Bristol’s expansive multi-venue festival returns this November, with a stacked lineup also including caroline, Ugly, My New Band Believe and The Avalanches.
Bristol plays host to all manner of exciting music events through the year, but few match Simple Things’ scale, variety, and exhilaration. Now in its twelfth year, this multi-venue takeover returns on 7th November with a whole new look. This year, four guest curators – Cobrah, Squid, Shabaka and Jeremy Deller – are shaping what Simple Things cleverly calls its “sub-universes”. Each has handpicked their own acts, creating something wholly unique, unmistakably ‘them’ and truly interdimensional. It’s a line-up that you’d be hard-pressed to find elsewhere.
Drawing on hyperpop and techno, Cobrah’s line-up captures the intoxicating ballroom-club spirit. MUCHAS PROBLEMAS could well provide the night’s most provocative set, blending industrial, post-punk, performance and visual culture. DJ Latex, Only Fire and French producer and vocalist COUCOU CHLOE finalise Cobrah’s unmissable, pulsating and downright erotic bill.
Jeremy Deller delves into the absurd and fantastical with his Acid Bass project (performed by The Listening Project), alongside Circle Dance and Grubby Mitts. His line-up also includes the ever-mesmerising Mermaid Chunky, with spellbinding art-pop performances.
Shabaka and Squid offer very different yet highly compelling line-ups. Inspired by avant-garde jazz, the spiritual and the traditional, Shabaka brings together an immense selection of artists, including Joy Guidry, Arsenal Mikebe and Sarathy Korwar. Squid, on the other hand, embrace their love of math rock and leftfield post-punk with Minor Conflict, 13 Year Cicada’s and Comfort. Their bill also includes a rare solo set from fellow bandmate Anton Pearson.
Simple Things are keeping pace with the unprecedented talent emerging out of Bristol. Local promoters, Temple Cloud, bring together the euphoric and electric with their takeover of the Cellars. Featuring Princess Elf, e-kitty, Ab Crab, DJ SLAM DUNK and headlined by Hannah Diamond, this stage is likely to be the most propulsive, hardcore and exhilarating of the festival.
Meanwhile, there are some very exciting big hitters, notably Simple Things special guests, The Avalanches, along with London-based representation from Ugly, caroline and My New Band Believe. Stretching across numerous venues, including Bristolian underground landmarks like Strange Brew and the recent skatepark space, Shredenhams, it’s sure to be a festival for the history books.
For tickets and more info, head to https://simplethingsfestival.co.uk/
