My Bristol Favourites: Kate Stapley

Kate Stapley is the first guest in The Listening Room, a new regular event at St George’s where local musicians will play live and talk through their songwriting process. On Saturday, March 16 at 1.30pm, Kate will be talking to music journalist Harriet Robinson.

For more information, visit www.stgeorgesbristol.co.uk/event/kate-stapley

Here are Kate’s top-five Bristol favourites:

The Louisiana

“The Louisiana is a family-run and independent music venue that could double up as a set of a Wes Anderson film. The staff that run it are endlessly hardworking and put in a lot of support for encouraging up and coming musicians. I’ve seen some of my favourite bands here and played some of my favourite gigs here (including a particularly racous all-dayer with the wonderful Breakfast Records at the 2018 Harbour Festival. It’s such a fantastically historic and beautiful building that’s so important to Bristol’s music scene. It’s unpretentious and unparalleled. The carvery on Sundays feature some real serious roast potatoes too.”

J & J Studios

“I’m currently recording at J & J Studios in Easton with Oliver Baldwin and find I spend the half hour of the day there being a Catherine wheel of excitement. There are so many weird and wonderful instruments and so many incredible pieces of music that have been made there. There’s also an abundance of sunglasses in most of the rooms which is very intriguing. Apparently it’s because at a certain time of day in certain rooms the sun is direct with the window and becomes blinding, and the visual image of everyone in the studio wearing sunglasses for an hour always makes me very happy. I find it a very inspiring and exciting atmosphere to be in; it’s full of stories and curiosities. There’s always something hiding to make the obscure yet specific sound you can hear in your head. The massive glockenspiel is also a highlight. Mivart Street Studios (the building that contains J & J) is such a wonderful hub of creativity, and having the Sweetmart round the corner for lunch times is the icing on the cake.

Birdcage Walk

https://www.instagram.com/p/BL5slxzBrGq/

“Clifton Village is a surreal but beautiful place. Being there often makes me feel like I’m on holiday, but it’s also full of some wonderful surprises. Birdcage Walk is a stunningly beautiful little pocket of overgrown Gothic beauty. It’s so peaceful yet so wild and overgrown at the same time. There are always branches rattling in the wind and squirrels popping out from behind gravestones. It was cemented as one of my favourite places when I noticed a memorial bench with a plaque that says, ‘ I came back as a bench’. A surreal yet wonderful Ivor Cutler-esque moment that made me a laugh out loud when I first saw it and remember not to hold everything too seriously.”

The Exchange

“The Exchange is a three-in-one for me: an amazing cafe that does delicious vegan/veggie food, a fantastic gig space and the wonderful Specialist Subject record shop that plays host to some of my favourite records ( to name a few, Dogeyed and the Breakfast Records classics) It’s a bonus that all three places are run by some of the most wonderful people I’ve had the pleasure of meeting. The place is community-run and co-op owned and the amazing Eat Up! Collective have been doing some amazing workshops there (one of which I had the pleasure of hosting). I’ve seen some incredible shows there and also played some of my favourite ever shows there. It’s just a wonderful atmosphere to be in and very important for Bristol’s creative scene.”

Spike Island

Spike Island Open Studios 2018 – photo by Lisa Whiting

“I did a Fine Art degree at UWE and used to love coming to Spike Island. I’d spend about nine hours in there everyday (with extended coffee breaks) and would always meet incredible people and leave covered in paint with a fun story to tell. It always has so many wonderful opportunities for artists with the fellowship programme and test space gallery. Spike’s Open Studios is always one of my favourite weekends of the year in Bristol, where you get to explore the vast studios (it feels like it gets bigger and better every year) and chat to so many fascinating and talented people. I often come back to visit and look around and leave feeling inspired. Once I found (and returned) Andy Holden‘s sketchbook; it was a very exciting day.”