A sold-out show at The Louisiana, Bristol, is always bound to be a good one, and this night was no exception. A stellar lineup of southwest bands graced the stage, delivering performances that gave everyone in the audience their money’s worth—and then some.
Hamartia opened the night with their powerful tune “Broken Back” before launching into the rest of their energy-filled set. I have great admiration for anyone who can command that much stage presence while singing, but to also keep the crowd engaged between songs, dance, and maintain that calibre of vocal performance is something to be immensely proud of. In that same vein, the band should be proud of their newest single, which was released in August this year. “Is This It?” tackles heavy themes around mental illness, an incredibly important topic to discuss. Hamartia manages to address these issues with style, both in their conversation with the audience about their own mental health struggles and through the song’s poignant lyrics. This band made a fantastic opener, and I would have happily paid just to see them. Considering they were the first of three bands, that gives you an idea of how fun the whole night was.
Next up was what seems to be Bristol’s current obsession: Blank Atlas. This melodic trio brought stunning harmonies, catchy tunes, and the energy of ten marathon runners, especially from bass player Chris Simpson. They’ve been making waves this year, playing at festivals like 2000 Trees and Burn It Down, as well as headlining their own gigs. Seeing them live for the first time was an absolute treat. Their blend of metal influences, pop-punk riffs, and three-part harmonies make them a band to watch.
Rounding off the night in style were Orchards. Having never heard of them before, I left feeling like I’d been welcomed into a massive pop-punk family—and they certainly gained a new fan that night. Lead singer Lucy’s vocals filled the room in an explosion of fun, and the band followed suit with high energy and plenty of on-stage banter. The tone of their set was conversational and relaxed, making the sold-out room feel more like a gathering of close friends. It was clearly a surreal moment for the band to be playing to a packed-out venue, and Lucy became emotional towards the end, stopping to listen as the entire crowd sang her lyrics back to her in unison. I can’t imagine what that must have felt like, but I even felt emotional just watching from the side.
All in all, it was a fantastic night for independent music—one that I’m sure will be remembered by both the crowd and the bands alike. These artists are all creating new work or have an extensive catalogue to explore, so I highly recommend checking out each and every one of them.
@anna.h_photos
Role: Photographer/ Journalist
Available for: Gig and press phototography, album shoots, music videos, tour coverage
Qualification: 1st class BA photojournalism degree
First attended gig: First ticketed gig I remember is Newton Faulkner but there was plenty of live music that I saw growing up in the folk scene in Cornwall
First gig shot: Rattler Fest for all three days
Dream gig: It's too hard to pick just one, and i'm lucky enough to have been able to shoot some of my bucket list bands already, so top 3 would have to be Frank Turner, The Hives, and Twenty One Pilots
