Some may not be familiar with the term ‘Britrock’ and, to be fair, you’d have to go back 20 odd years to see it used anywhere regularly. The edgier, cooler big brother to ‘Britpop’ saw the same ethos of joyful expression channeled through a more traditional, heavier rock sound. Out (for the most part) were synths, keyboards and parkas, and in were distorted guitars and long hair.
This tour sees four of the best of these bands united in a mission to tear a path through the UK, with each band delivering a headline set. This isn’t a tour, it’s a nomadic party and it comes rolling into Bristol on the 25th of May at Motion. Because each band is playing a full set the show kicks off at 5pm and will run into the evening.
Reef will probably be best known for ‘Place your Hands’ and breakthrough single ‘Naked’ from the debut album Replenish (which was used for the Sony Minidisc Ads!) Following a quiet 8 years, Reef have just released a new album, Revelation. The title track opens with a high energy rock number reminiscent of AC/DC which surely only Gary Stringers trademark gravel throated vocal can pull off.
Dodgy were a late addition to the bill but almost everyone will know their massive hits,’Stayin’ out for the Summer’ and ‘Good Enough’. Released in the mid 90s they dominated radio 1, any TV music show you care to think of and meant that Dodgy were included on almost every festival going. Including the long lamented Bristol Community Festival that used to be held at Ashton Court every summer with free entry. The year Dodgy played, there was a technical hitch and despite there being no power to the stage, they forged on delivering an acoustic set that has remained with everyone there that day! They have always stayed active, their last album What Are We Fighting For being released only 18 months ago.
With a catalogue of hits, Terrorvision must have been a no brainer for this show. Tony Wright’s distinctive classic rock vocal and frantic stage energy is always supported by a huge wall of sound from the chunky guitar of Mark Yates and thundering bass of Leigh Marklew. The perfect sonic backdrop for a slew of hits including ‘Alice What’s the Matter’, ‘Tequila’ and ‘Perseverance’. Terrorvision played their farewell tour in 2001, coming out of retirement to join the Wildhearts as special guests in 2005. Wright then announced, in 2011, that a new album Super Delux was imminent. That was the last recording made by the band, meaning that live shows are a bit of a rarity these days and definitely not to be missed!
Which means that last but absolutely not at all least we come to the Wildhearts. Ginger is arguably one of the most prolific and hardest working characters in rock. Releasing in excess of 30 albums under many many guises, as well as his G.A.S.S. project releasing 3 songs a month for 12 months. He is widely regarded as one of the most talented songwriters ever to come out of england and the Wildhearts is the band that fans tend to remember most fondly. 8 studio albums and hundreds of B-Sides will provide a wealth of material to pluck any number of killer, eclectic sets from. Some of the most anticipated tunes will surely be ‘Caffeine Bomb’, ‘I Wanna Go Where The People Go’ and ‘Sick of Drugs’. The Wildhearts are one of the most exciting, varied and talented bands you are ever likely to see. THeir constant touring ensures that the stage is a second home for them which is clear every time you see them. As an added bonus, long time fans will be over the moon that Danny McCormack is back on bass guitar duties after a 13 year absence.
This event promises to be one of the biggest, loudest, most exciting rock shows to hit Bristol in a very long time.
Whatever you need to do, beg, steal or borrow, get there. You wont regret it.
Get your tickets here.
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