This week in Bristol, June 4-10

Monday to Sunday: Stand-Up Week, Wardrobe Theatre
Stand-ups preview their shows in the run-up to the Edinburgh Festival. Russell Howard turned up last year. Expect previews from local and national comics.
www.thewardrobetheatre.com/#/comedy-weeks/4559551703

Tuesday: Keane, Academy
Keane’s members have all left rehab and come to Bristol on their first UK tour in three years, supporting new album Strangeland, which features guitars, unlike their debut.
www.o2academybristol.co.uk/event/38539/keane-tickets

Wednesday: Jubilee Concert, Colston Hall
A special Classic Women concert featuring the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Alison Balsom, Natalie Clein, Nicola Benedetti, Lesley Garrett and conductor Sian Edwards.
www.colstonhall.org/whatson/Event2582

Thursday: Watershed 30th birthday celebrations
30 hours of film, television and creative work from Bristol, and all for free. Featuring a party from late featuring a mash-up of music and moving image.
www.watershed.co.uk/whatson/season/203/30th-birthday/

Friday: Sheelanagig, Fiddlers
Bristol’s finest purveyors of raucous Balkan pop return home as part of the current UK tour, their biggest ever, to support the new album Cirque Insomnia.
www.sheelanagig.co.uk/tour.php

Saturday: Mamma Llama Peruvian Pop-Up, 40 Alfred Place
The only mobile caterer in the UK specialising in Peruvian cuisine comes to Kingsdown for one night only, serving a three-course menu with complimentary Pisco sour.
www.mammallama.co.uk/?page_id=140

Sunday: Electric Bike Festival, College Green
Featuring races up Park Street as part of the world’s first Electric Bike World Championships Hill Climb, a demo area and electric village. All free to attend.
www.electricbikes.org.uk/electric-bike-world-championship/

Review: Dot to Dot & Love Saves The Day

There was a brief campaign on Twitter last year to have a BrisFestFest, one weekend in the year when Bristol doesn’t host a festival of some sort. A good point jokingly made, for perhaps we have reached saturation point. But a four-day Jubilee weekend in Bristol could only mean one thing: festivals.

Saturday was Dot to Dot, returning across eight different venues, and mostly a chance to spot an up-and-coming band that might one day make it big, such as previous Dot to Dotters who include Mumford & Sons, Florence & The Machine and Ed Sheeran.

Love Saves the Day was a completely different proposition, with Castle Park taken over by the inaugural festival which saw big international names such as Annie Mac and Roots Manuva mixing it up with Bristol’s own DJ Derek.

The start of Dot to Dot, and Simon Anning was first on in the Louisiana bar, facing an unforgiving crowd as set times for later in the day were still being put up on walls inside and outside. Sat down with his acoustic guitar, he had a deep and gravelly voice with stylish guitar playing, a gentle and unoffensive, if a little unenthusiastic, start to the day ahead.

Over in the Thekla bar with blacked out windows, Neotropics played with samples and electronica in the style of Metronomy. It could have been quite dreamlike but the lead singer’s voice didn’t quite fit with the music.

My next trip was back to the Louisiana, this time outside, partaking in some Black Dragon dragon cider secreted from my mate Mike’s bag, before a trip to the Cooler for Idles, very loud, hardcore, made slightly better with three splendid beards and one splendid moustache.

It was the first occasion of the day when I walked outside and was confused that it was still light, being not even 4pm. It was also noticeable for one of the air conditioning units leaking all over me, funnily enough after the frontman asked if anyone had any water.

At the Fleece, electropop trio The Hundred in the Hands featured another splendid moustache from their drummer. “We don’t have anything like the Jubilee in America,” said the female lead singer, stoood behind a keyboard and also behind a long fringe.

At Start the Bus, I joined a few friends sat cross-legged at the front of the stage for Strange Billy the Saint and Bernadette Pike, on the bill as two separate acts but here joining forces to sing songs about being in love, including Climbing up a Tightrope, as he met her when she was engaged. Bernadette played the electric guitar with a violin bow and their drummer wore a cassock. Billy also played his guitar so rigorously guitar that his glasses flew off.

Joyce the Librarian opened proceedings at the Stag and Hounds. “Welcome to the epicentre of Dot to Dot,” the male singer joked. But I would have far preferred to be here than some of the more populated venues for this was some much-needed downtempo and rather brilliant as well.

Just a shame that I had to then cycle to see a distinctly underwhelming Pixie Lott at Cribbs Causeway, but at least the soaking I received stood me in good stead for Love Saves the Day in Castle Park yesterday, most of which was tarnished by constant rain, sadly preventing the Dance Off boxing ring from being fully utilised and made the few indoor areas disproportionally popular.

