Singer-songwriter, guitarist and YouTuber extraordinaire Mary Spender, is re-writing the rule book when it comes to managing her musical career. She speaks to Rosanna Spence ahead of a homecoming show at St George’s on 25 September celebrating the release of her independently released debut studio album Super. Sexy. Heartbreak. How are your DIY skills? Before you make a dash for your toolbox, hang on a minute. Because I’m talking about a different type of self-build project altogether; an independently-assembled musical ..read more

Since the release of their latest album, I Got Heaven, in March of this year, Mannequin Pussy has been on a roll. The Philadelphia-based rock band have been a regular feature in conversations about ‘bands to look out for’ since their 2016 album Romantic. With many fans across the US and Europe, it’s not a surprise the recent Strange Brew (16 June) show sold out. Despite it being a warm Sunday night, the room was packed. A great way to spend Father’s Day. Manchester-based TTSSFU began the night with dreamy distorted guitars and mesmerising bass lines. A mellow start quickly lead into quicker p ..read more

We speak to Johnny Scratchley of Bristol Sounds headliners Gentleman’s Dub Club ahead of their performance, about why city feels like home, how the Sunday show will celebrate soundsystem culture, and those dapper suits. Turn up the bass, and don’t be fooled by the smart suits. Gentleman’s Dub Club may be some of the best dressed men in music, but they also play to some of the wildest crowds too. This group of genre-defying gents – who skilfully weave dub, reggae, hip-hop, drum ‘n’ bass, skin-tingling brass melodies, electronica and more into each rallying tune – have been a favourite of Bristo ..read more

Sarah Records was the indie label that signed the acts no major label would touch, but whose sounds you wanted to hear. It put out a board game, produced cut’n’paste fanzines and thumbed its nose to the mainstream music industry. It was your secret world and it was located in the heart of Bristol from 1987 to 1995. In her new book, Jane Duffus celebrates the significance of this most independent of indie labels. If asked to define the Bristol music scene, the names that spring to mind might include Massive Attack, Tricky and Portishead. Only the more astute music fans would add Sarah Records ..read more

Folk singer Kate Rusby is grounded in the South Yorkshire region and in the old ballads and traditional songs she grew up with. After over 30 years of performing, her music still reaches out to followers all over the country, and on 17 December she and her band come to the Bristol Beacon for her annual Christmas concert. Expect a mixture of sentiment, humour and joy, including a broken, lost angel in Glorious, The Ivy and the Holly (yes, in that order) and Arrest These Merry Gentlemen. Folk music is woven into the very fabric of Kate Rusby. In 1999 at the age of just 26, she was named as one o ..read more

… is how Idles’ frontman Joe Talbot described Bristol’s most-famous concert-goer Big Jeff at Glastonbury this year as he recovered from serious injuries sustained in a house fire. One month before the accident, Simon Horsford sat down with Jeff to delve into his love of music and art and discuss his extraordinary outlook on life. To this day, it is abundantly clear that the local legend’s strength and positivity remains unwavering in his fight. In June of this year, the Bristol artist and famed gig-goer Jeffrey Johns, aka Big Jeff, was seriously injured in a house fire. He remains in Southmead ..read more

On Sunday 19 March, the Bristol Metropolitan Orchestra returns to St George’s Bristol for the first of its three annual concerts. We meet Conductor Tim Harrison, soloist Luke Russell and orchestra leader (violinist) Anneka Sutcliffe to chat crescendo and connection… Fact: on 1 March, the UK gets approximately 11 hours of sunlight per day. That’s three hours more than Deepest Darkest January. As the days grow longer and we edge ever closer to summer’s sublime 16 hours of sunlight, what better time to enjoy an orchestra concert programmed around the theme of light? On 19 March, the shining talen ..read more

After capturing our hearts on this year’s Strictly Come Dancing, Bristol-born comedian Jayde Adams chats to Melissa Blease about body confidence, brand-new shows and living the dream… According to a Times journalist, Jayde Adams – the uniquely charismatic Bristol-born comedian, actor, writer and singer – “unites the political with the personal in a way that many comics aim for, but few pull off with this sort of aplomb.” The Evening Standard says her stardom-bound trajectory is inevitable, and the Guardian claims she’s already reached stellar heights. So: is Jayde talking to me from a luxury f ..read more

Valley Fest, the best-tasting music festival in the South West festival, takes place alongside Chew Valley Lake, near Bristol, between 4-7 August 2022. Music Travis, Clean Bandit, Faithless (DJ set), Roni Size with Dynamite MC, Kosheen and The Craig Charles Funk and Soul Club will headline. Valley Fest has joined forces with Arcadia, the performance art collective. Arcadia are best known for their iconic, 50 ft fire-spitting spider at Glastonbury.  However at Valley Fest, they are bringing the Afterburner stage – built from a Rolls Royce jet engine. Acts playing on the Afterburn ..read more

Some 36 years ago, the NME released a cassette tape that comprised of 22 new guitar-based bands licensed from British independent record labels of the time, which even featured the then unknown Scottish rock band, Primal Scream. C86 was arguably the birth of ‘indie music’, but what happened to those musical dreamers? asked renowned journalist and local author Nige Tassell. In his new book, Whatever Happened to the C86 kids? An Indie Odyssey, he tracks down the members to find out exactly where life led them… Bogshed, Stump and Miaow; The Mighty Lemon Drops, Half Man Half Biscuit and Close Lobs ..read more