Rhys Buchanan

Approach any local brewery right now and you’ll hear a busy clatter of bottles and thudding of kegs in preparation for the annual Bristol Beer Week, which runs from September 19-26. Over the course of the week, there are a number of events taking place across the city, including festivals, tastings, masterclasses and more. We caught up with the organisers, as well as some of the stars of Bristol's buzzing brewing scene to find out more about what’s in-store. Head-honcho of the week Steve Powell tells us: 'I have always thought of Bristol as being a fiercely independent city, that's incredibly proud of its arts, culture and entertainment scene. The rise in the UK beer industry, however you want to label it, is about creativity, independence, artisan products and entrepreneurship – all qualities that fit perfectly with Bristol's ethos.' With that in mind, we headed down to Wiper And True in St Werburghs, which is currently leading the pack amongst the city’s best hop-handlers.       Perched on a bench supping away at one of their latest brews a spokesperson tells us: 'We have the absolute honour of hosting the opening party, which is going to be at The Hillgrove [in Kingsdown]. We’ll be taking over all of the lines there: six kegs and eight casks. There will be a photo-booth and lots other fun things.' This includes getting up close and personal with the brewing process:  'We’re giving four people the opportunity to brew a batch of beer with us,' Steve continues, 'someone to c

Bristol has had its fair share of iconic shows over the years. Whether it's artists who've gone on to achieve global fame or smaller more meaningful moments, we've certainly had some bangers. Here's just a few...   Nirvana, The Bierkeller, November 4 1991     Nirvana hit Bristol during a string of three UK dates with entry price at just £6. Kurt Cobain is said to have launched himself on top of the crowd. Gig-goer Marcus Dyson was at the show and said: "I was down at the front, Kurt landed right on me." They played an eighteen song setlist including the classic tracks 'Lithium', 'Breed' and 'Smells Like Teen Spirit'.    Howling Owl Shows, Centrespace Gallery, July 26 2014    <img id="a2601d8e-b3b0-5dc1-405d-2fc15ca36d2d" class="photo lazy inline" src="http://media.timeout.com/images/102606978/image.jpg" alt="" data-caption="Howling Owl at Centrespace" data-credit="" data-width-class="100" data-mce-src="http://media.timeout.com/images/102606978/image.jpg"> Howling Owl at Centrespace    The record label Howling Owl has left an unmistakable mark on the history of Bristol's music scene. It would simply feel wrong if one of their shows didn't make this list. Their third anniversary residency at the Centrespace Gallery was the kind that will go down in the history books. Feathers and beer cans littered the streets as some of cities most creative people celebrated the label we're proud to call our own.    Joy Division, Trinity Centre, March 5 1980    The Trinity Cen

As the craft beer revolution booms on, Bristol's local breweries keep embracing new ideas. Here are a few genius brews that have cropped up in the area recently that are well worth hunting down. Wild Beer Co's SourdoughWild Beer Co often live up to their name. Sourdough saw them team up with Hobbs House Bakery for this unusual number – after all, beer and bread have both been showing off the magic of yeast for thousands of years. Fifty-eight-year-old yeast is used here and after months of trial and error, this delicious Berliner Weisse style sour beer was born.  Wild Beer Co Arbor Ales' Chai Guy AleEaston's Arbor Ales have a pretty heavy rep when it comes to thinking outside the box and the Chai Guy Ale is probably one of their most forward-thinking brews yet. It's a collaboration with Arbor Brewing in Michigan, USA, which utilises English malts, American Hops and Indian Spices. They knocked on the door of Bristol's very own chai enthusiast Chai Guy to help with the recipe, then lovingly christened it after him.   A photo posted by HeavySoulBoy (@heavysoulpics) on Apr 4, 2015 at 11:30am PDT Wiper and True's Milk ShakeWiper and True have become notoriously brilliant over the last few years. Their slick white and gold branding is something to be cherished while you sup away on their many brews. Milk Shake was showcased a few months back at the The Beer Emporium's Tap Takeover. It uses sugar made from cow's milk, which gives it a sweet, creamy texture. This brew also us

You heard us right. Hold on to that old single to the Bristol bus depot, because there's a new monthly club night at Mr Wolf's where you can switch those fares for a cheeky drink.  The Night Bus takes place on the first Thursday of every month with the simple concept of bringing public transport together with old school hand jive, in turn bringing something new altogether to the clubbing scene. There's a bus conductor who frequently DJs, while patrons aboard the imaginary bus can switch their old tickets for shots of rum or spirits alike.  The music played is predominately Rock 'n' Roll, Swing and Ska but there is also a lot of Jump Blues and Northern Soul. It's a night that's sure to shake off that stigma of late, tiresome and gruelling public transport into something with more life and flair.  Mr Wolf's is currently moving location, so the next Night Bus returns on the first Thursday of July. In the meantime, try The Night Bus replacement service which runs every first Wednesday of the month in Bath. 

