With the promise of successive nights of quality acts, and blissful summer evenings astride Bristol’s scenic harbourside, Bristol Sounds continues to provide a late June treat for local live music aficionados. This year’s event, featuring five headline acts and a ten strong assortment of support acts, takes place from 25th-29th June. With the city somewhat depleted with the departure of revellers to five days of festivities at Worthy Farm, the annual event has consistently proved Bristol’s ability to still conjure up heaving throngs of gig-goers and make the city hum with a music fiesta of its own.
The summer spectacular kicks off in just a week’s time with Supergrass, main players during the Britpop era and now veterans continuing to fly the flag for British guitar rock, set to appear amidst the marvellous surroundings of the Canon’s Marsh Ampitheatre on Wednesday 25th June. The trio are celebrating the 30th anniversary of celebrated pop-punk debut record I Should Coco, and will be playing the album in its entirety for the very first time. They will be adroitly supported by Cambridge alternative rock group Sports Team who – according to local reports as to the quality of their recent album signing performance at Rough Trade – will be well worth turning up for.
The remaining line-up includes Leeds indie rock band Kaiser Chiefs who, with an album milestone of their own, celebrate twenty years since 2005 debut Employment, Glasgow rock royalty Texas, and 2009 X Factor runner up and all-round television personality Olly Murs.
Furthermore, with gates accessible at an earlier than usual 3pm for Saturday’s show, the organisers have crammed in a five band bevy of celebrated retro acts with another Glasgow group, The Fratellis, headlining a bill with 90s survivors Cast (also one of the support acts for Oasis’ hotly anticipated reunion shows), fellow Britpop era indie rockers Sleeper, tongue in check Welsh rappers Goldie Looking Chain and somewhat more sober electro-dance, hip-hoppers Stereo MCs.
The generous bill is further supplemented by support acts Lime Garden, Morgan Harper Jones, Turin Brakes, Lucy Spraggon and Billy Lockett.
Event promoter Conal Dodds, of Crosstown Concerts, has told “Every single one of the acts on the bill has had multiple UK chart hits and are fabulous live acts, so this is going to be a really special five days down on the Harbourside. We’ve done our very best too to keep the ticket price down and to make this great value for money, so get your tickets quick!”
Tickets for all five events are still available, although anyone looking to catch Kaiser Chiefs, Texas or Olly Murs should act switly to avoid disappointment. Visit the Bristol Sounds website for event information, the full list of headliners and support acts, and information on how to purchase tickets.
The Fix will be covering Supergrass’ no doubt blistering opening night next Wednesday so watch this space for our review.