RewindWords

Fans of Bob Marley’s legendary band The Wailers filled Bristol’s O2 Academy from floor to ceiling last week, with people packing out the dancefloor and balcony areas to unite in one celebration of love, music and a heartfelt ode to the legendary Bob Marley. Fronted by the energetic and charismatic Joshua David Barrett, the band …

RewindWords

French trip hop troupe and independent record label Chinese Man came to the O2 Academy with their new album Shikantaza. A Japanese translation of a Chinese term, Shikantaza is a Zen Buddhist practice called ‘Silent Illumination’ or ‘nothing but (shikan) precisely (da) sitting (za)’. It describes the process of being completely in the moment, emptying …

RewindWords

Celebrating the 4th birthday of Britain’s best touring Jungle rave, Rumble in The Jungle went off with a bang on Friday night at Lakota and Coroner’s Court. Glittering rave-goers and hardcore Jungle heads queued excitedly down the streets of Stokes Croft for access to the hottest party of 2018. After an amazing presale, the last …

RewindWords

Last month, Bristol’s own hip hop influenced neo soul artist China Bowls celebrated the launch of her new single The Way with ‘Jam Packed’ show at Jam Jar. After the successful release of her EP on Saffron Records last year, this spells the first of many new singles in the pipeline. Joined by beatboxing poet …

RewindWords

Before arriving at the Crofters Rights in Stokes Croft last December, my expectations of Sleeptalking were very high. It’s hard to find a single bad word written about them, and they appear to be making enough waves for Michael Eavis to have personally invited them to play at Glastonbury 2017. Words like eccentric and flamboyant …

RewindWords

Frontman Neil Hannon and his troupe of musically badass accountants served up a sweet and intimate show at the Colston Hall, when The Divine Comedy brought their Foreverland tour to Bristol this November. Full of TDC’s trademark tragicomic and tongue-in-cheek musicality, the evening was energetic yet laidback; unhindered yet carefully curated, with well over 20 …

RewindWords

Kicked into life in 2005, the reputable Alfresco Disco is a semi-rare and always unique event that is hotly anticipated amongst lovers of secretive gatherings. For over a decade, it’s held its own in Bristol’s packed music calendar due to its off-the-grid mentality and, most importantly, its spirit. Peddling music not money, the Alfresco team’s …

RewindWords

Following an acclaimed slot at Love Saves the Day in May this year, Canadian quartet BadBadNotGood made a much-anticipated return to Bristol, treating a packed Motion crowd to an hypnotic 90-minutes of hip hop-infused jazz. Sold out for months and later upgraded from its original Marble Factory venue to the adjoining clubnight warehouse due to …

RewindWords

In case you ever dared to doubt, it’s a yes. Emphatically, yes. Robert Plant, legendary Led Zeppelin frontman and grizzled, music history-defining, rock-folkian warlock with the voice of liquid god proved he can still drop jaws, when he played to an enrapt Colston Hall this November, flanked by The Sensational Space Shifters. The setlist was …

RewindWords

Christmas came early at the O2 last weekend, with Queenstown-based hip hop pioneers Juice Crew putting on a monumental show for the old skool faithful. Over 30 years since their founding, members Big Daddy Kane, Kool G Rap, Masta Ace, MC Shan, Craig G and Roxanne Shante still know how to set the stage on …