By Olivia Hunt, Second Year, English, and Jessica Frizzell, First Year, Geography
If there’s one thing Bristol does well, it’s live music. With a constantly evolving soundtrack and over 90 live music venues, it comes as no surprise that the city has a reputation as one of the UK’s music hotspots.
Which brings us neatly to the University of Bristol’s very own GigSoc: a student’s tool for navigating the labyrinth of genres that Bristol unconditionally celebrates. And where expressing love for a band isn’t met with the familiar and feared follow-up, ‘name three songs’. Instead, a group of music lovers united through a pursuit of that unrivalled live-music rush – or simply a casual chat about a new album over a glass of the infamous Old Bristolian.
To investigate this society, we became members for the week, throwing ourselves into the socials, events and day-to-day functions to answer one question: what does life in Bristol’s Gig Society actually look like?
Monday: ‘Apple Mondays’
We’re sat under the amber light of the Apple Boat, its 8pm on a Monday night and freezing. Opposite us sits society president, Joel, accompanied with a hat in the shape of a Goose (a nod to the band Geese) who briefly outlines GigSoc:
‘It's a society for anyone interested in playing, listening to, talking about music, like any kind of genre. It's pretty all-encompassing.’
Tables from us, are GigSoc members who, armed with Old Bristolian ciders, seem to be engaged in conversation – the atmosphere is friendly and welcoming, and various people greet Joel whilst we chat with him. Apple Mondays seem a great way for music fans to meet new people, as Joel reflects on his own experiences:
‘I think the third Apple Monday of last year I just met loads of people. It was like straight after Fresher’s Fair and it's just really nice seeing so many people here’. Rest assured, you don’t have to engage with socials right at the beginning of term to enjoy all the perks!
Tuesday: Club Night @ Basement 45
Bjork, Brockhampton, Tears for Fears. Three artists I never expected to hear in the same night.
Upon arriving at the doors and scanning my ticket, I’m asked to ‘sing for entry’ to which my (albeit slightly tipsy) brain goes blank. Scouring my mind, I settle for a ‘la la la’ and they let us in. Phew!
We head to the cloakroom and are greeted with the highest volume of leather jackets I have ever seen in a club’s cloakroom. It’s like a performative male contest, only with people who actually care for the music. With the visual of band t-shirts in abundance, flashing lights and the sonic landscape of DJ B.I:B, we were in for a great night.
Wednesday-Saturday:
GigSoc also operates digitally, via WhatsApp. There are various discussion channels, including one for ‘ticket-exchange’, which allows members to find gig tickets at last minute for lower prices in venues across England.
When asked about membership options, Joel reveals various online perks for paying members. GigSoc produces weekly themed playlists, to encourage members to discover new genres. For example, one week, members could add songs to ‘your favourite bass line in a song’, then discuss their top picks.
One of the channels also included a band-member spreadsheet, so aspiring musicians can connect easily over similar music tastes.
Sunday: Gig Night @ The Old England
Bringing the week to a close, we attended a four-artist gig at The Old England, one of Bristol’s many music-loving pubs, and a self-proclaimed ‘scruffy gem’ of the city’s grassroot music scene. The night’s lineup showcased up-and-coming UK student bands from Bristol and London, including Tamara Hendin, Cloud Surf, Adachi Anon and The Havocks.
The night opened with Tamara Hendin, an indie-folk acoustic artist who captured the gentle yet fiery sounds of singers such as Fiona Apple, Holly Humberstone, Maggie Rogers and Phoebe Bridgers. Her song ‘lip service’ particularly stood out to me as a fellow songwriter, as she captured the difficulties of writing in an ironic yet beautiful way. (‘You get up on stage for the applause / run away from the cause’).
Next up for us was Cloud Surf, a band currently playing gigs across Bristol and London, and becoming a name to watch. Considering a quick exit for a top up on my drink, I was immediately captured by an incredible cover of Wolf Alice’s ‘White Horses’, with a beautiful blend of harmonies that (dare I say) rivalled the original. The drink could wait. Their sound was a unique one, with a new wave vibe similar to that of Duran Duran or The Police, an urgency and grit of punk and rock, topped off by a lead vocal that could easily be mistaken for Mazzy Star. Tickets were immediately booked for their London gig.
Annabel Bienfait
Annabel Bienfait
As Adachi, Anon took the stage, initial skepticism set in – each member seemed to have an excessive number of instruments, and most notably the flute. But it all made perfect sense as they came together to produce a multi-influenced blend of genres with an energy and rhythm unmatched. Closing their set with a near ten-minute track may have been a bold move, but it paid off; I was completely immersed.
Last, but certainly not least, were the Havocks. Living up to their name, the band brought an energy to the stage that was unrelenting and purely feminist. Hailing from London, the all-female group delivered punchy and cathartic punk that drew comparisons to Amyl and the Sniffers and Blondie. I left the night on a high, grateful for the momentary escape from exams and winter darkness.
Check out what events GigSoc have coming up soon, including another Basement 45 takeover on 17th February, a collab at Strange Brew with Snapshot, and plenty of ventures to The Apple every Monday night.
Featured image: GigSoc / Joel HeathWill you be at the next GigSoc event?!
