Bristol Sounds 2022: The War On Drugs

Bristol Sounds 2022: The War On Drugs

Posted on: 23 May 2022

The indie-rock lynchpins will arrive in the Westcountry fresh from the release of their fifth studio album.

 

Bristol Sounds is making a welcome return to the open-air Lloyds Amphitheatre in June, with high-profile live shows set to take place nightly from Wednesday 22 to Monday 27.

 

Rounding off festivities on the final night, hugely popular seven-piece The War on Drugs are set to headline their biggest Bristol show to date, with support provided by Nashville singer-songwriter Soccer Mommy.

 

A handful of tickets remain - find out more and get yours via the link below.

 

BUY TICKETS HERE

 

 

The band was founded in 2005 by frontman Adam Granduciel and now renowned singer-songwriter Kurt Vile following the pair's first meeting at a party in 2003.

 

Over the following years, The War On Drugs began to make a name for themselves through their epic, yet DIY, live shows and debut EP, Barrel of Batteries; eventually signing for respected indie label Secret Canadian in 2008. Vile left the band the same year.

 

Mini album Future Weather followed in 2010 but it was 2011’s Slave Ambient that gained the outfit their first taste of widespread critical acclaim. Lost in the Dream followed in 2014, further cultivating worldwide acclaim and debuting high in the US charts.

 

After two years of constant touring and a brief hiatus, the band returned in 2017 with A Deeper Understanding, their most popular release to date. The record saw The War On Drugs win the 2018 Grammy Award for Best Rock Album.

 

Their most recent album, I Don’t Live Here Anymore, came out in October 2021 to sweeping praise from fans and established publications alike.

 

Stylistically, The War On Drugs build on the American rock tradition with a brand of heartland rock that incorporates elements of psychedelia and a grand-scale sound that echoes the work of Sonic Youth and Tom Petty.

 

The band will be touring the world extensively with shows scheduled all the way up to mid-October.

The seven-piece, who have not played in Bristol since a trip to O2 Academy Bristol in 2014, will be joined on this occasion by Soccer Mommy.

 

Known for her melancholic brand of indie rock, attendees can expect angular, catchy guitar and relatable, observational lyrics – perfect for a summer evening on the Harbourside.

 

Bristol Sounds features shows from Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, Paulo Nutini (sold out), Elbow, Jungle and First Aid Kit as well as The War On Drugs.

 

Tickets for The War On Drugs gig at Bristol Harbourside on Monday 27 June are on sale now and can be found here.

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Article by:

Stanley Gray

Stan is a born and bred Bristolian, recently graduated from studying English Literature in Sheffield. His passions are music and literature and he spends the majority of his time in venues all over the city, immersing himself in Bristol’s alternative music scene. A lifelong Bristol City fan, Stan’s Saturdays are spent watching his team both home and away.