This week we’ve got an abundance of local live music coming from inside the doors of The Maze, and a Bass and Reggae party to launch the Soundwave Croatia Festival. Oh, and there’s a record breaking 75 Nottingham acts who will be performing at Dot to Dot. Seriously, live music is going to be everywhere this week, possibly even in your cupboard. Possibly.
GIG ONE
First up The Maze is bringing you an excellently diverse selection of local musical goodies, just because they like ya.
First up on the menu will be MICHAEL REDDINGTON from St Ann’s, who we’ve heard lost his toe in a tragic escalator accident in Upper Parliament Street’s West End Arcade… poor guy! Having been a sound engineer at Stealth – sorting out the acoustics for the acts such as Bastille and Shy FX, he’s now pursuing a career as a singer/songwriter, and gigs regularly round Nottingham. If you haven’t already seen him, you ought to; his voice is reminiscent of a young Paul McCartney at points, and his performance is full of energy.
Next up is the ethereal sounds of ANGIE NICCALS – a cosplaying singer/songwriter who is a lover of Asian pop culture, Electronica and musicals. Angie produces a stimulating mash up of arcade-inspired music and extraordinary vocals that are not like anything you’ve heard before; she’s bound to get your heart racing. Get yersen down to the rave.
Finally, suave guys SAME STREETS will be playing their refined Rock ’n’ Roll sound amongst the talent. Expect soaring vocals with up-tempo songs played with an insane amount of energy. Influences include The Beatles, The Clash, and The Rolling Stones. If you’re into of any of those musical delights, you’re bound to be happy watching these guys take the stage.
The Vigilantes from Boston and Hugh Boyd from Carnoustie will also be playing.
The Maze
Monday 18th May
Entry: £3
Doors: 7.30pm
16+
GIG TWO
This Friday, Reggae Take Over presents the official launch party for Soundwave Festival Croatia. This will be an incredible night of some of the biggest sounds in Dub, Reggae and Bass.
ORIGIN ONE – being a collaboration of multiple musical talents with band members such as N3ON, PERCYDREAD, PARISA, TREKKAH, and BRU-C, you’re never quite sure of what to expect. These guys are an Electronic Reggae & Dub super band, and they’ve got more energy than a toddler with a mouthful of blue Smarties. Expect wild bouts of skanking in the audience, as they provide beautiful, inspiring music that’ll prepare you for the summer.
DJs Green Dragon (Fly FM) and Young Blood will also be there, bringing you some sweet, sweet Ska.
Spanky Van Dykes
Friday 22nd May
Entry: FREE!
Doors: 9:00pm
GIG THREE
In 2008, there were only two Nottingham artists playing the stages of Dot to Dot. Now, seven years have passed, and we’ve seen an unremitting rise of our Nottingham artists, who have swarmed onto the multiple stages like an army of burgeoning bees. I’m using this apt albeit CRAP simile because last year there was a whopping 52 artists who played alongside some pretty big musical game players. That number appears to just keep on growing, as this year they have appointed SAINT RAYMOND as headliner, as well as given us a huge line-up of incredible Nott’s artists (75, to be exact). Buzz buzz, bitches.
Now, believe it or not, I do unfortunately have a bit of a life (which mostly involves pulling pints of Shipstones Bitter for crazy old people), so I can’t spend eighty million hours writing about each Nottingham act for you. So, I have given some info on each of the stages’ Nottingham ‘headliner’ (i.e. the latest Notts act on). Seems fair, right? *grabs your head and forces it to nod*.
ROCK CITY
Doors: 13:00
Dot to Dot first gave Indie wonder-boy SAINT RAYMOND an early set in Nottingham, back in the day. He then played all three cities, and now, our very own Callum Burrows is HEADLINING the ENTIRE Festival, *dabs hanky on a single tear* they grow up so fast *sniffle*.
