The Bluetones, Bristol and Britpop

Hardly a year’s gone by recently without at least one Britpop band announcing a reunion – from Suede and Pulp to Blur and The Stone Roses. The only ones not getting in on the act are those squabbling Gallagher lads.

While Bristol was firmly rooted in trip hop in the 1990s, it also embraced Britpop – with Sarah Records playing a role in promoting UK indie bands, Rooster Records (which Richard King recently published a book about – called Original Rockers) playing a key role in the local music scene and the odd act fitting the mould being carved up in Manchester and down the road in London. Hello Strangelove and Santa Cruz.

Just as the city attracts all the reformed Britpop troupes now, so did it host some memorable gigs from their early years (see boxout) – bands such as Shed 7, My Life Story and The Bluetones all have gigs scheduled here this autumn just as they did back in the mid 1990s. 

Whether it’s a mid-life crisis for the 40-something band members who may’ve forgotten what it’s like to play to an adoring crowd or a simple case of running out of cash, the Britpop reformation bandwagon is welcoming new passengers all the time.

Mark Morriss, frontman of The Bluetones, explained why he chose to reform the band just four years after they split, saying: “It was just a general sense of wanting to hang with my home boys again. My endorphins need that top up that only those three other cats can provide.

“I enjoy very much what I do when I do the shows on my own, but I can’t deny the sheer seductiveness of volume and power. We all grew up learning to play together, so that chemistry we have is never going to be recreated elsewhere. This is where we each get our fix.”

He recalls some of the first gigs The Bluetones played here: “I remember some rather hot and sticky nights at The Fleece,” he said. “That was the venue that we first played in Bristol back in 1994. We’ve returned several times since, and not had a bad night. Especially now they’ve sorted the plumbing.”

Venues such as The Fleece, along with the Bierkeller and Anson Rooms, were a Britpop lovers heaven in the 90s and there’s still an element of that even today – with The Fleece launching a new Britpop night this summer. Supersonic, which takes place on the last Friday of the month features guest DJs playing music from the golden days. The October event includes a live set from Dodgy and the November offering, Space (who are also playing the Shiiine On Weekender at Butlins, Minehead that month – see festivals page)

“Britpop is one of the greatest musical genres in the history of rock & roll,” said Chris Sharp from The Fleece and Supersonic clubnight. “There was nothing else like it happening in Bristol and a lot of people have been crying out for a club night like this for years; so we decided enough was enough. 

“The Fleece was right at the heart of Britpop in Bristol so the obvious choice; you only have to look at the historical gig posters behind the bar to see that. Just about every Britpop band played here on the way up during the 90s. Oasis, Pulp, Radiohead, Supergrass, Elastica, Shed Seven etc.”

In the same way, trip hop left its mark on this city, so too has Britpop; and while Bristol may not have been home to many of the big hitters, it certainly was – and continues to be – home to a wave of Britpop disciples ready to roll with it.

Read some of B247 writers and friends’ memories of Bristol Britpop gigs, here.