What’s on! Bristol Beacon listings

Bristol Beacon brings us an extraordinary abundance of entertainment across Bristol and Bath. From melodic afropop, through cathartic pop and rock and lively jazz and contemporary folk, to dramatic orchestral performances and everything in-between.

 

Unmissable events in the next few months include:

 

Rock and Pop: Pictish Trail, The Crofters Rights, Thursday 24th March, 8:00pm, £15.26 incl. booking fee

 

Second date added due to popular demand.

 

Scottish musician and Lost Map record label founder Johnny Lynch has been making music in his Pictish Trail guise since the early noughties. Before Lost Map, Lynch was heavily involved in the iconic Fence Collective, running its associated label and regularly collaborating with its artists. This iridescent, ethereal pop pushes Lynch’s vocals front and centre, while the electro beats, samples and soaring choruses create a consistent, cathartic experience.

 

Rock and Pop: Ulrich Schnauss plus Richard Norris, Arnolfini, Thursday 24th March, 8:00pm, £19.62 incl. booking fee

 

Electronic composer Ulrich Schnauss’ career spans over two decades with his music inhabiting a particular otherworldly space with his resplendent, atmospheric soundscapes. Alongside his solo work Schnauss has contributed to dream-pop outfit Engineers and in 2014 joined influential electronic pioneers Tangerine Dream.

 

Rock and Pop: Blue Rose Code, Folk House, Sunday 27th March, 8:00pm, £17.44 incl. booking fee

 

The musical moniker of Ross Wilson, Blue Rose Code’s songs hold a stirring, deeply emotive potency. Wilson’s songwriting is imbued with resplendent vibrancy as he paints a rich sound palette drawing on folk, Americana, jazz, soul and the celtic traditions of his native Scotland.

 

Rock and Pop: Ibibio Sound Machine, Komedia Bath, Wednesday 30th March, 8:00pm, £16.35 incl. Booking fee

 

Ibibio Sound Machine’s music offers “a groove-driven melange of styles”. Fronted by singer Eno Williams, the project fuses “New York new wave and disco with Ghanaian highlife and Nigerian folk culture” (The Guardian).

 

Since Ibibio Sound Machine was formed by Williams and Max Grunhard in 2013 the London-based group has become renowned for their irresistible grooves and dynamic live shows.

 

Jazz, Rock and Pop: KOKOROKO, Marble Factory, Sunday 3rd April, 8:00pm, £19.62 incl. booking fee

 

KOKOROKO are a leading force of the London jazz community. Featuring a seismic horn section, guitar, keys, drums and percussion, plus the enchanting vocals of frontwomen Sheila, Cassie and Richie, the band have received critical acclaim from BBC 6 Music, Clash & NPR as well as clocking up over 40m views on YouTube.

 

Rock and Pop: Portico Quartet, Trinity Centre, Saturday 9th April, 8:00pm, £21.80 incl. booking fee

 

With an intricately considered sound that encompasses elements of jazz, ambient music, electronica and minimalism, Portico Quartet “stake claims to territory occupied by Radiohead, Cinematic Orchestra and Efterklang” (Guardian).

 

The Mercury Prize-nominated group’s latest release ‘Terrain’ is a three-part suite inspired by American minimalism and pioneering Japanese composer Midori Takada.

 

Rock and Pop: Cleveland Watkiss and The Great Jamaican Songbook, Bristol Beacon Foyer, Saturday 9th April, 8:00pm, £17.44 incl. booking fee

 

Co-founder of the ground-breaking Jazz Warriors, across his career Watkiss has performed at the legendary Metalheadz nights at Blue Note, starred in Julian Joseph’s jazz operas and collaborated with the likes of Carroll Thompson and Sugar Minott to mention but a few of his accolades. Watkiss’ latest project ‘The Great Jamaican Songbook’ sees him delve deep into the golden era of roots music, tracing Jamaican musical legacy from 40s and 50s mento through ska, reggae, dub and lovers rock.

 

Folk: Calan, Folk House, Saturday 16th April, 8:00pm, £17.44 incl. booking fee

 

Voted the Best Band at the Wales Folk Awards. Bringing infectious rhythms and high voltage routines, Wales’ greatest folk supergroup Calan return to Bristol with fiddles, accordions, guitars and performances full of raw excitement.

 

Rock and Pop: The White Buffalo, O2 Academy, Wednesday 20th April, 7:00pm, £20.44 incl. booking fee

 

American singer/songwriter Jake Smith has been performing under the moniker The White Buffalo since 2002. His 2017 album ‘Darkest Darks, Lightest Lights’ was created in just six weeks, with Rolling Stone describing it as Stone’s “most stylistically rich collection of songs.”

 

Rock and Pop: Joshua Radin, The Station, Sunday 24th April, 8:00pm, £24.53

 

With his music played on shows like Scrubs, Grey’s Anatomy, and One Tree Hill, Joshua Radin is “one of a crop of singer-songwriters whose names became ubiquitous with a particular kind of heartstring-pulling drama” (Americana UK).

 

Over his extensive career, the LA musician has become a worldwide name with his amiable, tender folk-pop.

 

Rock and Pop: José González, The Marble Factory, Tuesday 26th April, 7:30pm, £26.90 incl. booking fee

 

Since the release of his debut single ‘Crosses’ in 2003 and first album ‘Veneer’, which features his acclaimed cover of The Knife’s ‘Heartbeats’, the Swedish musician has “carved out his own niche, imbuing his music with a sense of timelessness” (Pitchfork). González has played shows all over the globe including selling out The Royal Albert Hall and recently performing at Green Man festival.

 

Rock and Pop: Holy F*ck, The Exchange, Wednesday 27th April, 8:00pm, £16.35 incl. booking fee

 

Canadian electronic outfit Holy Fuck have forged a distinct path over the past 15 years. Holy Fuck’s sound offers a hypnotic, psych-infused trip fuelled by trance-like beats and fuzz-laden basslines.

 

At the beginning of this year they released their fourth album ‘Deleter’, featuring guest appearances from Hot Chip’s Alexis Taylor, Pond’s Nicholas Allbrook and Liars’ Angus Andrew.

Folk: The Tonic Sessions: Samantha Lindo, Bristol Beacon Foyer, Thursday 28th April, 7:30pm, £5.00 – £10.00 incl. booking fee

 

Inspired by the jazz and Motown vocal greats, Samantha Lindo is “a natural born storyteller” (Bristol 24/7). The Bristolian singer and songwriter was recently featured on the BBC Sounds Hot List and has been rapidly, and deservedly, garnering acclaim for her poignant songwriting.

 

Within her music, Lindo weaves “poetry, spoken word and beautiful lyricism” (Nitelife) reflecting on pertinent issues surrounding climate and racial justice, feminism and mental health. She is also co-founder of all female arts collective ‘Girls, Girls, Girls’ along with Beth Rowley and Eliza Shaddad.

 

Rock and Pop: Tindersticks, Bath Forum, Friday 29th April, 8:00pm, £31.07 – £34.88 incl. booking fee

 

For the past 30 years Tindersticks have “set their lush, intricate, often unabashedly beautiful arrangements against dark, pained lyrics about ugly, messy emotions” (Pitchfork).

Within this, the indie-rock outfit has crafted a balance of haunting, visceral feeling and aching warmth fronted by Stuart Staples and his idiosyncratic, atmospheric crooning. As Tindersticks celebrate three decades as a band they mark this milestone with a special two-set show including accompaniment from a local string orchestra.