Oh Bristol, you beautiful harbor city. There’s a rich maritime history in that town on River Avon—there’s also quite the creative community of artists (Bristol’s in fact the hometown of Banksy). There’s spoken word, dreamy folk, meditative instrumental loops, and so much more from these amazing Bristol artists. Here are five we think you should know, asap.
1. boci
It’s easy to get lost in boci’s hypnotic violin loops. The artist has been hard at work practicing the technique, and as you can see in this gorgeous, almost cinematic performance of “Stories”, the work has certainly paid off.
2. Komposa
Komposa is a staple of the Bristol music scene. In this stripped-down acoustic performance of “High”, we get the chance to really see the artist’s lightning quick verses come to life.
3. Solomon O.B
As you might know, Sofar artists aren’t just musicians, but spoken-word performers as well. Solomon O.B. is one of those powerful speakers. The emcee, slam champion, and Sofar artist gave this captivating performance where he occasionally veers from the mic, but you’re so gripped that you find yourself leaning into the screen, sticking with every moment.
4. Anna Colette
England has quite the reputation for its abundance of good folk music. Anna Colette brings her own sound to the mix with this tender, dreamy performance of “Piece of Me”, edged with that slight guitar effect that almost gives the performance a sort of cool, breezy tone. Take a listen for yourself (and sidenote, you might also catch Anna MCing a Sofar performance, as she’s part of the crew community as well).
5. Brook Tate
We’ve had the pleasure of watching Brook Tate continue to evolve as an artist. The painter, writer, and musician has been playing Sofar shows since 2018, along with creating musicals based on books he’s written and illustrated. But before you dive into his wide catalog of work, start with this light and airy folky performance of “Little Handle”.
Words by Sofar Editorial Team
Photo credit: boci performing Sofar London, photo by Austeja Gudziunaite
