George Ward
Freelance journalist and online editor for CLUNK. Can be found out and about in Bristol, finding cheap records or having a pint on King Street.
With Simple Things festival returning to Bristol this Saturday, we share our favourites from the insanely exciting and genre-spanning lineup
Bristol day festival Simple Things returns on Saturday 24th February. With a stacked day and night programme filled up and ready to go, there’s something for everyone, from experimental to punk to techno to hip-hop. Here are a few of our picks for Saturday.
Tickets are available here.
Gilla Band
Dublin band Gilla Band have long been considered pioneers of the current noise-rock scene and for good reason. Their blend of vicious instrumentation, abstract lyrics and quietly spoken to screamed vocals make for an incredibly uneasy, exhilarating and unique listening experience.
Witnessing the band live is a real experience. Seeing just how the unassuming four-piece creates their barrage of noise is a spectacle to watch and their jittery, aggressive presence always riles up a good crowd.
O.
O. are more than just the least Googleable band around. The drum/sax duo have recently signed with Dan Carey’s Speedy Wunderground label and dropped their debut EP last year.
Don’t be fooled by their sparse setup; with only two instruments, these guys can lay down a killer set. With the sax drowned in effects pedals and the drum performances always electric, the duo explore dub, electronics, jazz and everything in between.
Viji
Next up is fellow Speedy Wundergrounder Viji. Viji dropped her debut album ‘So Vanilla’ last year and it was one of our favourites.
With catchy tunes, grungy 90s aesthetics and a nostalgic feel, Viji is a must for fans of Soccer Mommy and Slow Pulp. We’re very excited to hear these tracks come to life after chatting with Viji last year about the new album and her creative process. Read the interview here.
Wu-Lu
Wu-Lu is a very special artist. With a fiery punk sound peppered with hip-hop, his 2022 album ‘Loggerhead’ was one of the best of the year.
Live, Romans-Hopcraft is joined by a band, delivering his tunes with even more ferocity than on the record. With Wu-Lu’s sound equal parts fun and sinister, his shows are unpredictable, lively and a highlight of any festival lineup.
L’Rain
L’Rain is the project of Brooklyn musician Taja Cheek. Her most recent album ‘I Killed Your Dog’ was a psychedelic journey, blurring lines between R&B, art pop and neo-soul.
Expect experimentation, genre-bending and otherworldly atmospheres at her set on Saturday as she takes to the Strange Brew stage.
Tickets for Simple Things are available here.
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