SPECTRUM is a day-long Festival taking place at the Brighton Dome Concert Hall on Saturday 21st April from 3pm to 11pm.
The idea of the festival is to celebrate independent local music on Record Store Day in collaboration with Green Door Store, QM Records and Love Thy Neighbour. The cream of Brighton’s music scene will be performing on Brighton Dome’s main stage, alongside a DIY marketplace and there will also be pop-up performances throughout the venue.
It will be featuring: Dark Horses | Normanton Street | Bobbie Johnson | Porridge Radio | Breathe Panel | Atlas Wynd | Murmur | DITZ | Strange Cages | Prince Vaseline | One Eyed Jacks | Garden Centre | Chloé Bodur | BABII + more tba.
Dark Horses: Taking their cues from an expansive array of sources, Dark Horses blend psychedelia, rock and electronica with moving image, monochrome lighting and photography. ‘A series of lullabies underpinned by synths and slow, droning bass lines befits the mythological symbolism and imagery that accompanies it.’ Dazed & Confused.
Normanton Street: Based in Brighton, Normanton Street have quickly amassed a loyal following of fans around the world from musical prowess and a lot of hard work. In the last 18 months, they’ve played gigs and festivals across the UK, Europe and US as well as opening for high-profile artists like Mercury-nominated poet and former Brighton Festival guest director Kate Tempest. Read their interview HERE.
Bobbie Johnson: Brighton based MC, singer and producer extraordinaire, Conscious thought and social commentary showcased on her latest EP You & I. Over the past year, she has been supporting the likes of Rag N Bone Man, Roots Manuva, The Pharcyde and festival stages around the UK and Europe, she has gained the nickname of the ‘Rapping Adele’ increasing her fan base with every show she commands, promoting the new age voice of hip hop.
Porridge Radio: Selected by The Guardian as favourites to watch in 2018 and named ‘the greatest band in the world’ by Everett True on the strength of half a song, Porridge Radio began as Dana Margolin’s bedroom project. Now a Brighton-based 5-piece, they inelegantly knot together vicious, furious emotional outpour with beautifully melodic pop songs.
Breathe Panel: Between writing in a shared house basement and taking long walks on the South Downs, Breathe Panel have crafted their own sound based around the intuitive songwriting partnership of Josh Tyler and Nick Green. Recalling thoughtful days spent outdoors, Nick’s vocals wash across bright, shimmering guitars and intricate drum patterns to create something beautifully expansive yet highly introspective. They combine writing about topics including anxiety, colours, people, memories and the cure of nature with capturing a sound that makes them feel good.
Atlas Wynd: A three piece garage rock band originally from the North East but now based in Brighton.
DITZ: ‘DITZ combine feedback noodling oddness, enormous hardcore inspired riffs and a rather sardonic vocal delivery that creates a sound that is so ferocious and tongue in cheek, that it is the perfect salve for those bored with po faced humourless groups.’ Overblown.
Strange Cages: ‘Brighton’s Strange Cages are one of the country’s most vivid live acts, a group whose psychotic take on rock ‘n’ roll turns the narrow streets of Brighton into desert hallucinogenics.’ CLASH.
Prince Vaseline: Lo-fi psychedelic sounds with infectious melodies and pop structures.
One Eyed Jacks: Seven musicians mixing soulful melodies, punchy rhythms and sexy harmonies to create music which is as distinctive as it is powerful. Their energetic live performances are guaranteed to have audiences grooving from the first track! With a presence bold enough to captivate crowds from a sweaty basement gig to a festival main stage, One Eyed Jacks are one of the hottest live bands in Brighton right now.
Garden Centre: Garden Centre is the project of Brighton based Max Levy and his chums. Definitely eccentric and a little geeky, he plays keyboard and electric guitar and sings in an almost female-like shrill falsetto with lots of reverb. He is engaging, charismatic and his songs are were well written with some thought-provoking lyrics.
Chloé Bodur: Raised in a mixed heritage family, whilst immersed in vibrant London, Bodur credits her multi-cultural upbringing for her array of musical influences. Idolising the likes of Billie Holiday and Frank Sinatra, as well as gaining inspiration from artists such as Quincey Jones, D’Angelo and Frank Ocean, it is to no wonder that Bodur’s music effortlessly draws listeners into her own unique world and modern fusion. Read the interview HERE.
BABII: Babii (ex Us Baby Bear Bones) is one girl, using every limb available to make ethereal yet tough electronic music. Hidden behind many metaphors, numbers and secrets, are themes of temptation, venomous relationships and other cruelties of this world. Despite the serious tone of the lyrics, Babii still has an essence of playfulness when it comes the sounds and textures that decorate her songs. Read the interview HERE.
Murmur: Murmur are a 4-piece grunge band born in East Staffordshire, currently based in Brighton. Reminiscent of 90’s grunge with dirty guitar and soaring vocals. Read their interview HERE.
Abi Wade: Abi Wade has literally just unleashed her debut album entitled ‘Beautifully Astray’. It cleverly explores the different elements of human nature through real and abstracted personas using cello, extraordinary samples, synths, orchestral arrangements and piano all brought together by Abi’s soft and distinct singing style.
Grab your advance tickets HERE.
£6 advance*, £8 on the door (*There is a £2 per order charge (excludes Members). Additional postage charges (50p standard or £1.50 Signed for mail) apply).
Under 16’s must be accompanied by an adult in the standing area, no unaccompanied under 14’s in the venue.