With music emanating from across the festival site, it was a case of following your ears. If you didn’t like one area, move to the next. As I arrived, Bob Marley’s Sun Is Shining was playing from one sound system, with no small sense of irony in the pouring rain.

Over on the main stage, positioned at the far end of the park nearest the band stand, Annie Mac drew a large crowd, being one of the largest draws of the festival. This was also where non-DJ acts such as the always excellent Roots Manuva and the excellently-named Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs made their home.

For longer than his scheduled 10pm finish, Mr Scruff bedded down in the Jubilee Marquee, his quirky illustrations accompanying his eclectic choice of records.

Over at The Dance Off, DJ Derek provided his usual mix of reggae and soul, before handing to DJ Sticky who managed to mix dubstep with Russian ballet, proving that at Love Saves the Day there was most definitely something for everyone.

Atlas

I may have only visited Atlas cafe on Cannon Street in Bedminster yesterday, but it will already look totally different today, at least with the shutters down, as those cheeky scamps from Upfest work their magic. With new graffiti, Atlas will offer something even more, as if its mission to be a cafe as well as a burger and pizza restaurant is not enough.

On the door, hand drawn cupcakes and cups of coffee advertise the daytime fare, while an a-board outside proclaims the offer of pizza, burgers and chips. Cupcakes are gluten free, while burgers are ‘handmade by our local butcher’.

A spacious, double-fronted cafe, I sat in a comfortable sofa in the window with a delightful view of the Wetherspoon’s over the road. My flat white was not as thick as it could have been, but a freshly squeezed orange juice and bacon sandwich hit the spot.

Atlas has been open for less than a month in what used to be Italian restaurant La Sicillia, but it is already hosting weekly events such as a Spanish conversation session every Thursday.

It’s also ideal, like Grounded nearby, for the yummy mummy brigade with their tractor-size buggies, and this clientele is catered for with baby food on the counter.

Pardon the pun, but you also won’t need an atlas to find Atlas, with a big footfall going by its front door every day. Take the weight of the world off your shoulders, and settle into that comfy sofa in the window.

Atlas, 9-11 Cannon Street, Bedminster, Bristol, BS3 1BH. 0117 966 4941.

www.atlascafebar.co.uk

Review: Bristol Jubilee Concert, Cribbs Causeway

Pixie Lott looked every inch the pop star at the Bristol Jubilee Concert at the Mall at Cribbs Causeway, getting in the patriotic spirit by wearing red shoes, blue shorts and a white blouse. So it was a shame that although she looked every inch the pop star, she didn’t sound like one during her first song.

Pixie didn’t sound like anything at all, as despite a delay so long that compere Joel Dommett filled time by stripping to his underwear and making wildly inappropriate jokes about masturbation, her microphone failed to work and she was completely silent through more than a minute of her first song Mama Do, although failed to realise or apologise to her fans, so wet that they were probably beyond caring.

For a concert in the pouring rain, it was a surprise that Pixie’s set wasn’t more upbeat. She instead played stripped down acoustic versions of many of her songs, and a few covers for good measure including Use Somebody by Kings of Leon, and Be Young, Be Foolish But Be Happy, originally by The Tams.

While Pixie’s set was a bit on the mellow side, Misha B provided far more energy. Busking on the streets of Manchester only a year ago, The X Factor propelled Misha B to where she is today, with her debut single released in July, she regularly reminded us.

A cover of Adele’s Rolling in the Deep opened her 30-minute set, following a short but lively selection of songs by Cheltenham band Young Kato.

Misha B looks like she is an X Factor contestant who really does have that elusive X Factor, and she didn’t need two male dancers to detract from her powerful soul voice and stage presence. Unlike Pixie, she could really belt out a tune.

The Bristol Jubilee Concert was raising money for A Life for a Cure.

Lovely Jubilee in Bristol

SATURDAY

Wake up full of the joys of spring. It’s summer! And the start of a four-day weekend. Beginning at 12.30pm in the Louisiana bar is Dot to Dot (www.dottodotfestival.co.uk/Bristolvenues), the festival which in recent years has seen acts including Mumford & Sons and Ed Sheeran, and this year sees almost 100 acts take in venues across Bristol. Over in South Gloucestershire is the Bristol Jubilee Concert at Cribbs Causeway (www.mallcribbs.com/jubilee.php), headlined by Pixie Lott and with support by Young Kato and Misha B. Back in Bristol, Upfest (www.upfest.co.uk) is happening along North Street until Monday, with artists, DJs, band and beatboxers coming together for the largest urban art festival in Europe.

SUNDAY

In Castle Park, Love Saves the Day (www.lovesavestheday.org) is a one-day dance music festival featuring Annie Mac, Mr Scruff and Bristol’s very own DJ Derek. If your name is Elizabeth, you can visit At-Bristol (www.at-bristol.org.uk/888) for free, and then enjoy a picnic in Millenium Square while watching the celebrations from London on the big screen, which include the Matthew and Pyronaut as part of the Thames flotilla.

