BEAT IT is an annual charity gig put on by the staff of the O2 Academy Bristol: 10th October

Returning for its third consecutive year on 10th October, BEAT IT is an annual charity gig put on by the staff of the O2 Academy Bristol. Organised in aid of Teenage Cancer Trust, the event sees the venue, staff and bands come together to raise money for a good cause.

There will be some great bands on show, from the horn-led maelstrom of Mad Apple Circus to the atmospheric indie-rock of Temple Keys, the mesmeric vocals of Matt Wilson to exciting young prospects Dirt Bomb. With all profits and donations going to charitable causes, this is an event which taps into Bristol’s generous spirit.

Unique to the Bristol Academy, BEAT IT has grown with the help of the community within and around the venue. Beginning as an opportunity for staff to learn about the many aspects involved in running a successful show, the concept merged with a strong desire to support our long-term partners, Teenage Cancer Trust.

Dirt Bomb:
An exciting prospect sure to start the night with a bang. Dirt Bomb may still be in high school but they’ve a musical maturity and ambition to match artists beyond their years.

The band play around with influences from a range of genres including Indie, Rock, Hip-Hop and Dance. They’re still pushing their sound with the aim of carving out their own musical path and recently started to incorporating guitar loops to expand their sound.

Harley, Jake, Larry and Jack are a fresh group of musicians with a large palate and the verve to make the most of it.

Temple Keys:
One of the most exciting bands in Bristol, Temple Keys have a fast-growing reputation for taking gigs by the scruff of the neck. Achingly charismatic frontman Tom is a tour-de-force, often improvising lyrics on stage to create an intimate connection with his audience.

Adept at writing poignant slow burners but also able to groove with the best of them, scrolling through social media footage of the band’s previous performances would get even the most stubborn of gig-goers excited. Recently gaining many new admirers in the North West following their performance at Sound City, Temple Keys are forging a path to success one incendiary show at a time.

Mad Apple Circus:

The Headliners are a nine headed whirlwind that goes by the name Mad Apple Circus.

A horn fuelled blend of Ska, Jazz, Hip-Hop and Latin styles, they have established their own well-respected corner within the U.K scene.

They have a formidable live reputation and have shared stages with greats such as UB40, The Beat and The Skints as well as taken to the stage at festivals as esteemed as Secret Garden Party (RIP), Boomtown and Glastonbury. A band proud to say they´re from Bristol, and a band that the city is proud of, Mad Apple Circus will keep the party grooving until the end.

Matt Wilson:
TMatt Wilson is a London based singer-songwriter who has impressed audiences far and wide over the last year.

Describing his music as ‘meaningful pop’, Matt’s melody-driven songwriting takes in pop and electronic influences including Justin Bieber, The Weeknd and Justin Timberlake. Having featured on tracks by Dimension and Embody, as well as 1991’s latest single ‘Epiphany’, his unique voice has earned much admiration.

From the main stage at Manchester Pride Festival to the Siemens Arena in Vilnius, Lithuania, Matt has graced some esteemed stages recently.

The event is taking place on 10th October 7pm – 10pm at the O2 Academy Bristol. For further information visit the BEAT IT Facebook page