Saturday 24th May 2014 was Dot to Dot Festival's ninth year, but only it's seventh year in Bristol. Hence the name, Dot to Dot is a festival in which you make your way from venue to venue to see the bands or artists you want to see in each allotted time in three different cities across the bank holiday weekend; Manchester, Bristol and Nottingham. This year in Bristol venues included Thekla, o2 Academy, Trinity Centre, The Fleece and more.
I'll admit that looking at this year's line up, I hadn't heard of anyone on the list. My music preferences usually revolve around R'n'B, soul, rap and hip hop, but I am always open to hearing new things and listening to other genres. Some friends from work persuaded me to come so I bought my ticket and went along to see acts they wanted to see, since I had no preferences.
I'll admit that looking at this year's line up, I hadn't heard of anyone on the list. My music preferences usually revolve around R'n'B, soul, rap and hip hop, but I am always open to hearing new things and listening to other genres. Some friends from work persuaded me to come so I bought my ticket and went along to see acts they wanted to see, since I had no preferences.
Having collected our wristbands outside Thekla, we started off on the top deck of Thekla to see Fyfe at 3:30pm, who's band had unfortunately been stuck in too much traffic, so he went it alone. Then we went downstairs to the main room in Thekla to see Rhodes, followed by Years and Years.
Years and Years were full of energy and quickly became our favourite set of the festival, with a cover by Sean Paul and Blu Cantrell's Breathe and about five of their own tracks.
We then rushed over to o2 Academy for Bristol born Raleigh Ritchey who had unfortunately just started when we got there, but who's lively band and hip hop sounds got the whole venue moving and really in the mood. He became my second favourite act, and immediately after him at o2 was Indiana, so we stayed put.
From Indiana at the o2 Academy, we went over to The Bird Cage on Clare Street to see Laurel and her band, and then back to Thekla for Laura Welsh, then ended over at Louisiana for Jamie Isaac and Sivu.
It was a packed out day, with the occasional sprint to make it in time for the next act, and we were all very tired at the end of it - so tired that we didn't make it to the Propaganda after party at 11:30pm. But it was a great festival, full of variety and new music to discover and support, and many of the acts seemed so honoured and appreciative that they were able to perform and that we had all come to see them. Tickets were £22 + booking fee, but you completely get your money's worth, with twelve hours of performances (though we only went for eight) to fill your day.
Years and Years were full of energy and quickly became our favourite set of the festival, with a cover by Sean Paul and Blu Cantrell's Breathe and about five of their own tracks.
We then rushed over to o2 Academy for Bristol born Raleigh Ritchey who had unfortunately just started when we got there, but who's lively band and hip hop sounds got the whole venue moving and really in the mood. He became my second favourite act, and immediately after him at o2 was Indiana, so we stayed put.
From Indiana at the o2 Academy, we went over to The Bird Cage on Clare Street to see Laurel and her band, and then back to Thekla for Laura Welsh, then ended over at Louisiana for Jamie Isaac and Sivu.
It was a packed out day, with the occasional sprint to make it in time for the next act, and we were all very tired at the end of it - so tired that we didn't make it to the Propaganda after party at 11:30pm. But it was a great festival, full of variety and new music to discover and support, and many of the acts seemed so honoured and appreciative that they were able to perform and that we had all come to see them. Tickets were £22 + booking fee, but you completely get your money's worth, with twelve hours of performances (though we only went for eight) to fill your day.