Music / Spotlight
Spotlight: Saloon Dion
Saloon Dion are Bristol’s worst kept secret. If you haven’t heard of them then where have you been?
Fresh off the back of a seven day stint at SXSW in Austin, Texas, the band have gone from strength to strength.
With gigs at last year’s edition of Ritual Union and Bristol Takeover and upcoming gigs at Dot To Dot and Forwards Festival, they have a loyal following, each crowd completely capitvated by their live performance.
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Their debut EP, Muckers, is released today. The four track release encapsulates their energy, full of hard and frantic guitar riffs alongside gravelly vocals and sharp lyrics.
Where in Bristol are you based?
We’re pretty spread out at the moment. Dave recently moved back from London to Bedminster, Luke and Taz live together in Redland, Ben’s across the bridge in Cardiff and Tom’s in Peckham, London.
How would you describe your music?
I guess our music has a kind of ‘madchester’ element to it, with a bit of Bristol and the South West thrown into the mixer. It’s anthemic at times and pretty raw in others.
We get likened to Happy Mondays and Shame a lot, so I guess it’s somewhere in between.
What influences your music?
Honestly, just the people around us and our friends in other bands. I (Taz) feel more inspired watching the lads in Opus Kink tear apart a church in Reading than listening to bands who have had their time already.
What’s your favourite memory of your career so far?
Our first gig in Texas is a big highlight. It was at this place called JNL BBQ, which was basically a BBQ Joint/off license right next to a main road in Austin.
We weren’t sure how the set was gonna go down because every other band was playing country music and people were sat trying to enjoy their food. But we started playing our songs and people started getting hyped.
Then just as we began Pressure two cowboys on horsebacks rocked up next to the stage drinking beers and headbanging to the music. Probably the most Texan thing that could have happened.
What’s the response been to the music/art you’ve put out there so far?
It’s been amazing! The following we have built in places like Bristol, Reading and Manchester is really heart warming.
We see lots of like minded people coming down to see us that just want to have a good time, and it feels like we’re one with those people and they’re part of our band.
How have you found breaking into the music industry for grassroots artists?
In many ways we’ve been lucky. We were all in bands before which meant we already knew people in the scene and have friends that are in fantastic bands/putting on shows etc.
But there’s the underlying fact that making music costs money, and breaking the industry costs even more money. We’re all working full time alongside the band and putting our own cash in to try and make it work, which can be really hard sometimes.
The music landscapes definitely changed, and honestly, it sometimes feel like whoever’s got the most money to spend on press are the one’s breaking through.
But we’ve managed to get our EP out there, and we’re blessed to be able to travel around performing our music to new audiences and making new friends. That’s what it’s all about really.
Where’s your favourite place to perform and attend a gig in Bristol?
There’s so many great venues in Bristol! Our favourite show was probably at the Grain Barge for Harbourfest, it was total carnage.
In terms of watching shows, I’ve always loved going to the Island, it’s just such an interesting space and it’s so loud in there. Shoutouts have to go to the Exchange, Crofters, and the Lanes too, always great for grass roots acts and beyond.
Who’s your dream artist to work with?
Would love to get the Beastie Boys on a track, feel like some of their vocals would suit our sound!
Who have you got your eye on at the moment? Are there any artists you think deserve more appreciation/acknowledgement?
Hundreds! Our pals in Loose Articles are killing it. Bristol legends and fellow garderners Getdown Services are also class. I’ve also been loving the new EP from Tlya X An – have a feeling they’re going to blow up big time.
What’s next for you?
Next we’re just going to keep on music for our muckers, we’ve got lots of shows booked over the summer and some exciting new projects in the pipeline. But the main goal for us is to have fun, and for everybody to have fun at our shows.
You can listen to Saloon Dion’s debut EP at https://open.spotify.com/album/6UD3Q2G1vB2mHPe0PKFcl2?si=TS2egtB8QkSWF-ujx-NFcw
Main photo: Felix Bartlett
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