Mondays are rubbish. Too far from the next weekend, a day for an early night and a desperate hope that tomorrow will be better. Except, of course, that makes Mondays tailor made for an evening of hushed, gentle, beautiful alt-folk. Memorial are a Simon and Garfunkle-y two piece, clutching acoustic guitars and harmonies to meltContinue reading “Anais Mitchell – The Fleece – November 2022”
Tag Archives: Bristol
Tankus the Henge – The Fleece – November 2022
It feels as though Festival Season is a long way away. Just because Glastonbury sold out in moments (despite the eye watering cost) and so many others seem to be luring the early birds, a summer of bouncing around in fields is still a distant dream. Fortunately, Tankus the Henge and Cable Street Collective turnedContinue reading “Tankus the Henge – The Fleece – November 2022”
Tim Burgess – The Fleece – November 2022
When is a pop star not a pop star? Tim Burgess, cherubic lead singer of Baggy Britpoppers The Charlatans and lock down listening party hero, wanders on stage at The Fleece and adjusts a lovely, stripey cardigan. His seven-piece band gathers around him, he picks up a microphone, looking at it as though he’s neverContinue reading “Tim Burgess – The Fleece – November 2022”
Aoife Nessa Frances – Rough Trade – November 2022
There’s something magical about a Sunday evening gig at Rough Trade. It feels as though you’ve slipped into a different world – one that’s a little bit hushed, a little bit dreamy, a little bit strange. Dreamy and strange would certainly fit as a way to describe Ora Cogan. Her three-piece, Canadian band are otherworldly,Continue reading “Aoife Nessa Frances – Rough Trade – November 2022”
Jacob & Drinkwater – Downend Folk & Roots – October 2022
Tonight was a night for duos, for friends, for partnerships. Tobias Ben Jacob and Lukas Drinkwater have been ’round these parts before but Filkin’s Drift – Chris Roberts and Seth Bye – are all new to most. Filkin’s Drift are as traditional a Folk duo as you can imagine. Two intense looking young men, clutchingContinue reading “Jacob & Drinkwater – Downend Folk & Roots – October 2022”
Lady Nade – The Church of St Thomas the Martyr – October 2022
Some of us must have walked past St Thomas the Martyr about a million times and never really noticed it. Tucked into the square just before The Fleece it’s an anonymous looking place. Even though it’s a little church it doesn’t really look like a safe space, a place for friends and love. The wonderfulContinue reading “Lady Nade – The Church of St Thomas the Martyr – October 2022”
Tenille Townes – The Fleece – October 2022
With just a tiny bit more ambition Charles Dickens might have written A Tale of Two Countries. Had he joined the queue snaking around the side of The Fleece this evening he might even have managed A Tale of Two Countrys. Y’see, on this beautifully clear October night, there were two bands, both female fronted,Continue reading “Tenille Townes – The Fleece – October 2022”
Slocan Ramblers – Folk House – September 2022
If the very best authors can conjure a sense of place with a beautifully descriptive turn of phrase so the very best bands can do it too. The Slocan Ramblers are a Canadian Bluegrass band and with the merest pick of a banjo string or pluck of a double bass they lift you up, whizzContinue reading “Slocan Ramblers – Folk House – September 2022”
Road Not Taken – Downend Folk & Roots – September 2022
Tonight could have been a sad one. Leaving aside the queue addled, BBC stoked country wide grief there are other reasons for sadness. Bellowhead stalwart and Folk Club friend, Paul Sartin, tragically died on Wednesday leaving a delightfully clever, oddly amusing, oboe shaped hole in the world. This is also the last (for the timeContinue reading “Road Not Taken – Downend Folk & Roots – September 2022”
St Paul and The Broken Bones – O2 Bristol – July
We need to talk about voices. Specifically, the one that belongs to Paul “St Paul” Janeway of Birmingham, Alabama’s eight-piece soul monster The Broken Bones. It’s an amazing thing. Part James Brown, part Al Green, part lunatic hellfire preacher. It’s a controlled falsetto shriek and a silky, woozy croon. It’s the sort of voice thatContinue reading “St Paul and The Broken Bones – O2 Bristol – July”
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