On Saturday 7 November, Simple Things Festival returned to Bristol for its twelfth edition. The multi-venue event across the city centre gave attendees a taster of the best up-and-coming music across a range of genres.
The first band I saw was caroline, whom I was especially excited about, especially as their second self-titled album, caroline 2, was a mainstay for me last year. The UK post-rock band opened with an atmospheric chaos of violin while setting up a feedback loop through a speaker in the middle of the stage. The whole set was bold and ambitious, moving between delicate vocals and organised rage. ‘Tell Me I Never Knew That’ and ‘Total Euphoria’ were two of my favourites, which showed off both their unresolved melodies and the pristine musicianship of the eight-piece ensemble.
(caroline – photo by Henry Redclif)
My New Band Believe were the evening’s best surprise. I had heard that their self-titled album was a great debut and I was also aware that the frontman was the former Black Midi bassist. However, even with those high expectations, I was impressed. The songs, much like the others from the Windmill scene, were long but attention-grabbing. Cameron Picton loved to move from folky lyrics to punky chaos and back to whispered vocals. ‘Target Practice’ showcased their range, with the interesting string arrangements and his elegant voice, as well as the climactic lurching the band clearly enjoyed.
(My New Band Believe)
The set-up of the event was excellent. The gig timings were perfect, so you never felt rushed, and the venues were close enough that you could reach the next gig within ten to fifteen minutes. The organisation really impressed me – it worked well for the venues, and it let independent artists announce themselves to their respective scenes.
I caught a few other artists in between: Ms Ray, Ugly (UK) and a bit of Alex Wilcox. All were very entertaining and deserve a shout-out.
(Chanel Beads – photo by Eve Alpert)
The final band I saw was Chanel Beads, the New York-based group fronted by Shane Lavers, Maya McGrory and Zachary Paul. The dream-pop band lit up the Lantern Hall and wrapped up the festival on a very positive note. The five members impressed with ethereal tracks that got the whole crowd on their feet, and “Police Scanner” was a personal highlight of the night.
Simple Things is a festival I would recommend to anyone. The bands were great, the Bristol crowd didn’t disappoint, and I got to see a diverse selection of artists, many of whom I was unfamiliar with. It is a festival you will most likely leave with several new songs on your radar.
Max Adams
