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During festivals, where lineups cater to a similar crowd and are supported by corporations, Bristol’s Simple Things stands out as a refreshing addition after the pandemic hiatus. The event boasts a 15-hour schedule across seven venues, even including a bowling alley. While the ambition is commendable, it may lead to conflicts, long lines, and truncated performances. However, it remains distinct from typical festival lineups, which is reassuring.
The talented musician L’Rain starts off the day at Strange Brew with a performance that is praised by all. She effortlessly performs her experimental album, I Killed Your Dog, with the help of a full band and samples of dogs barking and phones ringing. The atmosphere of the DIY space adds to the intimacy of L’Rain’s performance, despite the strong and captivating rhythm section. This is due to her gentle harmonies, subtle bedroom-pop influences, and the band’s choice to perform in socks.
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Somewhere in the centre of the festival sits the Sportsman, a rough-and-ready sports bar and music venue framed by arcade machines and stacked pub chairs. Despite the more low-profile and local lineup, it’s far from a fringe event and the room is consistently packed with head-banging listeners. At one point, Butch Kassidy’s brilliant, swarming post-rock makes the floor shake and the toilet doors rattle, before the Psychotic Monks send the audience into a frenzy with their bruising electronic brand of post-punk.
Bristol Beacon is a popular venue with multiple large performance areas spread throughout five floors. However, it may not be the best choice for a festival due to its elegant but unremarkable decor, better suited for conferences. While George Riley’s soft vocals are captivating and complement the sensual slow jams and R&B-influenced dance tracks, they may get lost in the expansive, glass-enclosed space. Upstairs, Wu-Lu’s energetic hardcore hip-hop is impressive but would be better suited for a smaller, grittier setting. The final act, Paranoid London’s gritty acid house, seems out of place on the small stage in the entrance hall of the venue. However, with a packed crowd dancing with their hands in the air, one could almost visualize it as a small, sweaty club rather than a foyer.
The A/V performances steal the show at this venue. Evian Christ puts on a magnificent performance, backed by a dazzling light show and billows of smoke machine fog. Their trance set builds slowly but is both intense and heavenly. One audience member even compares it to being at a wedding. This experience embodies the essence of what makes Simple Things unique – jubilant and boundary-breaking underground music that defies categorization.
Source: theguardian.com
