DAUDI MATSIKO. Photo Credit: Unknown.
It’s all going off in Nottingham this week… There’s a debut album launch at JamCafe, a night at the (Invisible) Orchestra and oh, just a little f*cking thing called Dot to Dot…
THURSDAY
DAUDI MATSIKO will be leaving the Jam Cafe in a breath taken state of amazement on Thursday. His debut release on Naim Records brings together his two beautifully crafted EPs. ‘An Introduction to Failure’ will see your heartstrings delicately yanked out before falling neatly into the shape of a heart on the floor.
KETO will be supporting Daudi. KETO released their debut EP this time last year, showcasing astonishing, hypnotic Lo-Fi Folk. Latest single ‘Superstar’ is an enchanting display of vocalist Leah’s talent.
YAZMIN LACEY’s incredible, soulful voice will be warming the crowd up for Daudi. Layers of Jazz run through Yazmin’s sultry, smooth voice and make for an incredible performance that will leave your hairs standing on end.
Jam Cafe
Thursday 25th May
Doors: 7pm
Entry: £5.50
FRIDAY
THE INVISIBLE ORCHESTRA have managed to gather themselves all together (all 24 of them) so they can grace the stage of the Masonic Hall. Joined by incredible vocalists HARLEIGHBLU, PERCYDRED and CHAI LARDEN, the orchestra uses a double bass, drum-kit, percussion and congas, an organ, piano, guitars, and a 10 piece horn section to create dirty Funk, Soul and Jazz. It is one impressive performance and an incredible showcase of Nottingham talent.
Masonic Hall
Friday 26th May
Doors: 8pm
Entry: £15 Advance
SUNDAY
Nottingham, oh Nottingham. How bloody amazing are you? Dot to Dot is getting better and better every year with about 5702 Nottingham artists on the bill for this year’s Dot to Dot.
As much as I would love to tell you about how incredible every single act on the line up this Sunday is, we’d all be dead by the time I’d finished.
So, here’s just a sprinkle of artists playing.
ASHFIELDS are opening the Rock City main stage of Dot to Dot. Alongside the incredible AMBER RUN, the ASHFIELDS boys are the only Nottingham act to be gracing the RC stage. After playing endless Bodega gigs and selling out their own Bodega headline show, ASHFIELDS are moving up the ranks to Rock City.
BABE PUNCH are opening the SU stage at NTU. The female fronted 5 piece make grungey, punky Alternative Rock filled with punches. They’ve had praise from Drenge, The Wytches and NME, they’re definitely ones to watch.
You might have seen DO NOTHING’s name in big letters on the local poster and thought ‘who the hell are they?’ Well fear not, this is no Derby intruder creeping onto the Nottingham stage. It’s the reincarnation of FIELD STUDIES and we are oh so excited to hear their new sound open the Rescue Rooms stage.
UNKNOWN ERA are probably gonna struggle to cram themselves into Baresca, let alone their doubtlessly huge and raucous crowd. Insanely high energy performances to dance and rebel to, filled with Reggae, HipHop, Ska, Blues and oh so much more.
Black Cherry Lounge is headlined by DECO’s euphoric Indie Pop. DECO are playing two of the D2D dates, including a Manchester date. The band have been playing loads of shows around the country which can only have further perfected their already sleek sound.
We’ve all been loving BONE CULT at Nusic HQ and can’t wait to see them play Stealth on Sunday. Calling their music ‘death electronica’ their live performances bring together distinctive masks and an impressive light show.
EYRE LLEW will be finishing off their three day run at D2D with a homecoming headline at Spanky Van Dykes. Their breathtaking Ambient Rock is critically acclaimed by the likes of Daniel P Carter and Kerrang!. This is their first Notts show in a long while so doubtlessly, it will be jam-packed.
The Broadway stage will be blessed with the presence of JOEL BAKER. Joel’s unmistakable voice, unique style and witty but emotion-filled lyrics are the reason he’s signed to Virgin/EMI.
ALICE ROBBINS released her debut single at the Acoustic Rooms in March and left us all in awe at its beauty whilst she gallivanted off to India. But we’re being treated to two Alice performances at D2D, at Wired and at Rescue Rooms bar.
TWIN KIDD are gonna be smashing two performances. One at Baresca, the other at Stealth. If you’re yet to hear the incredible talent of TK, expect blissful, euphoric Pop filled with beautiful soundscapes and an uplifting, ambient vocal.
KATIE COOPER is another artist doing two performances (maybe even three if she pops on stage with HASHTAGOBI). Katie makes beautiful Acoustic Pop with really catchy hooks. You can be caught by the hooks at both Rescue Rooms Bar and Wax Bar.
CAMERON SINCLAIR HARRIS will be performing three bloody times and only has 25 minutes between his set at Suede and his set at Wired. Cameron says if you make it to all three sets you get a prize. He says debut EP Grey Matter will be played at Suede, new stuff at Wired and a Greatest Hits at Ned Ludd.
As well as hosting their own stage at Ned Ludd and DJing, SHELTER POINT are playing Rough Trade. Their electronic soundscape features ethereal, spacey sounds and a haunting falsetto. They cite their fans as Annie Mac, Huw Stephens and Zane Lowe and that’s a trio that you really can’t say no to.
SAME STREETS will be playing their first gig of 2017 and their only Nottingham show since their Jam Cafe set at Hockley Hustle. The band are headlining Pepper Rocks for an up close and personal, intimate setting filled with Rock n Roll.
THE VARLETTS seemed to burst onto the Notts scene from nowhere late last year and have gone from strength to strength. Their song ‘Accused of Effeminacy’ was praised by their long time idols The Cribs after sending them the track on Twitter. Catch them headlining the Filthy’s stage.
YOUNG T & BUGSEY are headlining The Orange Tree stage. They’re playing Wireless Festival, have millions of Youtube views and freaking Stormzy brought them on stage at Rock City. So yeah, I guess you could say they’re a big deal.
Dotted around Nottingham
Sunday 28th May
Acts Start at 1pm
Entry: £22 for main venues, a bunch of fringe stages are free.
Yours in Love of New Music,
Katie Beard x
