Behind the scenes with John Blakeley
John Blakeley is the man behind the music booking at some of Bristol’s best loved intimate venues – Canteen, No 1 Harbourside, Old Market Assembly and Wardrobe Theatre. He also programmes the music for nearby hidden gem, Valley Fest. It’s during this long-standing career that’s focussed on bringing quality music to its deserved platform, that …
Behind the scenes with St Pauls Carnival 2019’s new director
St Pauls Carnival is a celebration of the rich African-Caribbean roots that flow through Bristol. The streets flock with locals and visitors who come to experience the music, art, food and culture that connect this city to Caribbean and African shores. It is a tradition that is cherished by locals and its importance to the …
Behind the Scenes with Mandem
Mandem provides an online space for young men of colour to express themselves creatively, exploring ideas of culture, politics and identity through writing, film and music. Though Bristol-based, Mandem aims to attract a national audience – regardless of age, ethnicity, class or gender – to explore their content and join in with key discussions surrounding …
Behind the scenes with Dan Chandler
Dan Chandler has certainly paid his dues in the Bristol music industry. Today, he’s one of the brains behind Bristol’s biggest city festival The Downs, helped mastermind the event that legitimised Lloyds Amphitheatre as a big name concert venue, and looks after tours for the likes of Nick Cave, Sleaford Mods and The Pixies up …
Behind the scenes with Lizzy Ellis
It’s one thing having inspiring creatives in the music industry, but it’s another when these people give up their time to help others climb the ladder. Lizzy Ellis is one of these individuals who is driven by a passion to support others, helping many people along the way to develop a career in the music …
Behind the scenes with Blazey Bodynod
Jordan Davies AKA Blazey Bodynod has been behind the decks pioneering the local grime scene for almost two decades. He was one of the very first in the city to fly the flag for grime and garage sounds, both as a DJ and promoter, and it’s easy to trace the influence he’s had on today’s …
Bristol’s Exchange will become the UK’s first community-owned music venue
Exchange is a venue that has firmly occupied an important place on Bristol’s musical map since opening its doors in 2012. The live music venue has hosted a wide array of now-major artists including George Ezra, Four Tet, IDLES and Sleaford Mods, to name but a few, as well as being a regular home to …
Behind the scenes with Bethbethbeth
Music photographer, journalist, DJ and radio show host Beth Sheldrick AKA Bethbethbeth has been a part of Bristol’s underground grime and dubstep scenes for the past four years, both in front of and behind the scenes – taking inspiration from her hero Mary Anne Hobbes to drive all her creative energy towards pushing new and underrated …
Behind the scenes with Boomtown and Dank Parish
Though it takes place outside the quaint city of Winchester each August, Boomtown Festival has always felt like an extension of Bristol. Not only does the city annually clear out as we drive east to make up a significant portion the Boomtown population, the festival is also run out of Bristol and built out of …
Behind the scenes with SIKA Studios
SIKA Studios is a network of creatives, built from the underground up. Combining skate and graffiti culture with hip hop, grime and other underground musical genres, SIKA Studios are celebrating their 10th birthday this year. As well as putting a spotlight on a number of homegrown artists over the past decade through their live events …