Bristol's Indie Festival Lights Up Venues Amid Tough Times

The Simple Things festival is making its return to Bristol this weekend, bringing a variety of bands and artists to independent venues across the city. This event is seen as a lifeline for Bristol's music scene, especially as many local venues are struggling to stay open. Promoters and venue owners have admitted that live music is facing a very challenging time, with the cost of living crisis making it harder for people to spend money on entertainment. Leigh Dennis, who runs the venue Strange Brew, explained that running a music venue is never easy, but it has become even more difficult lately. He said that when people need to save money, going out and buying drinks is often the first thing they cut from their budgets. This means fewer people are coming to shows, which affects his business and others like it.

Tom Frost, co-founder of Crack magazine and the Simple Things festival, believes that events like this help shine a light on the city's musical spaces. He enjoys seeing people wander from venue to venue, discovering new music and experiencing Bristol in a unique way. Alfie Hay, a member of the band HAAL who will be performing at the festival, said that Bristol is the best place for music in the UK. He feels that the city always offers something new and exciting, and that Simple Things helps foster a strong sense of community among music lovers. Alfie thinks that anyone attending the festival will find something that intrigues them, whether it's a new band or a different style of music.

Matt Aitken, programme director at Bristol Beacon, added that Bristol is known for its DIY and experimental approach to music. He said the festival tries to give a platform to experimental artists and encourages people to explore different spaces in the city. Matt mentioned that one unique venue for the festival is the former IMAX cinema at the Aquarium, which will host a DIY video shop. He explained that the festival's goal is to bring artists to places where you wouldn't normally expect to see them, creating new experiences for both performers and audiences. Despite the challenges facing live music, the Simple Things festival is helping to keep Bristol's music scene vibrant and alive.