Get To Know: Orion, USB Bristol

There’s certainly no shortage of DJs in Bristol. With the ever-increasing student population and the thriving dance music scene colliding, you’re certain as a promoter to never have a shortage of talent to choose from when putting nights on. Yet somehow, it can often seem that the same DJs are being booked week in, week out. Enter Orion.

A known name in the Bristol underground, Orion was thrust into running the promotions for the Crown, a punk pub that never specialised in club nights, or even made an effort to for that matter. Over the last six months, he’s (almost) single-handedly transformed the bar and its underground basement venue in St Nick’s into a one-stop shop for up-and-coming Bristol talent.

I wanted to chat with him, figure out whether he had planned this rise all along, where his passion for the underground lies, and of course whether he prefers hard or soft boiled eggs.

How the devil are you? 

“Chillin’ thank you mate. Getting ready for Damzy’s headline show tonight!”

Start off with giving us a bit of background as to your career with the Crown. When did you start? How did you get the role? 

“So I started back in January as a part-time bartender, then around May I put on that Monster skate jam afterparty, which went really well, then launched USB two days later, which also did alright. On the day in between the events I broke my wrist skating, therefore couldn’t pull a pint, so the owners threw me into the office to start planning events.”

Even with a broken wrist, Orion set up and played the first USB night back in May – Photo: USB

Do you have any background in events management or did you go into the Crown blind? 

“I’d put on the odd low-key event with mates, but nothing official. Just always been one to chat shit with randoms which is the main bit of event planning it seems.”

When you joined the team, did they make clear they wanted you to transform the way the venue ran events or was this your own idea? 

“There were already a couple of club nights running when I joined: a techno night and a punk night, also the occasional jungle event. But when I got onto the calendar and saw that we had six empty weekend dates a month, I just saw so much potential to use the space to build a scene of underground artists and promoters. I don’t think any of us expected bookings to pick up so quickly, but as soon as the word got around, we had a year’s worth of bookings in a flash.”

Favourite sandwich filling? 

“Cheese and chutney goes kinda hard, I can’t lie.”

The fun, community centred approach has earned USB quick fame in the Bristol underground – photo: USB

Key to the remodelling of the events at the Crown has been the USB brand – a new promotions platform that you started specially for the venue, with a view to have a seemingly open forum for anyone to come along and try their hand at playing a set. Are there any plans to expand USB further? 

“USB started as an open decks night, but yeah – as you say – it became more of a promotions platform. We’ve recently expanded by launching the Underground nights, where we showcase the finest of underground (see what I did there?) Bristol talent. We also have the paid entry ‘USB Presents’ nights which are always a good time. In terms of expansion, I’m looking at taking the brand to a few other venues/cities, but for now it feels at home in the Crown.”

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It’s obvious that promoting and giving a platform to up and coming talent, both DJs and bands, is at the forefront of what you’re doing with USB. Why does the venue itself lend itself to this style of promotion? 

“Having the pub upstairs hugely helps with this. If you put together a lineup of completely niche artists at a standalone venue, the odds of people wandering in are slim. But put together a lineup of low-key but extremely talented artists underneath a pub, and people come down to check it out. Also, we are very generous with our hire fees, giving many promoters free hire on their first night. This allows independent promoters more budget to actually promote.”

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What does a standard week look like for you work-wise? 

“Monday and Tuesday are my Friday and Saturday, with USB and Underground until 3am each night respectively. Throughout the week/weekend I also mix live bands in the venue, as well as sitting up in the office dealing with bookings and meetings each day. I try to take two or three days off a week, but it really depends on how busy we are. That’s just how the events industry is I suppose.”

I’ve heard the Crown are going to be screening the 2023 World Ping Pong Championships on a giant projector in the basement. Can you confirm or deny these rumours? 

“Afraid I’ve had to sign an NDA on this. But I can confirm we’re screening the premier of the new Monster Energy skate film on Saturday at 9.30pm.”

Give us your dream USB lineup. 

“Oh Miles, stop it! This is a hard one. Assuming I have both rooms open, it would have to be: 2QUID, BUFFEE, Damzys, Jake Om (shout out Bristol’s best junglist), Rea, Disaffected, Crawta and then a cheeky 128kbps takeover wouldn’t go amiss. Oh, and then Belters headlining of course.”

2QUID played their debut headline show at the Crown – photo: USB

Every single time I’ve ever called you, you’ve been at the Crown, either in the offices or setting up for an event. Have you ever slept there? 

“Please send help. I haven’t left this building in seven months. For legal reasons, they let me out once a fortnight.”

Not to stroke your ego too much, but how does it feel looking back at the start of the year – before USB was launched – and comparing it to now, when you’ve got crowds of people across the venue most weekdays? 

“It’s insane to be honest. I love seeing how many of the DJs that used to come through to the open decks are now being booked every weekend. The community around USB is so strong. That’s what it’s all about really.”

Hard or soft boiled eggs? 

“Probably soft, although I prefer a fried egg if I can throw that into the mix.”

Tell us about one of the most memorable nights you’ve hosted at the Crown.

“The first Monster night is always the one that comes to mind. Partly because it was my first event but partly because of its success.

“Not that I put them on, but I’d wanna shout out Kippo and Rob Mills for the Too Ill nights, as the first one they hosted is really what started the chain of bookings. All hail Mermaid Club.”

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What’s up next? Go on, plug your bits and bobs. 

“So this Saturday, we have the Monster film premier and the afterparty to go with it, so come down to catch Longeez, Rea and more back at the Crown. We also have events lined up for Winter Solstice, NYE and a very special night in January.

“There are definitely going to be more free entry nights going forward, as the owners are very kind with giving me decent budgets for DJs. As musicians themselves, they appreciate that everyone needs paying.”

“Thanks, Miles! Been a pleasure.”

Main photo: USB Bristol

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