Dot To Dot Festival 2019 - Five key performances to watch out for
Posted on: 20 May 2019The much-loved Dot To Dot Festival is making an eagerly-awaited return to Bristol this weekend, making use of some of the city's favourite venues to bring a full day of live music from some of the most exciting upcoming acts in the UK right now. This year's lineup is bigger than ever and you might not always know who to opt for when clashes inevitably happen, so see below for a quick rundown of five unmissable performances at Dot To Dot 2019.
Farebrother // 3.15pm, Rough Trade
Bath-based indie-rock group Farebrother have, in a short time, established themselves as one of the standout newcomers in the South West. Having had a busy couple of years in 2018 and 2019 with the release of acclaimed singles 'Rewind', 'A Little Late' and, most recently, 'I'd Be The Worst' as well as playing a string of well-received live shows, the band are certainly making their mark on the music scene, both locally and further afield.
Mercy's Cartel // 4pm, The Louisiana
Having started out as a producer, Bristol-based Mercy's Cartel has since tried her hand at songwriting and live performance, with mesmerising results. It was BBC Introducing who outed Mercy as a solo artist in her own right in 2017, and rightly so - she brings a cool poise to her unique take on R&B, with clever backing arrangements that give an ever-so-subtle nod to her Bristolian surroundings. If you're not already familiar, you can get to know Mercy's Cartel a little bit better ahead of her Saturday afternoon performance at The Louisiana through our interview with her as part of the Sounds of Bristol series in early 2018.
Swim Deep // 8.15pm, O2 Academy Bristol
Brummie five-piece Swim Deep are no strangers to Dot To Dot, and will be playing the festival once more in 2019 as they prepare for an evening slot at the O2 Academy. Despite a tumultuous few years since their inception which have seen several changes made to the lineup, the band have had time to refine their sound in their current form and are well-travelled when it comes to performing live. To date the band have released two full studio albums, Where The Heaven Are We in 2013 and 2015's Mothers, with work on a third album confirmed in 2018.
Jordan Rakei // 9.45pm, SWX
New Zealand-born singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist has gained attention in the UK in recent years, primarily through his acclaimed collaborations with Tom Misch and Loyle Carner. He has, in fact, been releasing his own music since 2013, and also has production credits from work with FKJ and Disclosure. Signed to world-renowned label Ninja Tune, Rakei recently announced on Instagram that work was underway on a brand-new album, Origin, due for release next month. His polished vocals and accomplished musicianship certainly make him one to watch in the UK, and you can catch him live at SWX on Saturday evening.
Cousin Kula // 12.45am, Hy-Brasil Music Club
Cousin Kula are quickly winning over more and more fans outside their native Bristol, where they've already established a firm fan base. Their brand of quintessentially British-sounding psych-pop blends strong vocals, rich synths and accomplished production, and the band has already supported the likes of The Kooks and Dutch Uncles. No lineup celebrating Bristol music would be complete without Cousin Kula involved in some capacity, so don't miss them closing proceedings at Hy-Brasil on Saturday night.
Tickets for Dot To Dot Festival 2019 on Saturday 25th May are on sale now and can be found here. For more information on this year's festival or to follow ticketing and lineup updates, visit their website or check out their Facebook page.
Article by:
Editor - 365Bristol.com & LOUD Magazine
Matt is a Journalism graduate and writer, passionate about supporting Bristol music, art and independent business. Get in touch via email at matt@365bristol.com.
