By The Epigram Music Team
The sun has come out and beer garden season is upon us. Whether you're looking for a sticky-floored venue or eagerly awaiting the first glimpses of festival season, dust off those dancing shoes and prepare for lighter evenings and justifying ‘just one more drink’ on a Tuesday.
The Bristol Hornstars, 8th March @ The Old Market Assembly
A staple night in the Big Band Society calendar, The Bristol Hornstars return to Old Market with a stacked programme of jazz, funk, and soul classics proven to get you grooving. Following a hugely successful night with JFS and BUJO at Bristol Beacon last month, their annual solo showcase is the perfect opportunity to see the band at their very best.
Comprised of many regulars on the local music scene, the twenty-piece conducted by Oliver Manley promise high-octane arrangements that will keep you dancing into the early hours. With a DJ set from Tom Riley to close, it's a party you don't want to miss.
The Dare, March 16th @ Marble Factory
Heralding the indie sleaze revival, catch The Dare at Marble Factory. With tongue-in-cheek anthems like ‘Girls’ and his latest album What’s Wrong with New York, Smith is sure to bring the hedonistic, dance-punk fuel of the early 2000s – like peak LCD Soundsystem meets bloghouse-era debauchery.
With support from babymorocco, a rising name in the hyper-pop scene, this is a night you won’t want to miss. Indie sleaze is reborn: consider this a baptism by fire.
Kim Wilde, 16th March @ Bristol Beacon
If you’ve ever belted out ‘Kids In America,’ this one's for you. Kim Wilde is bringing her Closer Tour as close as she can: she's coming to Bristol Beacon. The ‘80s pop powerhouse is set to perform the classic Close album in its entirety as well as her latest album, complete with sparkling synths and the high-energy new wave production of the 1980s.
Warming up the stage are '(I Just) Died In Your Arms' legends Cutting Crew, armed with their own timeless brand of pop-rock. Time to bring out the double denim!
The Descendents and Circle Jerks, 17th March @ O2 Academy
Closing a busy two days for gigs in Bristol, this double-bill hardcore punk lineup is one for the ages. Featuring two staple US punk acts, only one thing is for sure for this one-night revival of the genre: an extremely hearty mosh pit.
You may recognise the face of The Descendents mascot, Milo, who appears on their hit record Milo Goes to College from the many appearances it bore on Kurt Cobain's t-shirts. With the record's release far superseding the explosion of grunge in the '90s, this one is a whistle-stop history lesson in all things distorted and loud when it comes to electric guitar music.
The Darkness, 24th March @ Bristol Beacon
Legends of rock, The Darkness, last played Bristol Beacon with a playthrough of the entirety of their first album in an ode to its 20th anniversary. With an air of freshness rather than nostalgia this time, Justin Hawkins’ sky-high vocals are thankfully returning in anticipation of their 8th studio album, Dreams On Toast.
Whether you’ve got ‘I Believe In A Thing Called Love’ still stuck in your head since 2003, or you’re a fan of the frontman’s insightfully irreverent Youtube channel, you’re in for a treat if you manage to get yourself down to the Beacon in March.
An Evening with BUMS, 24th March @ St George's
The pinnacle of Bristol University Music Society's spring concert series, the chamber orchestra and chamber choir return to St George's for a showcase of student talent. Including Borodin's 'Polovtsian Dances', Byrne's 'Somewhere in Wonderland', Mendelssohn's 'Lauda Sion' and Françaix's Clarinet Concerto - performed by soloist Lucas Dick.
Conducted by students Jago Webb and Daisy Dorsch, the evening promises spellbinding drama and ear tickling acoustics inside one of the city's most beautiful venues.
Ritual Union Festival, 29th March @ SWX - Rough Trade - Strange Brew
Making its highly anticipated return, Ritual Union festival have got their hands on a star-studded lineup, all fit for a stage-crawl along some of Bristol’s most beloved venues. For just one day to see off March, the cobbles of Nelson Street will take the shape of a festival paradise - thankfully without the scorched grass and drunkenly pitched tents.
With Billy Nomates, Getdown Services, CVC, and many more set to take the stage(s), Ritual Union is ready to serve that sweet first taste of festival season before summer finally decides to arrive in Bristol. Bucket hats at the ready, everyone!
Divorce, 28th March @ Strange Brew
Releasing debut album Drive to Goldenhammer on March 7th, Nottingham's finest are hitting the road again with their grunge, quarter-life crisis inspired sound. As singles from the new album tease rich harmonies over sparkling acoustic guitar and flourishing folk violin, the grittiness of EP Heady Metal remains intact but with new unique inflections.
Providing the healthy slice of indie charm that British summertime requires, this one is the perfect warm up gig for the pending pandemonium of the festival circuit.
