Bristol Sounds Day 4, 25th June 2022
Jungle is considered by many to be one of the best electronic music groups to come out of Britain, despite only forming a mere nine years ago. The hype that surrounds the duo, childhood friends Josh Lloyd-Watson and Tom Mcfarland, has been at a high since their unforgettable launch into the British music scene with the 2014 breakthrough single “Busy Earnin’” – a dance anthem which landed them a debut album in the top ten of the charts and later, a nomination for the Mercury Prize.
With their distinctive rich falsetto melodies and laidback beats, they catered perfectly to the Bristol scene. And on a sunny Saturday evening, hundreds came to dance, armed with sunglasses and pints. The two-man group, accompanied by a full touring band, could not have received a better welcome to the stage. How couldn’t they? Their performances of hits such as “Keep Moving” and “Beat 54 (All Good Now)” were impossible not to dance to. People were up on others’ shoulders, swaying and singing along, despite security’s best efforts to minimise any health and safety threats. The serotonin-laced euphoria brought by their music was simply infectious. Jungle were on top form all night, not a single note out of tune or offbeat, even throwing in a sample of Bee Gees’ “Stayin’ Alive” at the end of their performance of “Casio”.
There was an unbelievable energy all night in the crowd, the whole vibe they brought to the harbourside was incomparable to any of the previous shows from the Bristol Sounds series over the past couple of days. Their closing of the set, with the song which rocketed them into fame back in 2014, was a moment many in the audience anticipated throughout the set, myself included. The performance was an incredible peak of the whole event, which had been running from mid-afternoon featuring sets from multiple support acts, and left the audience on a high. It was a very special show in a post-lockdown world, and truly felt like the return of blockbuster summer headliners in the city of Bristol.
Daisy Kent – Music Photographer
