Music / Bristol Sounds
Preview: Bristol Sounds 2019
Bristol Sounds returns to Lloyds Amphitheatre for five days in June. Filling each evening with top-quality music, here’s a taster of what’s to come.
Wednesday, June 26
The five days of festivities begin with the soulful Tom Misch. After filling Eastville Park at last year’s Love Saves The Day, he returns to Bristol with a blend of hip-hop beats and guitar. Tom describes his music as “uplifting, soulful, funky – and happy more than it is sad.” Look forward to low-slung beats, disco sounds, and jazz instrumentation. Supporting the London-based artist is one half of the jazz-funk duo, Yussef Kamaal. Musician Yussef Dayes will appear on his own following his debut as a solo jazz percussionist last year, to high critical acclaim.
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Thursday, June 27
Celebrating their 20th birthday in 2019, The Cat Empire are an Australian band famed for taking the party wherever they go. With ska, reggae, funk, jazz and Latin influences, they have sold out Bristol’s O2 Academy over ten times. Warming the crowd up before the ultimate dance party, Ibibio Sound Machine will provide a clash of African and electronic sound. Enjoy Afrobeats and disco on the harbourside, following the group’s impressive sold out Trinity Centre show earlier this year.
Friday, June 28
Tickets to see Bloc Party have already sold, to little surprise. The rock band draw influence for the greats – including Pixies, Joy Division, The Smiths and Sonic Youth – to create a well-loved and greatly-praised sound. Since Silent Album being named NME’s Album of the Year in 2005, the band have gone from strength to strength.
Prior to Bloc Party’s set, there will be political psych-pop from She Drew The Gun and guitar sounds from singer-songwriter Liz Lawrence.
Saturday, June 29
Saturday evening’s music kicks off with Another Sky, who have recently played on Later… With Jools Holland performing their latest single, Chillers. Catrin Vincent, the band’s singer, will catch everyone’s attention with her androgynous and defiant voice. Expect Radiohead and The xx vibes. The second support act for the night are Villagers, an Irish indie-rock band with several studio albums to their name and a sound not dissimilar to U2. Following their 2017 headline slot at The Downs Festival, Elbow return to Bristol to headline the night, ending the evening in spectacular style.
Sunday, June 30
A fifth night to Bristol Sounds was added in late January, featuring The Cinematic Orchestra and special (and as of yet, unannounced) guests. Canal Dodds, co-founder of Crosstown Concert says that “adding The Cinematic Orchestra on Sunday night ends the series on the perfect note.” The jazz-fusionists bring the five day music event to a close, celebrating the release of their first album in 12 years, To Believe.
To find out more, visit www.facebook.com/bristolsoundsofficial
Main photo by Paul Box.
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