Featuring Performances From:
Pee Wee Ellis, Andreya Triana, Dubkasm, Minotaur Shock, King Midas Sound, The
Bug, Theo Parrish, Dixon,
Appleblim, Headhunter
The Global Music Academy
took a weekend off its month-long London ‘term’ to festoon Bristol’s keen beat
enthusiasts, head-nodders and vinyl spinning elite with a celebration of the
city’s inspirational musical heritage and potential.
The weekend began at the
Metropolis with performances from Pee
Wee Ellis, Andreya Triana, Dubkasm and Minotaur Shock. On Saturday at the same venue the Academy hosted
talks, workshops and performances including an MC production workshop with Dynamite MC, Phantom Limb and Massive
Attack singer, Yolanda, Pee Wee
Ellis chatting about “life with James
Brown” and free quiche. King Midas
Sound were thoroughly entertaining with The Bug’s, Kevin Martin talking about his philosophical theories on
music production and Roger Robinson discussing his love of cookery books. On
stage, the two complimented each other. Musically they seem to have the ability
to transport the listener to an eerie, serious world filled with emotive
discovery. A marvellous (and free) event for Bristol, it was relaxed and brimming with
cultivated and looming talent.
Saturday evening moved to
Motion, with a FutureboogieRedBullMusicAcademy
special. There was Detroit’s Theo Parrish with techno and Berlin’s Dixon playing
House, as well Appleblim, Headhunter and a special live set from King Midas Sound. Talking to people at
Motion, many had travelled from London and all
around the country, Leeds, Manchester...
purely to witness and enjoy the placement of multiple talents under one skate
park’s roof. They were all remarkably pleased to be there. Indeed they should
be - and certainly the evening benefitted from the appreciative and
enthusiastic rabble – predominantly of males. It was unlike any hours at Motion
I have spent previously. The night had the feel of an intimate gig with its
friendly vibe and contented dancing. The music itself was even better than
anticipated, with the two rooms gently heaving to the beats, breathing in the
reverberating sounds. The quality of the music had the effect of desiring an
ear present in both rooms the whole time.
Being a weekend celebrating Bristol’s musical
creativity and success, the majority of the artists originated from the city. I
spoke with the weekend’s organiser, Ed Williams, and asked him what
idiosyncrasy particular to Bristol makes it so
spectacularly rousing for the musical being: “The one constant is Bristol's undying
commitment to a sense of musical community and sheer disinterest in the
mainstream. In Bristol,
the underground is the norm and even that is constantly evolving and reshaping
itself. That's what keeps Bristol
constantly interesting. Bristol
has such a strong tradition of creativity and musical independence, we wanted
to take the opportunity to celebrate that history and hopefully contribute
something to the city's musical future.”
The message from the weekend
being: Don’t forget what we have here, appreciate, nurture and love its unique
ability to liberate.