Saving that hard-earned dollar for the holidays? Not to worry, Bristol's packed with tantalising free music this month. Here's some shows that won't cost you a thing.    Ishan Sound, Trinity Centre, May 10 Trinity Centre's annual garden party returns this month bringing music, food and workshops. Ishan sound is just one of the many fruitful artists set to perform. Notably a founding member of the forward thinking musical collective Young Echo, we can be sure to expect melodic dubstep at its finest. The youngster often delivers moody sounds similar to that of Peveralist - plus with a recent appearance at the Outlook launch party under his belt, this is definitely a freebie worth hitting.    Repo-Man, Roll For The Soul, May 15  Noise pop is an incredibly satisfying entity and locals Repo-Man flawlessly back that notion. Tracks like 'Static Excess Strobe Effect' skulk with impassioned levels of confidence and attitude. The abrasive bunch are hitting the homely surroundings of Roll For The Soul this month alongside the more whimsical, slurring Motes. This one's guaranteed to leave the old ears ringing.   Summer Camp, Rise, May 18 As Summer Camp return with their third album under the legendary label Moshi Moshi, they're stopping by Rise for an intimate in-store this month. In order to bag a couple of free tickets for this one all you need to do is pre-order the record here. It only takes one listen to the new single 'Bad Love' and it will all click, you'll make the purchase in ha

It's back again on Saturday April 18 for perhaps its most controversial year ever, thanks to Bristol's own Howling Owl taking on the majors along with the reliably ace Sonic Cathedral. But Record Store Day is always a joyous occasion in Bristol, simply because, unlike many other big cities, we've got plenty of unique shops to celebrate it in. Here are a few pointers on how to come away with a successful haul and some fond memories… Wake up super earlyRock 'n' roll and music don't always go hand in hand with rising early, but for one day only it's an essential part of fandom. After all, you'll be gutted when you ask for The Wytches seven-inch single only to find they're long gone. Rise Records implemented a rather impressive raffle-ticket queuing system last year. You snooze, you lose.   A photo posted by Martin Blank (@martinblank) on Feb 24, 2015 at 3:29pm PST Don't just do one shop, hit a fewIf you're not an early bird then this will increase your chances of getting everything you want. Also, be sure to go to the markets and shops that aren't making a big deal of the day. While you might be desperate for that Warpaint 12-inch split with Daughter, the day is really about supporting the independents. So as well as Rise, Head and Idle Hands, remember to visit Wanted Records in St Nicholas Market and Plastic Wax on Gloucester Road. Hang aroundYou'll probably want to head home and doze for the rest of the day, but this could cost you some valuable in-store performances. Las

If you've spent all your money on Easter eggs, fear not. Here's some live music in April that won't cost you a thing… Stagfest, Stag and Hounds, April 2-5Now in its fourth year, the ear-pummelling alt-rock Stagfest is headed up by Gaz Brookfield, Idles and Death Pedals this time around. Other highlights appearing across the weekend include those gnarly skate-jokers The Gnarwhals and ramshackle rockers The Tame. Best year yet? It's highly likely. East India Youth, Rise Music, April 10It's not very often a Mercury-nominated artist rolls into town for a free show. East India Youth releases his second album, Culture of Volume, this month and is set to play an in-store at Rise Records in celebration of its arrival. William Doyle delivers probably the most intelligent yet heartfelt electronic music you'll hear at the moment and is well worth checking out. The Amazons, Start The Bus, April 14The Amazons are going to drop their sun-splashed pop tunes on Bristol this month. With recent exposure from Huw Stephens and XFM, it's not a hard one to call, this. If you're into the colourful sounds of Coasts, then this is a must-see. The band also return in May as part of a ruddy-good Dot to Dot line-up. LTNT, Stag and Hounds April 17There's just something satisfying about maxi-fuzzed guitars with gutsy vocals. LTNT, known as Lieutenant, are stopping by the fitting Stag and Hounds venue to trial-run some new tracks. Nothing wrong with some serious heaviosity now and again. Ekkah       Showc

