Metal & Prog Picks: August 2021

There’s been mixed news for those of us who like to rock. The Steelhouse Festival went ahead as planned, but the first of Bristol’s triumphant Return of the Riff shows had to be pulled because of Covid. We’ve just learned that the remaining two gigs in the series have also been postponed. The promoters promise that they’ll all be rescheduled to a later date.

As if the plague wasn’t bad enough, the fire at SWX has also laid waste to our rockin’ plans. Many gigs are being rescheduled, mostly to the Marble Factory and O2 Academy. It’s not clear at this stage what will happen to the others. Scroll down for all the latest news in the Coming Soon section.

That leaves just the one gig this month. Still, at least it’s bound to be a corker…

Sons of Liberty

Thekla, Aug 22

Can we get a yee-haw for local talent? Having sold out the Louisiana just before Christmas 2020, Bristol’s very own southern rockers Sons of Liberty move up to the Thekla. Finally. This gig was originally due to take place last March. And we all know what happened then.

They started out as a covers act, but got such a strong audience response to songs from their …Shinola and Aged in Oak EPs that they swiftly shifted to all-original material. Debut album Animism – “eleven new tracks of pure Awesomism” (their coinage) was well received, so they set about honing their craft on the rock festival circuit. And, of course, you can’t be a Southern Rock band from the Wild West of England without having a finely developed sense of humour about yourselves, as Planet Rock mag enthused of their Planet Rockstock performance: “Prowling the stage while clutching his cane and tooting his harmonica, hilarious fromtman Rob Cooksley is captivating, and a rip-roaring Up Shit Creek proves to be highly cathartic.”

The pandemic has given them time to release their second album, Aces & Eights, which is a major step up, garnering a very positive review in Classic Rock under the inevitable headline Sweet Home Shepton Mallet: “This grizzled quartet from Wales and the South West know their bourbon from their whisky and have their respective roles locked in – the strong, distinctive voice that exudes power, pathos and occasionally wit, the riff-addled twin guitar attack, and the sturdy but flexible rhythm section . . . The masterstroke when it comes to their second album is getting it properly produced so that it bears comparison to their illustrious heroes rather than sounding like a pale imitation.”

So if you enjoy the likes of the Cadillac Three, Blackberry Smoke or vintage Molly Hatchet, pull on those cowboy boots and head on down to the rockin’ boat.

COMING SOON

Here’s our essential diary of upcoming gigs that should be of interest to anyone of a rockin’ disposition.

The Wildhearts, SWX, Sept 4

Hands Off Gretel, Thekla, Sept 5

Green Lung, Exchange, Sept 5

A.A. Williams, Trinity, Sept 5

Black Stone Cherry, O2 Academy, Sept 9

Mason Hill, Fleece, Sept 16

Jethro Tull, The Forum, Bath, Sept 17

Steve’n’Seagulls, Thekla, Sept 20

Dopelord, The Lanes, Sept 21

Inglorious, Fleece, Fleece, Sept 21

The Pineapple Thief, SWX, Oct 8

Skindred, O2 Academy, Oct 8

Evergrey, Fleece, Oct 11

Venom Prison, Fleece, Oct 21

Caravan, Fleece, Oct 27

Evil Scarecrow, Thekla, Nov 6

Imonolith, Exchange, Nov 7

Wayward Sons, Thekla, Nov 15

Fish, SWX, Nov 15

Phil Campbell and the Bastard Sons, Thekla, Nov 18

Boss Keloid, Exchange, Nov 20

Monolord, Exchange, Nov 22

Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs, Marble Factory, Nov 24

Marillion, The Forum, Bath, Nov 24

Focus, Fleece, Nov 25

Pitchshifter, SWX, Dec 1

Hayseed Dixie, Fleece, Dec 1

The Darkness/British Lion, O2 Academy, Dec 7

Igorrr, Fleece, Dec 9

Alestorm/Gloryhammer, O2 Academy, Dec 10

Lamb of God/Kreator/Power Trip, O2 Academy, Dec 14

Svalbard, Exchange, Dec 18

Mayhem/Mortiis, Fleece, Jan 1

Avatar, SWX, Jan 13

The Black Dahlia Murder, Fleece, Jan 30

Cheap Trick, O2 Academy, Feb 6

Decapitated, Fleece, Feb 8

Tony MacAlpine, Exchange, Feb 11

Katatonia/Solstafir, SWX, Feb 13

Paradise Lost, SWX, Feb 17

Evile, Exchange, Feb 19

Kvelertak, SWX, Feb 20

The Zombies, Fleece, Feb 24

Van Der Graaf Generator, The Forum, Bath, March 1

The Sheepdogs, Thekla, March 6

Epica/Apocalyptica, O2 Academy, March 12

Kris Barras Band, Marble Factory, March 14

Tangerine Dream, SWX, March 16

Status Quo, The Forum, Bath, March 18

Big Big Train, The Forum, Bath, March 19

Gong, Thekla, March 23

Eric Gales/Danny Bryant, Fleece March 27

Therapy?, SWX, March 31

Redd Kross, Exchange, April 3

Skunk Anansie, O2 Academy, April 12

Deicide, Fleece, April 16

The Picturebooks, Exchange, April 24

Stoner, Thekla, May 4

Nick Mason’s Saucerful of Secrets, The Forum, Bath, May 7

Karnivool, O2 Academy, May 22

OM, Fleece, May 26

Meshuggah/Zeal & Ardor, O2 Academy, May 29

The Quireboys, Thekla, June 17

High On Fire, Fleece, June 26

Mushroomhead, Thekla, June 27

Rammstein, Principality Stadium, Cardiff, June 22

Main pic of Sons of Liberty by Alex Toze