MONDAY

Diamond Jubilee Downs Day (www.bristol.gov.uk/page/diamond-jubilee-downs-day), full of events from hot air balloon rides to a storytelling tent, will culminate in the lighting of a beacon lit overlooking the Avon Gorge, part of a sequence of 2,012 lit across the world started by the Queen in London. Today is also the day for street parties, with Bristol hosting more parties than any other British city outside London. Bristol charity Streets Alive has a list of parties happening near you: www.streetparty.org.uk/queens-jubilee-street-parties.aspx.

TUESDAY

Take a listen to 12 for 2012 (www.showofstrength.org.uk/productions/12-for-2012-a-diamond-jubilee-trail-for-bristol), a Diamond Jubilee trail for Bristol created by Show of Strength as six writers and four actors have been inspired by Redcliffe Caves, the launch of the Miranda Guinness – the last boat built at the Charles Hill shipyard, where the ss Great Britain can now be found – and a host of other local stories. Bristol Museum and Art Gallery (www.bristol.gov.uk/page/museums-and-galleries) is also hosting a special day of free family activities including bunting making, and free tours of the Leonardo exhibition and even free Leonardo ice cream.

Ignite Bristol VII

You never know what you will leave an Ignite Bristol event having learnt. Last time in the Tobacco Factory Theatre, I learnt that handing out Eccles cakes was a good way to win over the audience. This time, I learnt never to watch a cartoon about My Little Pony, despite it having “hundreds of millions” of fans, and I learnt basic Chinese sign language to I Dreamed a Dream.

For newbies, speakers at Ignite have five minutes to talk about whatever they want, with their choice of 20 slides changing behind them on a big screen every 15 seconds.

Once again held together by Paul Parry, the king of awkward silences, this Ignite didn’t quite hit the hights of previous events. It was summed up by Matt Davenport when he tweeted, “I don’t know what this about, but laughing at geeks… I like it.”

But it still did its job, to enlighten and entertain. James Laverack drew us into a completely unknown world when talking about the My Little Pony cartoon series, aimed at seven-year-old girls, which has taken on a life of its own among 18- to 30-year-old computer programmers. Watch the first episode here. Or not.

Not once, but twice, sixth former Natalie Chan burst into song, while signing, first in English with A Whole New World, and then in Hong Kongish for I Dreamed a Dream. Her admirable aim is to bring the deaf, and deaf and dumb community, into the world of musical theatre. As sign language is different across the globe, her version of A Whole New World was signed in her native Hong King sign language as she sang in English.

Sticking with the Disney theme was Dan Williams, who spoke about just how bonkers the Epcot theme park in Florida is, a model city dreamed up by Walt himself, never realised but still its own local government district and stretching the equivalent of Bristol to Bath.

Another memorable talk was about the the best efforts of Ted Wilkes to hug North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, while Anthony Wood lost me on the word “hello” when talking about coding using the Perl operating system.

My favourite talk of the night was from artist Michelle Ciocolloni, who spoke about her passion for drawing, in particular her weeks this year spent sketching visitors to the David Hockney exhibition in London. She spoke from the heart about why she enjoyed drawing, and it was one of the few talks that really utilised the slide format, with your eye drawn to her artwork rather than her talking from copiously prepared notes.

Visit www.ignitebristol.net to see videos of all the speakers once they are uploaded, and to suggest a talk for the next Ignite. Remember, enlighten us, but make it quick.

Florrie releases Late EP

Bristol-born singer songwriter Florrie has released a new EP. Appropriately titled Late as it’s been a while coming, it marks the diminutive starlet’s last release before she finally makes the move to a major label. It’s the latest step on a resolutely modern journey to becoming a pop star, as she first put out her music for free on her own website that she constantly updates.

The Colston’s Girls School alumna and FHM’s 92nd sexiest woman in the world is the former Xenomania house-band drummer, and if you don’t yet recognise her own music, you will recognise many of the tracks she has played on, including for the likes of  Kylie Minogue, Girls Aloud and the Pet Shop Boys.

Writing on her blog, the 23-year-old said: “This new EP is the most interesting and best stuff I had from the new songs I’ve written that weren’t the other two big tracks I mentioned before. I am SOOOO proud of the work, and I want to say a massive thanks to the team, who have stuck with me writing and making these records!

“This EP has been made in Kent, Shoreditch, Portland and LA! I know you guys have waited a long time for this, but I really feel like it’s gonna be worth the wait. And of all the EP names I came up with, along with your ideas too, at the end of the day, the most appropriate name, and the name I’ve chosen, is… “LATE” I think it’s pretty perfect…because it is so LATE!”

Download Late on iTunes here.

www.florrie.com