Bristol isn't lacking places to find a good cuppa, but there's one place – well, not a place exactly – that you'll be hard pushed to beat. Steve Baker is better known as Bristol chai wallah, Bristol Chai-Guy. He decided to throw in the towel at his engineering job while honeymooning across Italy, Nepal and India a few years ago after discovering a love of tea that goes way beyond the usual fondness for PG Tips. 'It played such a big part in our travels, from freshly steamed momos to piping-hot chai in a Himalayan tea hut,' says Steve. 'We drank chai everywhere – cities, beaches, mountains and especially on the trains. We were just addicted to it.' He quickly realised that there's much more to life than slogging away at something you don't enjoy, so with a lot of practice and dedication his business – and his closely guarded chai recipe – was born.   It took Steve months to find the perfect whole spice blend but if the response from the people of Bristol is anything to go by, it's been a huge success. Now he knows his stuff, finding his lovingly refurbished rickshaw is a real treat.  Where can you find the Bristol Chai-Guy, then? He's most likely to be found at the Bristol Harbourside Market, Tobacco Factory and the Temple Quay Market. But the best way to guarantee yourself one of his satisfying cuppas is to follow him on Twitter, where he posts daily updates about the tricycle's whereabouts. All of this chai business has left him with a burning desire to get back to India, b

Bristol is awash with musical talent right now. Whether it's old faces returning or new artists laying down their first demos, the scene is sounding ridiculously promising. Here's some new music worthy of your lugholes. SpectresSpectres have always had a reputation for delivering dark, intense, feedback-strafed songs. Now though, the four-piece have finally caught the attention of the national press, and well, the band are barely half-arsed about in their own charming way. Their debut album Dying dropped in early March on the reliably ace Sonic Cathedral label and is being picked up by people craving something other than the same old indie-rock. IdlesIdles have earned themselves a special place in the thumping heart of the Bristol scene. They've gone from the alternative thrills of their Welcome EP to the full-speed punk sound we're hearing on tracks like Queens. Seeing the band live is always something to behold, as frontman Joe Talbot swigs Buckfast and looks like he's about to throttle someone. The band headline Stagfest on April 4 and support Denmark's Iceage at The Fleece on May 5. Rebecca ClementsYou'll come close to dropping tears in your pint if you catch one of this 20-year-old's impassioned live shows. Lovechild led the way for a slew of emotive singles last year. Now though, Rebecca's writing again and we're itching to hear her next batch of songs. Already adored by the BBC Introducing guys, other notable songs include Coma Boy and Wildlife. It's well worth catch

As ever there's loads of great stuff passing through Bristol in March, including a whole host of gigs and goings-on that have the cash-strapped in mind. Here are a few shows that won't cost you a penny. Nada. Nothing. So no excuses, right? R.Seiliog + Kayla Painter, Crofter's Rights, March 10Expect all kinds of genius as R.Seiliog brings his latest album, In Hz, to town. Operating from Cardiff, the Turnstile-signed producer is best known for fusing the looping, circular riffs of Krautrock's Neu! with frayed-at-the-edges techno. Support comes from local Kayla Painter who's heavily inspired by Bristol's bass scene. For free entry, 'like' the Ascent Facebook page. Sealings + Lower Slaughter, Roll for the Soul, March 12Brighton is responsible for birthing many fantastic noise bands and now two of its latest, Sealings and Lower Slaughter, are hitting town. This show promises to be unsettling in all the right ways – manic, messy and loud. Head down to the community-run café Roll for the Soul to enjoy a noisy double bill in unique, bike-related surroundings.  Jolta, The Mothers' Ruin, March 12There's further alternative rock from Brighton the following night, too. Jolta channel a classic indie-rock sound, with touch of blues, that should appeal to fans of Miles Kane and beyond. Scribble 'N' Scratch, Big Chill, March 13Never one to disappoint, this night of illustration and hip hop returns. Taking to the decks is Habitus, who mines a rich seam of funk and jazz through the ages. All o