This October 23-24, Simple Things festival returns to dominate Bristol city centre with an intensive weekend of live music.
The inner-city event takes place across 14 stages, and boasts 18 hours of performances from electronic, alternative and progressive acts.
Founded in 2011 by culture publication Crack Magazine, eTeam Love and promoters No Need to Shout, Simple Things has grown into a significant event on Bristol's bristling festival calendar.
Well known for supporting emerging talent alongside established acts, Simple Things 2015 has a bill to envy. In fact, with so much going on at venues including Colston Hall, The Old Firestation, Lakota and O2 Academy, there's is a bewildering amount of choice.
We take a look at ten must-see acts at this year's festival below...
Penguin Café
Penguin Café have a long history of impressing live audiences. Originally formed by Arthur Jeffes in the 1980s, the project was revived by Jeffes’ son, Simon, in 2009. Experimental jazz at its finest.
HEALTH
One of the few bands to capitalise their name and live to tell the tale, LA four-piece HEALTH have developed a reputation as one of the noisiest, most experimental bands of the twenty-first century.
Micachu and the Shapes
After some time away from the limelight, Micachu and the Shapes make a welcome return to Bristol by way of Simple Things this year. A pop artist at heart, front woman and namesake Mica Levi records with everything from a vacuum cleaner to sticky tape, creating an intriguing sound.
Chastity Belt
A departure from the festival's usually experimental line up, Chastity Belt create relatively straightforward slacker rock with a feminist twist. Described by many as a party band, new album 'Time To Go Home' kicked up a proper fuss when it was released earlier this year. Be prepared, though - the band’s on stage antics often go viral.
Spectres
Local band Spectres recently caused a fuss with their alternative 'James Bond' theme, which saw them feature in The Guardian. The consequent coverage should fair the self-described ‘loud’ guitar-based band well at Simple Things.
Something Anorak
In 2015 the Barrett brothers moved from local label Howling Owl to Portland’s Lefse Records, but they’ve not forgotten their Bristol roots. Recorded at a self-made studio in the city centre, details of Something Anorak's second album are being kept safely under wraps – but the lo-fi duo have already offered fans a taster with the 'Ageist' EP.
Bernard + Edith
An experimental electro duo from Manchester, Bernard + Edith have swamped the alt dance scene since their breakthrough hit, 'Poppy', was released in March 2014. With a full length album under their belt, they have a fan base to match the critical acclaim.
Lower Dens
Leaning towards the commercial end of Simple Thing’s ordinarily independent spectrum, Lower Dens take classic indie and blend it with angular, extremely catchy alt pop. Their structured approach to song writing should be a welcome break from the deluge of sound elsewhere.
Scarlet Rascal
With a gig at new music showcase The Great Escape tucked safely under their belt, Invada Records signees Scarlet Rascal are the poster band of the Bristol music scene. If their performance last year was anything to go by, you might be faced with a one-in, one-out situation on the door, so get there early if you want to see these guys play.
Giant Swan
Finally, proving its commitment to the Bristol music scene, Simple Things has booked South West noise stalwarts Giant Swan to perform this year – presumably to ensure ears are left ringing on Sunday morning. Stubbornly unconventional, there’s no way of predicting how this performance will go down.
Simple Things festival. October 23-24. Various venues. Wristbands – which will get you entry to all performances – are available here.
Find more music and nightclub listings here.