Aman Quartet, Mina Road tunnel - September 28
File this under ‘Only in Bristol’: a string quartet busking in the graffiti-strewn Mina Road tunnel in St Werburgh’s. Thanks to the St Werburgh’s Arts Trail, the tunnel was busier than usual and the Aman Quartet drew a crowd of several dozen as they raised money for the nearby City Farm.
Richard Hawley, Colston Hall – February 23
The Sheffield singer songwriter is an accomplished guitarist and his guitars were handed to him like cherished pieces of family silver. This was beautiful songwriting that tugged at the heartstrings. Many eyes were certainly not dry when he played favourites like Soldier On or Open Up Your Door on a stage festooned with trees.
Poppy Perezz, Brisfest – September 21
At every big Bristol music event, there is the same perma-tanned man with a penchant for silver hot pants. He was at the front for Poppy Perezz at the Jelli Records tent at the first day of Brisfest 2013, joined by a gentleman with a beard wearing a wedding dress, a woman with a moustache and a grey-haired man who looked like an accountant from the neck up but below was wearing a black and pink all-in-one lycra body suit. It was quite a gathering, especially when they were all dancing with pregnant lead singer Poppy Villiers-Stuart to the calypso-pop rhythms of Space Antelope.
Spiro and Three Cane Whale, St Georges’s – January 25
A double-bill of some of Bristol’s finest musicians in one of its finest venues. With a multitude of unusual instruments from the bowed psaltery to the zither, the bouzouki to the dulcitone, there is no band quite like Three Cane Whale. Spiro saw Alex Vann stand up from his multi-instrumental role in Three Cane Whale and stick to his mandolin, with he and Jane Harbour on violin and viola providing bursts of creative energy.
The Staves, Trinity – November 2
Although not quite yet hitting the big time, The Staves are still on their way up. They have supported Bon Iver, performed on Jools Holland and Bristol venues they play in are increasing in size whenever they return to the city. By the end of this gig, you could have heard a pin drop, an indication of the calibre of the music of the three Watford sisters and their beautiful harmonies.
