On the Beat - Bristol

On the Beat - Bristol Covering Bristol's live music scene and new music beyond. Shining a light on Bristol's vibrant live music scene. Weekly previews and visuals.

Discover Bristol with 'On the Beat.'

03/12/2017

'A vivid display of talent' from Abstract Orchestra at The Marble Factory.

''Haunting samples filled the room like an unseen presence alongside the grins of the conductor as he threw his gang sign semaphore direction to the band, illustrating vividly the pride and passion they all have for their art.''

Words by Tiarnán McCartney. Video by Tom Whitson.

'A vivid display of talent' - Tiarnán McCartney caught Abstract Orchestra play a ‘blaring, riotous’ set at Bristol’s The...
28/11/2017

'A vivid display of talent' - Tiarnán McCartney caught Abstract Orchestra play a ‘blaring, riotous’ set at Bristol’s The Marble Factory.

The sticky, sweet smell of Marble Factory underpinned a certain, reserved anticipation on Saturday night as the room filled out ahead of Abstract Orchestra’s appearance.

The mandatory howl of Bristol and the band roared into gear with blaring, riotous fanfare.

The diversity of age and origin of this 16-piece orchestra was reflected in a remarkably cohesive audience made up of Abstract fans, fans of MF DOOM and simply lovers of pure and striking live music. The expressions, I noted, of the punters in the first row ranged from utterly transfixed to head swinging ecstasy.

Two skilled guest MCs addressed the crowd with machine gun accuracy and a fierce energy that ran harmoniously parallel to that of the Orchestra.

It was a creative interpretation rather than a faithful reproduction of the album. Abstract Orchestra dropped a few solo MF DOOM tracks here and there, as well as some original bars, which kept the Villain fans on the edge of their seats.

True music lovers know that everything of merit will transcend genre. This was proven as an East Coast modern Hip-Hop classic with instrumentals inspired by trips to Brazil were brought to life with jazz instrumentation by the orchestra from Leeds.

It was a vivid display of talent; lower range brass flexed its fat muscles while scorching rock and roll flautists flaunted their improvisational skills.

Haunting samples filled the room like an unseen presence alongside the grins of the conductor as he threw his gang sign semaphore direction to the band, illustrating vividly the pride and passion they all have for their art.

Defiant cries of “hell yeah” from MCs and the wild audience brought the show to its final climax. The only feeling of disappointment I was left with came from the fact the timid crowd was asked whether they wanted an encore or not.

Words by Tiarnán McCartney. Photos by Tom Whitson.

19/11/2017

Kojey Radical is a performer like no other - mixing intimate speeches with energetic choruses. Here's a montage of his electric performance of '700 Pennies' at Exchange, Bristol.

Kojey Radical is a poet, a singer, and boy can he rap. The 24-year old has lyricism and stage presence which far excels ...
18/11/2017

Kojey Radical is a poet, a singer, and boy can he rap. The 24-year old has lyricism and stage presence which far excels his years.

The crowd he brought to Bristol's Exchange was resemblant of how double-edged the East-London artist is. From older Bristolian music lovers who had seen Kojey grace spoken word stages for years, to younger fans who admire Kojey for his political messages and alternative sound.

Kojey Radical commands the stage with a presence that felt both striking yet vulnerable. The versatility of the man's character and music is what makes him one of the most exciting artists in the UK. Video to follow tomorrow.

Photos by Tom Whitson.

12/11/2017

Poignant, political and a true performer - Joey Badass kicked off his 'All-Amerikkkan Bada$$' Europe tour at Motion Bristol recently.

He came, and he conquered! Joey blessed the stage of Motion last week to provide his dedicated fans with a night they will never forget. Playing songs from his second studio album, All Amerikkkan Bada$$, as well as a few gems from his older releases, 1999 and B4.DA.$$. A night of energy, raw emotion and inspiration; which could only be pulled off by a true master of the arts of both penmanship and performance.

Words by Reiss Amoah, video by Tom Whitson.

Joey Badass, the Brooklyn-born rapper, returned to Bristol on the 21st October to kick off the first leg of his European...
29/10/2017

Joey Badass, the Brooklyn-born rapper, returned to Bristol on the 21st October to kick off the first leg of his European Everybody’s Tour. It has been two years since his last visit to Bristol’s The Marble Factory and it was immediately evident the 22 year-old has grown substantially in vision and sound in that period of time. Joey’s performance was an affirmation of his latest album; sporting all black with a red beret - he carried an air of militancy and determination with him, while at the same time swaggering across the stage with genuine theatrical prowess.
It was a passionate political polemic against the current social upheaval occurring in the States, emphasising the content of his latest work.

Words by Liam J Curran. Photos by Tom Whitson.

Photo album: CunninLynguists at The Fleece BristolOld-school hip-hop trio Cunninlynguists are up there with the best rap...
20/10/2017

Photo album: CunninLynguists at The Fleece Bristol
Old-school hip-hop trio Cunninlynguists are up there with the best rap performers still on the tour grind. On 12th October, the Kentucky collective brought their layered production and deep lyricism to Bristol’s ‘The Fleece’. Their live performance stayed true to their alternative hip-hop style, entering the stage through a crowd at the bar, making Trump jokes, and even passing an imaginary spliff around on stage.

With music as original and lyrically profound as theirs, Cunninlynguists are free to run riot on stage. They just have a great time. Bouncing round the stage, stylishly entangling their microphones, joking about being ‘Vanilla Ice’ – the best hip-hop acts have a special knack of simply enjoying themselves on stage. When your heroes are having a sick time on stage, how can you not?

Supported by Trizz, a rapper whose rhymes far exceed his tender age of 22, the Cunninlynguists had their work cut out bettering his syrup-like flow and expert control of the crowd. Trizz perfectly balanced hyping up an eager crowd whilst showing off some of his new work from his well-received album ‘Two Puff Pass.’

CunninLynguists new album, ‘Rose Azura Njano’ and Trizz latest album, 'Two Puff Pass' are both out now.

A few gigs to keep an eye out for at The Fleece Bristol:
- 20th October - Nubiyan Twist. A 10-piece group effortlessly mixing jazz and latin vibes with some gorgeous vocals.
- 7th November - Com Truise. An innovative DJ and Producer who is the creator of a style he describes as “mid-fi synth-wave, slow-motion funk”.

17/10/2017

LeftBank Bristol's open mic night is a melting pot of talented Bristol-based musicians. A great location for under-the-radar talent to pick you up from mid-week Blues.
The Left Bank open mic night takes place in Stokes Croft, every Wednesday from 8pm - 1 am. Look no further for your Wednesday music fix.

Bristol's live music scene is up there with the best in the world... we're here to document it. Weekly photo albums and ...
16/10/2017

Bristol's live music scene is up there with the best in the world... we're here to document it. Weekly photo albums and video highlights from some of the funkiest gigs across the city will shed a light on what makes Bristol's music culture so special.

Where else to begin than LeftBank Bristol's iconic 'Open Mic Night', held on Wednesday's in Stokes Croft.

Big thanks to the talented group of musicians who strutted their stuff on the night.

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