Reviews / Bristol festivals
Review: Dot to Dot 2016
The eleventh annual Dot To Dot is more chockful of next big things than ever so it can feel hard to know where to begin, but we’re immediately drawn to the SOTN Outdoor Stage.
Rockers Rinse from Stoke get things rolling with some quick bursts of bouncy rock. There are Verve comparisons but they’re closer to the Oasis side of groovy indie. The sound is gritty enough to get past the lad rock references. It’s trad but they’ve got swagger. Their squalling wall of wailing guitar and teenage kicks is impressive.
Face are pumping out a more bright-eyed and bushy-tailed brand of rock at Start The Bus. Their acoustically assisted optimistic heart n’ roll has a few feet tapping but calls for Bristol to “come alive!” get a muted response at best.
is needed now More than ever
At SWX, Bristol’s own Lauren Aquilina is experiencing technical difficulties as her crew scramble to get single Low sounding as it should. The version we hear is practically acapella but it’s a great recovery. She closes with Kicks and proves she’s a real contender for pop stardom.
Up on Stage 2, Nimmo are channelling what feels like a fresh take on vintage 90s dance. The band are rocking to some seriously jaunty keyboard cut with Blanck Mass atmospherics. The charming interaction between leads Sarah and Reva exudes real energy; they’re consummate frontwomen and they’ll be playing stadiums before you know it.
Dua Lipa’s powerful voice knocks a packed house flat – she sounds like an electro Amy Winehouse. There’s the odd twang of tropical guitar bolstering her sophisticated soul pop. By the time she fires through latest single Hotter Than Hell, everyone’s warmed up and ready for the rest of the night.
Upstairs at The Academy, London’s The Hunna (main photo) are also grappling with technical problems which are quickly swept aside as they launch into a crowd pleasing You and Me. If the bassist can discern anything from behind those sunglasses, he’d see they’re performing for a captive audience.
The exuberant pixie that is Alex of Diet Cig is stuck stage right (high-) kicking out the jams in the Thekla’s hold. The two-piece are the loudest band of this year’s Dot to Dot. And the most satisfying. Their crazy, dirty rock n’roll is so spirited and infectious, it’s enough to get you wishing you could do the whole day all over again.