Dareshack 15th July
Lucy Barton
In a world of cookie-cutter artists, being different is good, and being unique is refreshing. Lucy Barton ticks both of these boxes, producing a performance that feels part gig, part performance art.
Standing in the often solid black of Dareshacks’ live room, solely lit by a strip of light, Lucy comes to life like a Victorian clockwork doll. The performance, however, is far from clockwork, far from run-of-the-mill. Lucy’s music is light, dark, and all shades in between. It is tactile and enveloping, and you often feel as though you can reach out and touch it. Opener “Starlight” encapsulates the artist’s sound in three minutes. Visceral soundscapes, overlaid with Lucy’s unique vocals, provide a trip into a dreamworld. This feeling permeates the set, with seven very different songs, all having a vibe of a lucid dream where things feel familiar but different at the same time. Older tracks such as 2019’s “Roadrunner” and 2020’s “Maids” beautifully showcase the direction Lucy has been traveling in the past few years as she hones her sound. Backed by multi-instrumentalist Silas Black, it’s one of the most unique sets I have witnessed this year, showing that there is still plenty of room for creativity and carving out one’s own path in this industry.
Lucy is currently working on her debut album, and we can’t wait to hear the directions she is able to pull out, both consciously and subconsciously, when it finally drops.
JuJu
In the 4 years the Gig Guide has been running, JuJu is comfortably one of the most talented artists we have had the pleasure of covering. Hence, when the news of the EP release show dropped, there was no keeping us away.
JuJu is a true artist, one that can turn a hand with equal skill to multiple forms of creativity. Therefore, it should have come as no surprise to enter the main room at Dareshack to find her actual bed acting as the stage. And tucked up beneath the duvet, complete with a sleeping mask and (quickly becoming iconic) mint green & white striped pajamas, is JuJu. Undisturbed by the throng of people surrounding the source of so much creativity for the debut EP, even serving as the cover art.
As the room is filled with the dreaded sound of a morning alarm clock, the room turns red and JuJu stirs. What follows is a 45-minute showcase of pure talent. JuJu is quick to cite the likes of PJ Harvey and Florence + The Machine as major influences, but rest assured the debut EP firmly has her unique sound and stamp on it. It couldn’t be anything other than a JuJu record. Swirling mixes of alt-rock, emotive dark pop and powerful vocals abound. For a debut EP, it’s quite frankly astonishing, but it’s here… In dark, sweaty rooms filled with expectant faces, that JuJu’s star shines the brightest. Each song from the EP is performed with her customary “leave it all on stage” energy.
The likes of the ultra-catchy “Two Summers” and “Just Okay” fly by at pace. The thunderous reaction to the best performance of “Part Of You” we’ve seen so far all serve as confirmation of a genuine pop star in the making.
Then, as the final notes drift into the ether, reality bites and the recent news of JuJu’s departure for pastures new kicks back in. Bristol may be losing one of its brightest talents to the big smoke of London come September, but JuJu has imprinted her mark on this city in brilliant black and green.
This honorary Bristolian will be most welcome on any stage in the city on her return. And I wouldn’t bet against that stage being a big one.
@bristolnomad_gigphotography / @thebristolnomad
@thebristolnomad / @bristolnomad_gigphotography
Role: Photographer / Reviewer / Interviewer
Chief, the one that bugs the team for team for their reviews and images. Creator and founder of The Bristol Gig Guide. Can usually be found swamped in admin or getting cramp kneeling at the front of a gig.
Available for: Gig Shoots, Gig Reviews, Photo Shoots, Album and Single cover shoots, Videography work, Interviews and Touring
First attended gig: Republica, circa 1996.
First gig shot: Hands Off Gretel, at The Louisiana!
Dream gig: Huge metalhead and my ultimate dream gig would be shooting my heroes Slipknot at a huge stadium gig, or as festival headliners. And to experience shooting a headline tour outside the UK