Getdown Services, 30th March @ Trinity Centre
Ever heard of Power disco? No- well take disco, a colossal amount of synth and a hell of a lot of silliness and the result is two shirtless youthful hooligans! And it's great!
If you hate Jamie Oliver and landlords - but love wispa golds - they have songs about the lot. Believe me, this gig will leave you with a good chortle and a twinkle in the eye.
Peter Hook & The Light, 17th April @ Marble Factory
Following Epigram's interview of the acclaimed bassist turned bandleader, Peter Hook will play Bristol's Marble Factory towards the nearer end of dissertation hand-ins (at least for English students) that is sure to provide solace during the early stages of deadline season for humanities students.
With a setlist blending his early years in Joy Division as well as New Order classics, the illuminating reappraisal of his work is a testament to the name of his group itself in revisiting songs of old with a refreshed charm and vivacity.
Inhaler, 17th April @ Thekla
The quartet's soulful lyrics and wandering rhythms return to Bristol to debut there third album - 'Open wide'.Taking influence from early 2000's alternative and combining with 70s glam-rock, the bands new direction is a revelation.
The bands rapidly growing success has seen them tour far and wide across the uk, and the world. Gracing the stage of various 02s round the globe, Thekla is set to be one of their most intimate shows to date. If your like me and prefer a smaller venue, then this is your best chance.
Goldie Live, 26th April @ Bristol Beacon
What could be better than seeing Goldie DJ? Seeing Goldie lead an entire band certainly springs to mind as one such performance. With a new album from Rufidge Kru on the horizon, the Metalheadz co-founder has been making noise online recently (perhaps no surprise given his drum and bass production style).
Though Goldie's music may be loud however, a more intimate live version of his music uncovers the intricate and gentler side of his production methods that are often overlooked.
Brògeal, 12th May @ The Louisiana
If St Patrick's day gets you hungry for another dose of Irish folk, pay Brògeal a visit at the Louisiana for an evening of punk, garage and rock inspired Irish and Scottish Gaelic folk music. All the way from Falkirk, Scotland, the unique blend of electric guitar and traditional mandolin will have you ceilidh dancing in the mosh pit.
Having opened for the likes of Paolo Nutini, The Mary Wallopers, and The Wolfe Tones, Brògeal prove accordion deserves to be a regular in a rock band line-up and that tradition should be trusted.
Psychedelic Porn Crumpets, 21st May @ The Fleece
Australia, the current capital of punk rock, has sent over their greatest yet, an infusion of psychedelic rock and heavy influences from The Mighty Boosh. The band is satirical, silly, and a lot of fun.
Having released six studio albums the discography is one you can get lost in, lose yourself in their sound and watch the band develop from the mum's basement to being one of the nation's finest.
Public Image Limited, May 22nd @ O2 Academy Bristol
Punk isn’t dead, and John Lydon is proving just as much. '80s Post-punk pioneers Public Image Limited are rolling into Bristol in May. From the jagged edges of Metal Box to the bizarreness of their latest album End of World, Lydon, of the legendary Sex Pistols, who is ever the agent of disorder, will serve a surrealistic experience that sounds like it’s veering to the edge of an apocalypse.
Dot To Dot @ Harbourside & Beyond, 24th May
The well endowed rival to Love Saves, this day festival holds host to huge names in the indie punk genre. A day of wandering in the sun from venue to venue with pint after pint - end the day by the tranquil harbour side or in the not so tranquil esteemed walls of Thekla.
From Fatdog to The Horrors to Honey Glaze, the lineup is star studded and jam packed with quality music. With over eighty bands playing (as well as a secret set), there's something for everyone and plenty new bands to discover.
Love Saves The Day @ Ashton Court, 24th-25th May
A title that needs no introduction, this highlight weekend festival officially kicks off summer for many Bristol University students with a hedonistic two-day blitz of dance music.
This year the lineup boasts the Mercurcy Prize-nominated Nia Archives and nu-garage superstars Overmono as some of the biggest new names on the bill, while keener eyes will have taken note of the dubstep champion Skream's name among the lineup: one definitely worth scouring to see how many recognisable producers and DJs are hidden in the mix (no pun intended).
MJ Lenderman, 29th May @ Marble Factory
In a recent report that confirmed Lenderman’s step-away from performing with Wednesday, fans will be relieved to hear that the artist isn’t stepping off of the stage entirely, but is in fact coming to a fairly large one at the end of May.
Marble Factory are welcoming mellow slack-rocker MJ Lenderman for a night of swaying and swooning after his joyfully-received studio album, Manning Fireworks, graced our ears just last year.
Featured Image: The Independent, Erin Brethauer, The Darkness, Megan Foulk (Edited by Benji Chapman)
What gigs are you looking forward to this spring?