ROCK CITY BASEMENT
Doors: 13:00
Nottingham three-piece EYRE LLEW will be playing the basement of Rock City, showcasing their ambient post-rock style music. The heavenly guitar drones entwined with delicate riffs and pellucid piano chords are a combination made only more bewitching by the soft yet penetrating vocal. They’ll be playing an early set at 1pm, but they’ll definitely make your afternoon a little dreamier.
NOTTINGHAM TRENT UNI
Doors: 14:00
KAGOULE will be playing Nottingham Trent Uni, opening for a stage that’ll be full to the brim of some pretty cool guys and gals. This funky fresh three-piece create alternative grunge rock that’ll tickle your ears and ruffle up your hair. They’ve got some new material to start the show, which you’d be pretty silly to miss. I went to see them play at The Great Escape Festival in Brighton this weekend, in the ballroom of a hotel that looked like something out of The Shining. It was a pretty incredible, albeit unnerving atmosphere as I watched on, half expecting gallons of blood to flood from the corridors at any given moment. Being so loud the chandelier above me shook, I fully recommend seeing this band live. It’s an experience you need.
STEALTH LIVE ROOM
Doors: 14:00
Soulful songstress JOY MUMFORD will be performing her alternative folk music in the Stealth Live Room. After winning last year’s FSN, she went on to open the main stage of Splendour, and has gained some pretty impressive recognition ever since! Her intricately constructed songs are a perfect formula of catchy melodies and beautifully moving vocals.
RED’S TRUE BBQ
Doors: 18:00
Mansfield singer/songwriter SAM JONES will be the last Nottingham act playing meat heaven RED’S True BBQ. Sam provides beautifully poetic, inspiring lyrics projected from a well-refined vocal. With the thick smell of Red’s BBQ in your nostrils and Sam’s Bluesy Folk music in your ear holes, you might struggle in the future to create a better life moment.
RESCUE ROOMS
Doors: 13:00
Rock ‘n’ Roll chaps SAME STREETS will be playing Rescue Rooms, performing their tightly constructed, energetic songs. They’re influenced by the penetratingly catchy riffs of Arctic Monkeys, The Clash, The Beatles and The Libertines, and are sure to give one hell of a memorable performance.
RESCUE ROOMS RED ROOM
Doors: 13:00
GALLERY 47 consists of one cool singer/songwriter named Jack Peachey, a musician who is known for his intricate finger style guitar work, soft vocal and intellectual lyricism which is influenced by the 1960s Folk Poet scene. In his musical career, he has recorded two independent studio albums thus far, “Fate Is The Law” (2011) and “All Will Be Well” (2014), which, combined with his performances, have helped him gain a whole lot of positive recognition from influential musical sources. Some have said his abstract lyrical verses are reminiscent of Beat Poetry, which is absolutely spot on. His angelic falsetto compliments his beautifully personal acoustic melodies, and provides a listening experience you’ll not forget.
RESCUE ROOMS BAR ACOUSTIC ROOMS STAGE
Doors: 12:30
Headlining the Nottingham Acoustic acts in the Rescue Rooms bar will be the chant-inducingly named JONNY OLLEY, a twenty-something singer/songwriter with a beautifully unique, moody voice. He’s a gifted lyricist who takes influence from the likes of Bob Dylan and John Mayer, and his songs can range from calm and chilled to grittier, grungier sounds. This will be his first ever Dot to Dot slot, and it’s bound to be a memorable one.
WIRED CAFÉ
Doors: 08:00
The beautifully talented singer/songwriter JORDAN BETHANY will provide dreamy, spirited music you’d expect to hear on the soundtrack for 500 Days of Summer. Her storytelling lyrics and endearing childlike vocal give her music an authentic, playful feel, as demonstrated by her song ‘Kiss Chase’. When you see her play at Wired Café, whilst sipping on a black coffee and cheekily eyeing up the cute bearded guy across the room, you’ll definitely want to put her on your chill out Summer playlist, for sure.
