The best live action across the city in the first quarter of 2023, brought to you by Kate Jeffrie
We may be welcoming in a cold new year, but these gigs are sure to keep you warm, whether that be through a date’s arm around your shoulder or the sweat of a mosh pit. Here are three gigs for each of the next three months, ranging from the smallest foyer to the largest venue; from jazz to techno, indie to punk. Bristol may be a city known for its drum and bass, but there’s so much more in its arsenal just begging to be explored.
JANUARY
Wallows – January 15th, O2 Academy
Perhaps best known for creating one of the defining albums of the late 2010s – Nothing Happens – Wallows provide a time capsule buried somewhere between surf rock and bedroom pop. Now on the road for their new album, Tell Me That It’s Over, they provide the perfect soundtrack for kids’ first kisses and last goodbyes; the sound of summers spent outdoors, and autumns whiled away in the company of long-time best friends. Performing at the O2, they offer a night to relive those memories and bank even more; it’s a chance as refreshing as cold lemonade, and as new as a first time.
(For fans of Clairo, The Wombats, and Calpurnia.)
The Pleasure Dome – January 17th, The Louisiana
The Pleasure Dome are masted by madcap frontman Bobby Spender, the man welcomed by Bristol’s punk scene as its prodigal son. The band formed in Bristol in 2019 and have just signed to Hound Gawd! Records, so they’re a band to see before they grow too big for the city’s pond. Raw and raucous, and performing at one of the smallest venues in Bristol, their barbed-wire sound is sure to bounce off the walls and hit you like a kiss.
(For fans of The Sex Pistols, slowthai, and IDLES.)
Liane Carroll – January 19th, Bristol Beacon Foyer
For a quieter night out, try an evening with Liane Carroll. She’s a jazz singer and pianist whose melodies are as soft as silk gloves, and fit just as well if you’re looking for the perfect night for whirling romance. This is music for lovers.
(For fans of Nina Simone, Julie London, and Valerie June.)
FEBRUARY
Lizzie Esau – February 4th, The Louisiana
Tipped to be the next big thing, Esau’s ability to be the femme fatale or girl-next-door – depending on which hat best suits her point – is a skill not to miss. Having been passed the baton as the next face of ‘sad girl pop’, she’s already running laps. Just make sure you’re in the crowd before she reaches the finish line.
(For fans of Lana del Rey, Lily Allen, and Suki Waterhouse.)
The Murder Capital – February 24th, Marble Factory
Part of the Irish post-punk Renaissance, The Murder Capital’s show is sure to be an awakening; literally, if not spiritually. It’ll be hosted at Marble Factory – an offshoot of Motion, one of Europe’s most infamous nightclubs – meaning the crowd will be loud and the band even rowdier. If you’re looking for a Friday night you’ll still feel in your nerves come Monday morning, this band are your best bet.
(For fans of Fontaines D.C., Just Mustard, and Courting.)
Dry Cleaning – February 26th, O2 Academy Bristol
Known for frontwoman Florence Shaw’s sharp vocals and strange lyricisms, Dry Cleaning are a band closer to performance art than rock show. While their music may not be to everyone’s tastes – more Kathy Acker than Sally Rooney, and more John Waters than George Lucas – they’re a band whose presence is felt all over the country’s cultural capital. For an evening far from the commonplace, Dry Cleaning will open your third eye to the city’s possibilities, whatever they may be.
(For fans of Jarvis Cocker, Kae Tempest, and Kate Bush.)
MARCH
Grandmas House – March 4th, Exchange
Despite only starting to perform together in 2020, the Bristol-based trio are one of the forerunners of the city’s post-punk scene. As a queer and female band, their music explores the ever-changing notion of identity under the understanding of what makes live music so exciting. They’re playing in Exchange – a venue known for cherry-picking the sweetest of up-and-coming talent – so the gig is sure to be felt deep in your bones, if they’re not shaken too roughly by the heady noise of the music itself.
(For fans of Hole, PJ Harvey, and Dream Wife.)
Etta Marcus – March 8th, Rough Trade
With one hand on an hourglass and the other counting her heartbeat, the soft-spoken twenty-year-old is one to watch out for. Her performance is sure to be an ode to real romance, and the record shop is the perfect spot for this date night with a twist.
(For fans of Mazzy Star, Julia Jacklin, and Billie Marten.)
Shame – March 9th, SWX
As rough around the edges as bitten fingernails or bloody knuckles, Shame’s Food for Worms tour is sure to be as exciting as fist fights or strip poker. As an English post-punk band who write songs for their friends rather than the world, their crowds feel like part of the group, too. It may not be a gig for the faint of heart, but the sound is raw and real. It’s sure to leave your ears ringing, your voice sore, and your spirits high.
(For fans of The Chats, Amyl and the Sniffers, and Minor Threat.)
by Kate Jeffrie @katejeffrie
Kate Jeffrie @katejeffrie
Role: Lead Writer / Interviewer
I review gigs, and interview bands and musicians.
Available For: Gig Reviews, band interviews
Qualification: I study English Literature at the University of Bristol.
First attended gig: The first gig I remember going to see was Lewis Watson when I was 13, at a pub a few towns over from where I lived. My friends and I all loved him, and I remember how shocked I was that someone I had on this pedestal could be stood on a stage just a few feet away, drinking a beer and playing guitar!
First gig reviewed: The first gig I ever reviewed was Palace at the O2 Academy Bristol. As a band I wasn’t particularly well acquainted with, it was a testament to how live music can bowl someone over, even when it’s coming from strangers.
Dream gig: My dad saw The Smiths on their first tour, and since they’re my favourite band, I think seeing them in an intimate venue would be a dream
