As the days begin to get colder and the mist settles in on November9th, I walk to Thekla at 6:30 PM for doors. Thekla is truly a fantastic venue for live music and gig nights. With a capacity of about 400 for gigs below deck, it offers intimate viewing around the edges and on the balcony, yet absolute anarchy in front of the stage.
The night started at 6:55 PM with Ava Zarate (Karate with a Z, for anyone wondering!). I arrived a bit later than I had hoped, so I missed the first few minutes, but I was instantly delighted to see that the venue was already roughly 65% full for the first support act. Ava took to the stage alone with a microphone, some mesmerizing lighting, and backing tracks. With no live band in the background, having just one person on stage made for a wholesome experience. Ava’s music perfectly matched the vibe for the colder winter nights, as her airy vocals filled the room with notes of jazz and soul. The wide range of influences in her creativity created a unique and captivating tone.
The next support act, on at 7:45 PM, was SOFY. Not a band I had heard of before, but they put on a great set, and I realized I’d heard their tune “Big Talk,” which features on the FIFA 23 soundtrack (always a highlight each year). This alt-pop indie rock quintet came on stage with great presence and impressive performance sync. Halfway through the show, it was announced that QR codes had been hidden around the venue, providing immediate private access to a pre-released track. This kind of interactive experience seems to happen quite often at Thekla, and I’m definitely here for it. SOFY will be joining Alfie Templeman for the next four shows in Brighton, Southampton, Nottingham, and London.
Alfie Templeman boarded The Thekla for the second time in his career, totaling his visits to three with another sold-out show. The main attraction kicked off with something that would get anyone moving, let alone die-hard fans: “3D Feelings.” I personally love this song, and hearing it up first was a fantastic choice. Not only that, but Alfie and his crew managed to maintain the vibe for the rest of the show. The four-piece band worked seamlessly together, delivering groovy, funky pop energy that had the crowd moving. The setlist was an excellent mix across a few different albums, including tracks from “Mellow Moon” and his latest album, “Radiosoul.” This tour promotes his latest album, “Radiosoul,” and one of my current favorites from it is “Just A Dance.” It’s definitely worth checking out, as the 21-year-old artist is close to hitting a regular 1,000,000 monthly listeners on Spotify.
The night rounded off with an absolute classic, “Happiness in Liquid Form.” The tune left people wanting more, even after over an hour and twenty minutes of performance. Alfie will now head out to a few more locations in the UK and then over to Europe to finish off the year and the rest of his “Radiosoul” tour.
Hope to see you again soon in Bristol—maybe back on the boat!
Adam James @Adamjxphoto
Role: Photographer
I'm a semi-professional photographer that loves to capture anything and everything. I'd love to travel with my photography so going on tour has always been on my to-do list.
My first camera was gifted to me as a hand me down from my brother many many years ago and I've only gotten better since and learnt along the way.
Qualification: Self taught photographer/videographer. Didn't go to uni, work full time in telecomms.
Available for: Sport, events, portrait and anything that takes my fancy, other than weddings!
First attended gig: The first gig I attended was a band called Dog Is Dead at the Louisianna in Bristol. It was such a good gig and I recruited some family to take me as I was under 16! This band was my gateway into the Indie Pop Rock genre that I love today.
First gig shot: The first band I took pictures of was, was the first gig I went to alone. None of my friends liked the band, Pinegrove, so I contacted Thekla and asked if I could bring my camera. They let me in and I had my first photo pass! I still have the badge to this day.
Dream gig: Arctic Monkeys in the AM era. Watching Matt Bellamy run down the stage playing plug in baby. Moose Blood on a tour...!