THE BODEGA
Doors: 13:00
Opening up The Bodega stage will be Three-piece Garage/Psych band CROSA ROSA, who are inspired by 60s Surf and Psychedelia. Their mind-altering sound is akin to The Wytches, and their main band interests include Voodoo and Eating Souls, apparently. Fun fact: they’ve got an upcoming EP named “Pantophobia“, which if you didn’t know, is the phobia of EVERYTHING. Imagine that. You’d be scared of stupid things like bread. Imagine being scared of bread.
THE BODEGA BAR
Doors: 13:00
Songstress GEORGIE AKA Georgie Rose along with her band will give us some West Coast American inspired music with Fleetwood Mac influences. Their Stevie Nicks’ style harmonies and winding guitar lines have seized KT Tunstall’s approval, you know?
SPANKY VAN DYKES
Doors: 13.00
BITTER STRINGS will be the last Nottingham act on at Spanky Van Dykes this year, who are a four-piece band from Nottingham and Leeds, and who play music that fits somewhere between 60’s Pop and classic Rock ‘n’ Roll. They’ve played alongside acts such as Reverend and The Makers, Tom Odell, The View, and One Night Only, and have perfected the art of providing incredibly upbeat, energetic shows, despite always wearing suave suits on stage.
SUEDE BAR
Doors: 16.30
PHOEBE BALL will be at Suede Bar, bringing along her hybrid genre of Jazz- tinted Acoustic Folk. She’s inspired by Billie Holiday, Eva Cassidy and Amy Winehouse, and has a gorgeously unique voice that just oozes talent.
BROADWAY
Doors: 09.00
Sian Fawcett, known by her alias OPIE DEINO (That’s ‘die-no’, like a dinosaur, not ‘dee-no’ like the Beano), is a Rock and Pop singer/songwriter and amazing lyricist who is known for her emotionally charged performances, and poignant vocal delivery. She expresses refined and cultivated sounds of her singer/songwriter idols such as Fiona Apple and Sufjan Stevens, whilst also the raw, impassioned nature of the rock music that saw her through her teenage years, such as Motion City Soundtrack and Biffy Clyro. Overall, her music is a reflection of all genres she loves mixed together, and recently she has recruited an accomplished band of multitalented musicians who perform with her at her live shows.
JAM CAFÉ
Doors: 12.00
BAYBO SQUAYBO – sounds like a creature from The Gremlins. Isn’t. These guys are a band who mixes together intricately constructed hooking riffs and catchy melodies with some Pink Floyd-esque experimentation and a vocal resonant of Matt Bellamy. They’re an incredibly vibrant experimental Rock ‘n’ Roll four-piece that’ll have you calling out for more.
BREWDOG
Doors: 12.00
BRAD DEAR will be playing at Brewdog, who is a singer/songwriter with a folk/rock/punk hybrid genre. Brad started his solo acoustic career in September 2011, having been in a band from a young age. He’s heavily influenced by Bob Dylan, The Levellers, and The Foo Fighters, and his inspired music career has gone from strength to strength throughout his years of performing. Definitely one to watch.
ROUGH TRADE
Doors: 10.00
Ambient Post-Rock wizards with wonderful hair will be gracing the Rough Trade stage at 22:30. That’s FIELD STUDIES, fyi. These guys are a four-piece band who crafts fervent soundscapes with winding, penetrating guitars, thudding drums and a haunting vocal. The songs will resonate as their memorable, poetic lyrics echo to your emotions, and reach out for those hairs on the back of your neck.
THE LOFTHOUSE
Doors: 14.00
THE BARNUM MESERVE will be playing The Lofthouse, who have been described as ‘Nine Inch Nails meets Hans Zimmer’. This three-piece have an insanely unique sound, accompanied by a strong orchestral section and based around vocalist Leon Wiley’s poignant voice, which can effortlessly range from harmonising to screaming.
Sunday 24th May
VENUES ARE LITERALLY DOTTED AROUND EVERYWHERE.
Entry: £25 for day, some Fringe gigs are free entry though, so have look on the website.
Doors: See times HERE
Yours in Love of New Music,
Emily Rose Malone x
