Five Bristol artists you have to catch at Simple Things 2017

12 October 2017, 12:00

(Youth) (Heavy Lungs) (Kahn & Neek) (Scalping) (Shanti Celeste) (Simple Things Festival)

Bristol's Simple Things Festival has nurtured a reputation over the years for putting on some of the most exciting homegrown talent, and this year is no exception.

Festival faves like psych-pop troubadour Oliver Wilde, belligerent noisemakers Spectres, and furious punks IDLES have all carved a name for themselves on the international scene in recent years and are set to blow up the fest on their respective returns, with the latter moving from the intimate (read: sweaty) environs of social club The Sportsman to Colston Hall's Main Stage. Bristol's wildly diverse local scenes and collectives are in fine fettle for sure - here are five of the most ear-catching local names you can't afford to miss at this year's Simple Things.

1

Shanti Celeste

House DJ and producer Shanti Celeste isn't exactly an unknown entity but she is an essential viewing at Simple Things. Educated in Bristol, Celeste has made herself a major force in the city, launching label BRSTLtogether and setting up famed clubnight Housework; she's also played the likes of Berghain and Corsica Studios and is a host on NTS Radio. The Chilean-born show-stopper plays Coroners Court 1 at Simple Things.

Follow Shanti Celeste on Facebook.

2

Youth

Indie four-piece Youth have been making waves around the city and the region with a jet fuel-propelled blend of booming Editors-style darkness, clattering post-punk rhythms, and raggedy DIY lo-fi. The group push melody and texture to the front of their sound, making wiry walls of sound feel human - it's a tall order but Youth manage it with aplomb, and you should catch them in the act at during Simple Things at Zed Alley.

Follow Youth on Facebook.

3

Kahn & Neek

The Bristol-based production pair and Young Echo label bosses are vital cogs in the city, and they're gonna tear up Simple Things' Firestation stage with their potent mix of grime, dub, and electronic wizardry. With a rep for forward-thinking sounds and rampant genre splicing, Kahn & Neek are set to present something wholly impressive and unmissable. Watch the vid above for more info, or check out their Fabric mix.

Follow Kahn on Twitter.

4

Heavy Lungs

Heavy Lungs maintain a, err, minimal online presence, but you'll have to trust us on this one. They've played with the supremely talented Slonk, Bloody Knees, John, and Rat The Magnificent recently, if you want an idea of the types they mingle with.

We're told a debut EP is "coming soon", and going by the scant updates on Instagram, they've at least been in the studio (Bristol's Malthouse Recording Studios to be precise) making a racket. If you're after something Raucous, Rowdy, and altogether gReat, then pop down to Zed Alley to see them at Simple Things.

Follow Heavy Lungs on Instagram.

5

Scalping

Eye-bleeding techno and cataclysmic noise rock collide under the banner of Scalping. Tinges of HEALTH's earlier, mayhem-ier roots glint through the chaos Scalping offer, and perhaps unsurprisingly they opened for Holy Fuck when the group rolled into Bristol - but these sounds are not really like anything else about. "Conduit" (above) is the first proper recorded material to make its way online, but its live where the quartet thrive - be sure to witness them at Simple Things.

Follow Scalping on Facebook.

This year we're back at Simple Things to host the Colston Hall Foyer Stage, with sets from the likes of Omar Souleyman, Japanese Breakfast, Ó, HMLTD, Diet Cig, and XL Recordings head honcho Richard Russell. Find out the full details and come say hi!