Dot To Dot Festival 2019: Ones to watch

With less than a week to go until Dot To Dot festival takes over Bristol, it’s the perfect time to scour the set times, get out the highlighters and prepare for one of the best days of music in the UK.

With a staggering amount of artists to choose from, set clashes are practically guaranteed, making the task of choosing who to watch even more difficult.

While Crystal Fighters folk-inspired dance tracks and Swim Deep’s woozy psychedelia is guaranteed to draw a crowd, there’s plenty more on the lineup for those wanting to discover something new.

These are some of our top picks from the new artists to help you fill your schedule or find a new favourite.

Joe Probert

Self-described as a renegade singer and drummer who makes hits in his shed, multi-instrumentalist Joe Probert’s alternative folk has led him to support slots with Sam Fender and support from BBC and Virgin radio. With each successive EP and single, he comes into his own and adding to his collection of sounds. ‘I was in Love’ builds upon bittersweet vocals with a melancholic hand while ‘I couldn’t Want You More’ channels The Black Keys with its funky beat and echoing vocals.

O2 Academy – 15.45 – 16.15

Crows / Heavy Lungs

If you’re already tempted to catch the wild Viagra Boys closing down Thekla then make sure you get there early to turn the latter hours of the festival into a showcase of IDLES Balley Records and the must-see punk acts of the year.

After a number of successful EP’s and singles along with a growing reputation for a visceral and intense live show, Crows finally released their debut album, ‘Silver Tongues’ through Balley Records earlier this year. The majority of the record was recorded in total darkness, both to build atmosphere and to help the band find their zone while recording over multiple locations. With support slots ahead of Wolf Alice, Slaves and IDLES themselves, Crows put on a performance that is just as likely to break bones as it is instruments.

The frontman for Heavy Lungs needs little introduction after featuring front and centre on IDLES track Danny Nedelko, but with multiple sell-out shows the group are starting to make a name all for themselves. Coupling together a raucous live show with intelligent lyricism, Heavy Lungs have been full throttle since forming in Spring 2017 – recording an EP over three days and playing Simple Things festival as only their second show. If this is the start of Heavy Lungs, we can’t wait to see what happens in the future.

Thekla – Crows 22.00-22.30, Heavy Lungs 23.00-23.30, Viagra Boys 00.00 – 00.45

Cousin Kula

Blurring genres together in a shimmering yet delicate psychedelic haze, Cousin Kula create inherently addictive and jazz-tinged psych-pop. With each release, the group has shown off a little more of their honed musicianship, compelling composition and eclectic influences, having first been born out of Bristol’s jazz scene. Latest single, ‘Stacked’ is the third off their upcoming second EP and makes full use of their six-piece lineup, building layers of dreamy instrumentation with groovy confidence.

Hy Brasil – 00.54 – 01.15

Phoebe Green

Debuting her first project in 2016, Phoebe Green’s ‘2:00 AM’ became a runaway success, accumulating millions of streams despite being completely independent. The mixtape moves effortlessly between anthemic choruses into moments of bittersweet sentimentality, building her an audience of loyal listeners. Now, signed to Chess Club she’s moving into new strengths and emerging as a songwriter who knows exactly who she is. The first single from the label, ‘Dreaming Of’ is a highly personal earworm that bathes in a vast synth-pop chorus and leaves us eager to see what’s coming next.

Thekla – 17.00 – 17.30

For the last remaining tickets and more information about the lineup and set times go to www.dottodotfestival.co.uk

Read more: Preview: Dot To Dot Festival 2019