Outer Town Festival is the prelude to Ritual Union; instead of airing in the city centre at Bristol it takes place in the surrounding venues in collaboration with indie festivals overseas like the Netherlands’ famous Left of the Dial. Taking place across multiple stages as every bit as iconic as Bristol’s history – look no further than the Trinity Centre, the Exchange, Elmers’ Arms, Ill Repute and to the Moon as venues, for an experience that showcase the brightest up and coming acts in the music scene today.
Plantoid performed very early at Wide Awake 2023 a few years ago and have only gone on from strength to strength since, and I’ve always wanted to see them again – this feels like the perfect opportunity. A four-piece that borrows influences from Miles Davis, Jeff Buckley and Todd Rundgren, their experimentalist Brighton prog rock energy gives them the strength that they need to stand out in a crowded field. They’ll be following the band alphabet, who will open the festivities at the Trinity Centre.
The Scuttlers play at the Stag & Hounds and have a unique and unpredictable stage performance that have made waves for themselves in the Bristol music scene. No two shows are the same and their music allows for a raw; improvised touch with incredible stage presence and charisma to really make a name for themselves – both at home and in London. Tracks like The Scuttler – a play on their title – and Public Holiday may be the only two available on Spotify so far – but the band have more up their sleeve than just that. One of the only downsides about Outer Town is the clashes – they clash with London native Neuro Placid; whose song Silly in the Mental pokes fun at the dystopian cost at living in Britain. London’s answer to punk rap is a fusion of genres – walking out of the park dressed like a character from A Clockwork Orange.
Shelf lives look extraordinary talented. The more I listen the more I keep discovering great names – it’s clash central. Their punk aesthetic is electronic and captures the attention of today – they look to follow the wave of bands like Hotwax and more – I can’t wait to see them tear up on the day. Catch them late evening in the Exchange, which looks set to be a good venue for London.
Listening to the artists at the festival has led me to discover Trans-Siberian Express, described as “pioneers of Schwank and splurge” – an art-folk band known for playing all over Bristol in lifts, shops and on the street – true anarchy in motion as you’re never truly sure where they’re going to play next. There is a method to the madness with their catchy songs and debut ep – once they break out of the underground, and make no mistake – they are underground – they’ll be one of the brightest names to watch. Phoebe Ashford is a documentarian who follows Bristols’ underground music scene and has created a film – Time Fell Through – to support their EP – available on YouTube that captures the silly antics of the band.
One of the much talked about names playing at Outer Town will be Man/Woman/Chainsaw who are ready to explode onto the festival circuit with a raw and unmatched energy of youth befitting their talent. But look further down the field and you have the Welsh Fontaines DC – slate – raw, lively energy that I included on my list of artists to watch in the beginning of the year, and they already make themselves a name as one of the best live acts around. Top notch. Both bands have played at the Lexington this year already, a haven for bands destined for the big time, and both look set to take the next step up already with ferocious talent and raw ability.
I saw DIY rock band Test Plan support A Place to Bury Strangers last year as part of their London residency. Test Plan are a band on the rise with the force and fury to back it up – the London trio fuse the dance and the mosh together for a lively, energetic show beneath an angsty narrative. It’s going to be great to see them finally take the bigger stage. So Bored at Your Squat Rave looks set to be instantly eye-catching, mosh-worthy.
Yard are yet another Irish Band that look set to make waves this year. They’re Irish, and it almost certainly means that they’re going to be good based on the track record of bands to come from Cork lately and their music doesn’t disappoint. They’ve got plenty of noise and industrial techno under their belt – there’s good music everywhere you look.
The run of Man/Woman/Chainsaw, Yard, Test Plan and Shelf Lives are all in the Exchange in Bristol – where you’ll spend time bouncing back and forth between the Great Hall and the Dungeon. That alone means anyone else in the Exchange is worth checking out by proximity of association and that led me to finding Youth Sector, a Brighton indie band that feels slick, confident and smart in stature. They have a Talking Heads influence to them but they’re more than just a tribute band – with The Ball being an intoxicatingly fun track.
Headliner Enola Gay combines Irish noise punk, rap and shoegaze for a ferocious sound energy that must be seen live to be believed. Their venomous hip-hop vocals are unnerving, with a clear influence of Joy Division and IDLES but their own kind of thing – frantic drums can up the tempo at moment’s notice. It’ll be one set you won’t want to miss out on – were it not for the cruel clash with Tramhaus, a postpunk band from the Netherlands. Expect energetic live shows galore – shoegaze and punk rock down to the ground. On top of that, there is also Y – the punctuating windmill scene act that compromises of band members from Fat White Family and more – they’re the best band to come from that scene in an age, benefiting from a supporting tour from Fat Dog and Keg – both riotous, buzzy, explosive punk acts. Everywhere you look at Outer Town, there are clashes – but you won’t be disappointed no matter where you go. To leave out rising stars Adult DVD and Clt Drp would be criminal; the latter perfect for fans of Yeah Yeah Yeahs and more. I also saw rising star DBA! At Ritual Union last night, the rare breed of synth-rap – and he’s instantly a name to watch.
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