Dot To Dot 2018 Highlights

Bristol’s favourite multi-venue festival, Dot To Dot, returns in 2018 with an incredible lineup. But with so much great music taking place in one day, it can be hard to know what to listen out for and who’s worth making the dash across the city.

We asked our diehard Dot To Dot fans and reviewers, Lou Trimby and Josiah Wong to give their highlights.

Mahalia

One for fans of quality nu-soul and r’n’b Mahalia Burkmar could be the biggest thing from the East Midlands since Walkers Crisps and Notts County challenging for promotion.  She has supported the likes of Ed Sheeran and Emilie Sande and is now, rightly, gaining plaudits for her mature song writing and assured performances. Mahalia’s smooth, sweet vocals, conversational, smart lyrics and delivery draw you in, make you listen and make you forget that she’s still, just, a teenager albeit a seriously talented one. Hopefully she’ll continue her ascent without having her music sanitised for sales.

SWX: 18:15 – 18:45 

Cuckoolander

The rural South West has produced some very unique female talent over the past few years, think PJ Harvey from Bridport in Dorset, Daisy May Cooper writer and star of the genius show ‘This Country’ from Cirencester in Gloucestershire and now, also hailing from Dorset, Cuckoolander. What these three women share is an ability to wrap some very dark subjects and emotions in accessible and acceptable forms, so they slide under the radar before the listener or viewer is completely aware of what is being said or implied. However Cuckoolander’s work is still danceable, and a lot of fun, in fact she describes it as being in a computer game, set in a form of intergalactic disco folk world. It’s the feeling of adventure and risk” And what more can we possibly say?

Hy Brasil: 18:45 – 19:15 

Grand Pax

Of our Dot to Dot recommendations, Grand Pax is perhaps the most mysterious. There’s very little information available about this artist, a description of her as being an electro-pop artist(really) a couple of tracks on Spotify, a near-empty social media profile and a couple of reviews of new single ‘Comet’ and that’s more or less it. However letting the music speak for itself worked, a sense of Burial-like urban dread, soulful, languid vocals, washes of synth, a twang of guitar and dystopian imagery certainly piqued our interest. Classy work.

The Louisiana: 14:30 – 15:00 

Desperate Journalist

Desperate Journalist are the perfect band to fill a post-punk, alt.rock hole in your Dot to Dot perambulations and indeed in your record collection. Imagine pounding drums, massive basslines, guitars which screech, cajole, clang and chime and vocals which are as English as afternoon tea but not sickly sweet. If you enjoy Savages but find their relentlessness a bit wearing and you would like a bit of variety in a set of indie bangerz then this could be your new favourite band.

The Fleece: 19:15 – 19:45 

Swimming Girls

Bristol via Bath band Swimming Girls are an interesting prospect with a sound that shouldn’t work but it does, it really does. They sound, on some tracks, like the Cocteau Twins covering a Chvrches song with Taylor Swift on vocals and it all works to create an immersive, dreamy, indie-pop which can veer into bubblegum but with decent lyrics territory and then straight out again into classic indie. They may not cause riots or outrage when they perform (so passe nowadays)  which is no bad thing and we’d not be at all surprised to see them smashing it on the John Peel stage at Glastonbury on the Saturday afternoon in 2019. They’ve got the songs, they’ve got the sound, they look like they’re cool but not too cool and they might well be a lot higher up Festival bills over the next year.

02 Academy 2: 15:15 – 15:45 

Jamie Cruickshank

Jamie Cruickshank is no stranger to Bristol’s music scene, but while he has a heavier and louder hand in skate-punk trio The Gnarwhals, he brings a different touch to his solo venture. Swapping out the electric for an acoustic or a banjo he creates uniquely Bristolian folk that’s driven by his husky and soul drenched croon. I see Totterdown, is atmospheric and fantastical with whispering violins and a captivating rawness. Anyone with a taste for ethereal and relatable folk should keep their eyes out.

The Strawberry Thief: 22:30 – 23:00

HAZE

Post-punk four piece, Haze, are rough and raw around the edges in all of the right ways. Sharply witted, intelligent and focused, their first studio single, Ladz Ladz Ladz, takes a stab at masculinity in modern culture in a chaotic track, driven by wild drumming and twisting guitar as Will Harrison’s vocals rasp and snarl over the top. There’s a guaranteed intensity to this live show and with contemporary’s, Shame, making a massive amount of noise across the world there should be no doubt that you’ll be hearing a lot from these fellas in the coming months.

The Mother’s Ruin: 22:30 – 23:00

Goan Dogs

Goan Dogs have been a staple of the Bristol scene for years now, constantly developing and evolving throughout their years playing together, seeming eternally on the cusp of a major breakthrough. Latest EP, Roll The Dice is a complete rebirth of their sound and is a four-track cut about throwing your phone away, life passing you by and hot-boxing cars. It’s effervescent and bouncy, twisting guitar and pop rock together with synths and a psychedelic hand. The guys have long had their eyes set on recording their debut album and it honestly can’t come soon enough.

SWX: 16:15 – 16:45

Leeches

Psychedelia, tongue in cheek humour, and heavy pop-rock hooks are part of what make Leeches so insanely listenable. Borrowing heavily from 90s infused alternative rock their Watusi EP came out via Bristol label, Leisure Records earlier this year and it’s been on repeat since. Watusi is a type of solo dance that had a weird popularity in the 60’s but it’s a fitting title, deliciously distorted guitars lead into heavy riffs, with plenty of pop hooks to keep you moving.

The Island: 15:30 – 16:00

Poisonous Birds

Poisonous Birds began with an obsession for experimentation and electronics that’s evident in every, expertly produced, note. One half of the band, Tom Ridley, discovered a love for synthesisers and how they can simultaneously sound more aggressive and mysterious than electric guitars and the band took flight from there. The sounds made are thick, dark, swirling and wholly unique to the band, making it an unforgettable experience that would fit perfectly behind any indie film. Latest EP, Big Water, dropped earlier this year and it’s exceedingly cinematic, synth-driven and extremely satisfying.

The Louisiana: 18:00 – 18:30

Check out tickets and the full line-up over at www.dottodotfestival.co.uk