Outer Town is Bristol’s DIY multi-venue extravaganza, promising ‘One Road, 8 Venues, 9 stage and over 50 acts’, you really had to be there to witness it in action.

The day started in the Old Market Assembly with some unexpected sunshine, friends, pizza and a beer garden I had no idea about until today. This was a great start to a day that was looking to be filled with familiar live acts and some new discoveries no doubt. We headed to the Trinity Centre to grab our wristbands and to spend some time in the gardens as the place gradually filled. 

I managed to grab the first few songs of Eve Appleton band giving me a tiny taste of folk pop, a set I’d love to have stayed for its entirety but I had an appointment with Milo’s Planes at the exchange firmly in my sights. 

I bumped into singer Joe beforehand and he admitted to being a little nervous and rushed off to get a shot for Dutch courage! Next thing I know, he’s on stage singing and screaming his heart out. Milo’s planes are LOUD and on form, full of ferocious feedback, everything you could want from a band at the Exchange. They hurtled through their a fset which was filled with 2-minute post-punk goodness at such a rate, they appear to feel the set was coming to a close when they still had 15  minutes left to play! Time enough for another 8 songs then. As loud as it gets, I was now fired up for the day ahead.

I ran downstairs and squeezed my way into the already ‘one in one out’ basement at the Exchange to catch Cain Hurst who clearly has a massive following. I can see why. A crammed in crowd were treated to some screamo and a band singing trans anthems for people growing up in a world that doesn't let yourself. It's amazing how much you can see in the space of an hour at these one-day festivals and great to see indie venues thriving and full of music lovers.

Get Down Services have to be my highlight of the day. So much fun. I'd recommend anyone to check them out. Their track ‘Crisps’ had been on heavy rotation on my Spotify for a week leading up to this gig and will remain an ear worm I'm sure for a while after. This felt like a party. So many smiles all around me, even the photographers are dancing around me. The perfect band on the perfect outside stage at Trinity. It mad me feel like summer festival season is here early. The singer is a good sport, accepting a wagon wheel (other choclate based snacks are available) from me and fitting it in whilst singing and dancing seamlessly. The day was firmly off to a flying start!

Flip Flop Head were up next back at the Exchange. A new one for me, playing to packed crowd with a packed stage as they seemed to fit as many musicians humanly possible on one stage. This a nearish home show for them! Being from Trowbridge, but very happy to be in Bristol. The trombone player catches my attention immediately as he moves like Ian Curtis and plays like a dream. Mega fan ‘Chalksy’ gets a shout out and an offer to join them on tour. A quick dash out of the Exchange to head via a rum shot which is now a tradition with gig buddies! 

Knives are everywhere I go today it seems, with guitarist Dan’s blonde locks visible everywhere in the Old Market it seems. We are kept waiting for frontman Jay Schottlander to finish work as he takes to the stage through the crowd surrounded by cheers and shouts ”Get that green light up”, they are lit up and ready to rock. The band are chaotic, heavy and tight. They've got energy for days and so have the crowd, thankfully, as I'm lifted up to surf the crowd and come crashing down! There is mayhem all around me in a very punchy green mosh pit. I bet I’ll have a sore elbow tomorrow… People leave as if they've had buckets of water thrown over them, truly a sign of a good time!

Heavy Lungs were a glowing recommendation from my mate Turves so It had be done. They didn't disappoint, keeping the spirits and energy levels high and my beer flying out of my hands only to drench me and everyone around me, not that anyone cared as they smashed through a set and I'm sure garnered a ton of new fans with it, me included. If there was a pin badge I would bought one. Heavy praise for Heavy Lungs!

This Festival has it all, Old Market is the perfect place to hold a multi venue extravaganza, you can't ask for a more intimate gig venue.

After catching a brief part of the excellent MP3 Chainsaw, it was time for Opus Kink who were a band I'd been meaning to catch again since I saw them at another of Bristol’s great festivals Ritual Union a year or so ago. They didn't disappoint playing an exhilarating set.

So many acts on so many stages at so many venues, it was impossible to capture every one of them and there are ones that I no doubt missed having caught up with friends and sharing stories about new acts that they may have failed to see.

Outer Town is a festival that has gone from strength to strength, they attract soime incredible acts that dazzle their audiences, playing in untimate venues which will really help to make some great memories for everyone in attendance. I think that It's safe to say I'll defo be back for more in 2025!

Words by Matthew Barnes

All Pictures © by Melissa Darragh