are they more than a silly name? YES! The lyrics are fit to burst with energetic passion, guitarist Ellis shredding and breaking his guitar. He plays like he's in his bedroom where nobody can see him, and creates all the moves and the sounds to back it up.
Up next are GURRIERS, a year ago I saw them in the tiny Sportsmans Arm’s playing to a handful of drunk punks, me included. It’s ace to to see the progression and recognition of a full SWX crowd lapping up some heavy Irish punk. Singer Dan Hoff is attached to the barrier screaming in our faces whilst bassist Charlie makes the dance floor his own before being enveloped in a vigerous mosh pit, just about escaping with his bass intact and a huge smile on his face.
Everyone I know is here for Getdown Services Including IDLES drummer Jon Beavis [see pic] who's here as a punter and a fan. GDS are blown away by the turnout. They've got choccy in their pockets and a glint in their eyes and indie bangers up their sleeves. To my ecstatic joy, I'm crammed in with a thousand people who all know the words and are happy, very happy to sing them back. ‘Dog Dribble’ has become a raucous anthem, impossible not to crowd surf to. Josh and Ben are in full flight, topless, sweaty and relentlessly slagging off the city they love, to a crowd that gets it. Get Down Services are one hell of a band mind, I'll be sure to see them another 86 times this year alone!
Victoria Ann "Tor" Maries, aka Billy No Mates showed up well before her show and appears nervous before taking to the stage at SWX. She has performed solo in the past but today, she's here with a full band behind her, not that she needs it as she's a natural performer. She sustains an epic vocal display throughout. Her track ‘Balance’ is performed note perfect whilst she whipped the mic cable around and marched to the pumping bass line. ‘The Test’ is a euphoric evolution of her sound with soft synths and a toe tapping beat which acted as a bed for Tor's tender lyrics and gorgeous voice. There’s no denying that Bristol loves Billy No Mates.
As i leave to head to the after show party, I hear the words I LOVE BRISTOL! testament to the fact that the Bristol live music scene is alive and rocking.
Words and Pictures by Matt Barnes