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The Heads' guide to psychedelic Bristol

Written by
Chris Parkin
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The Heads, who've been frying synapses, off and on, for 25 years now, are one of Bristol's finest psychedelic rock bands. Their records, mostly limited and hard to find, are all cult classics among stoner-rock fans.

We asked Hugo Morgan from the band to put together some of his favourite mind-bending Bristol music. The result is an ear-opening playlist for anyone who thinks Bristol is all trip-hop, dancehall and The Wurzels.

'When asked to consider Bristol and psychedelic music, I instantly think of classic late-60s psychedelic bands and draw a bit of a blank. When the rest of the country was coming out with Sgt Pepper's, S.F. Sorrow, Pipers at the Gates of Dawn and Their Satanic Majesties Request, Bristol and the surrounding area had only Acker Bilk and The Wurzels to offer the world.

'So the bands on my list aren't specifically psychedelic, ranging from lo-fi and full-on noise to sitar drones and math rock. All of the bands, though, are representative of the general Bristol idea of thinking outside the box, combining different genres and themes to create a new, innovative music unique to each artist.

'Obviously I know most of the artists and have been in quite a few of the bands on the list at some point or other. Some have been and gone, but half of them are still going strong and if you get a chance you should catch them live.'

Plus this little lot, not on Spotify:

Olanza – Stones

Rauschenberg – Black Tar Acid

Drone Soul – Lay Asleep

Pohl – Cute Guy Alert

Sawdust Caesers – Death of a Guru

And how should people go about having a psychedelic day out in Bristol? Hugo has a handy guide for that, too. 

'Survey the wonderful Avon Gorge from the Clifton Suspension Bridge, then pop into the Beaufort for a pint of rough cider. Explore the Egyptology section of the Bristol Museum and sit in awe of the stone patterns in the Cathedral's Norman Chapel and, if you're lucky, catch an organ recital.

'Visit the space-age Planetarium, followed by an art installation at the Arnolfini or pop along to Spike Island studios, before a trip to St Nicholas Market for the record shops and food stalls.

'Watch a production of Macbeth (or whatever's on) in the Redcliffe caves, then catch a five-band line-up of underground noise at The Exchange, after witnessing a local riff-fest at the Stag and Hounds next door.

'Have a sit down in the anarchist bookshop (or fair, on April 25) with a cup of coffee before visiting the various galleries on Stokes Croft and Cheltenham Road, and finish off by watching something at the Cube Microplex.'

Sorted.

Check out the Bristol bands you should be listening to right now.

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