The Louisiana, Bristol is giving up-and-coming and established ILLUSTRATORS, VIDEO ARTISTS, PHOTOGRAPHERS AND FINE ARTISTS the chance to showcase their work for up to 3 weeks.

It’s FREE TO EXHIBIT with us and we won’t be taking any commission on sales.

Whether you have JUST ONE PIECE OR ENOUGH FOR A WHOLE EXHIBITION, we are willing to give you a go.

Your art doesn’t need to be sellable, we just want to SHOW IT OFF TO THE WORLD!

PRIVATE VIEWINGS WILL NOT COST YOU ANYTHING; we want to support you in any way we can.

TRAFFIC through the venue is usually PRETTY SUBSTANTIAL, with sell-out gigs taking place all week, upstairs.

GROUND FLOOR AVAILABLE FREE OF CHARGE for any art related event (subject to avail.) : Degree fundraisers/ exhibitions etc (you can charge on the door)

FURTHER INFO:
We accept both group and solo shows.
Opening Hours: Noon-3pm, 5.30pm-Midnight
All work must be shown to us before it’s exhibition
Size limits: please organise a viewing of the space
White exhibition space.
subject to availability.

FOR MORE INFO, PLEASE CONTACT
art@thelouisiana.net

Dance pop duo Chew Lips will release their new single ‘Do You Chew?’ on 11th June through the bands own label Family Records, as part of a new deal with Sony Music.

Free download of ‘Do You Chew?’ available at: www.soundcloud.com/chewlips/chew-lips-do-you-chew

Following the release of their debut album ‘Unicorn’ in 2010 and the hyped sold out singles ‘Solo’ and ‘Salt Air’ both released via Kitsune, Chew Lips became one of the most talked about new bands with glowing reviews across the media. Releasing their record independently, Chew Lips have always had a very DIY essence to them, which is something they are keen to continue now that they have signed their own label to Sony Music earlier this year.

The new single ‘Do You Chew?’ from their forthcoming second album, is an undeniably cool pop song which takes the sweetness of a trademark Chew Lips’ melody and mixes it with the streetness of an R’n’B beat backed by ridiculously catchy vocals. It is instant, unique, punchy and very now.

Chew Lips consist of vocalist and uber-cool frontwoman Tigs and multi-instrumentalist James Watkins. The band formed in 2009 after the pair had been in indie bands but then had the desire to form something new, something pop and something exciting. The band are currently putting the finishing touches to their second, as yet untitled album, which will be released in late 2012 with the first glimpse of their new record coming with ‘Do You Chew?’.

Chew Lips will be touring in the UK from May onwards. Live, they are a blast of energy and exhilaration and these dates will see them preview some of their new tracks along with old favourites from their first album.

+ Special Guests

The Louisiana website:
www.thelouisiana.net

TICKETS:

£8adv | 16+

www.ticketweb.co.uk/user/?region=gb_south&query=detail&event=508145

www.bristolticketshop.co.uk/cgi-bin/shop.cgi?group=Fleece

www.seetickets.com/see/price.asp?code=638279

A night of infectious instrumental music by three of the south west’s most infectious hip hop to fusion based bands!

Thelonius
Thelonius is a five piece hip-hop/jazz band based in Bristol UK performing a mix of originals, classics from the golden age of hip-hop and some nasty jazz tunes. Imagine if Mr Monk and A Tribe Called Quest, with J Dilla in tow, all ended up in a small smoky jazz club in Prague. That’s Thelonius.

Voodoo
Voodoo was born of a desire to resurrect the forgotten grooves of the modern era. The trio features renowned south west musicians Andy Nowak (keys/synths), Richie Blake (bass) and Danny Cox (drums), who will be exploring tunes from greats such as D’Angelo, Jill Scott and Stevie Wonder.

The Bad Hands
A dual guitar-led powerhouse fusion band based in the south west that focuses as much on groove and melody as instrumental virtuosity. Comprising Jason Sidwell (guitar), Stuart Ryan (guitar), Stuart Clayton (bass) and Marco (drums), The Bad Hands will perform burning fusion classics by Stevie Wonder and Jeff Beck alongside infectious grooves that rework material by John Scofield, Fourplay and The Average White Band.

Artmagic is guitarist Richard Oakes and producer / vocalist Sean McGhee.

Richard Oakes is best known for his work as guitarist and songwriter with Suede. Sean McGhee has recorded and mixed #1 singles for Britney Spears, sung with Alanis Morissette, and worked with Robyn, Sugababes and Imogen Heap.

Their debut EP, “I Keep On Walking” is available now at iTunes, Amazon, 7Digital, Spotify and Bandcamp.

ENTRY//£5adv

Peter & The Harmonics are an acoustic folk four-piece from the South West who write songs inspired by the likes of Neil Young, Belle & Sebastian and Simon & Garfunkel.
Biography
With a discernible pop sensibility, their songs chime with catchy melodies throughout. The band is building a buzz in the South West and London for their blissful four-part harmonies and heart on sleeve lyrics.

New to 2012 is their debut EP ‘Over Me’, a song that meddles with melancholy and optimism in the same breath. A soft release of the single was played by Steve Lamacq on his Radio 2 show, as well as being daytime play-listed on BBC Radio Bristol. More recently the band made the longlist for MTVs Brand New for 2012 competition and were also invited to perform an acoustic session for BBC Bristol Introducing.

DOT TO DOT FESTIVAL 2012 for BRISTOL

Saturday 2nd June 2012. 1pm – 4am.

A Plastic Rose
Admiral Fallow
All The Young
*Bastille
Beth Jeans Houghton
Bondax
Broken Hands
Clock Opera
*Cloud Nothings
Deaf Club
Dirty Goods
*Dog is Dead
Doldrums
Eugene Francis Jr
Eyes on Film
Here We Go Magic
*Hooray for Earth
Hyde & Beast
Islet
Jake Bugg
Josh Kumra
Kwes
Kyla La Grange
Last Dinosaurs
Lewis Watson
*Lucy Rose
Lulu James
Mary Epworth
Murray James
O Children
Olugbenga (Metronomy)
Patterns
Peace
Pearl & The Beard
Pond
*Pulled Apart by Horses
Rae Morris
*Random Impulse
*Ryan Keen
Scoundrels
Seasfire
Summer Camp
Swiss Lips
*The Drums
The Dunwells
The Hundred in the Hands
The Night
The Other Tribe
The Rumour Said Fire
ThePetebox
Turbowolf
Two Wounded Birds
Vadoinmessico
Wavves
Willis Earl Beal
Willy Mason
*Wonder Villains

Venues
Bristol O2 Academy/Thekla/Louisiana/Trinity/Fleece/The Cooler/Start The Bus
* denotes guaranteed to be available to 14+
Ticket price
£20

Age restrictions
———————
14+ –  under 18s guaranteed to be able to see

http://www.dottodotfestival.co.uk / fb.com/dottodotfestival / #d2dfest

? An eclectic mix of innovative, ground-breaking acts manage to secure the festival’s spirit and provide the musical kudos.- Virtual Festivals

? ‘A forest of new stars, old favourites and plenty of mischief at one of the UK’s fastest rising festivals’ – NME

? ‘With a stunning bill and venues within yards of one another we’ll leave you to join the dots.’ – Clash

Dot To Dot, the UKs only tri-city traveling festival returns for 2012 announcing its first salvo of must-see artists. Renowned in its seven year history for offering guaranteed crowd-pleasing bands alongside the first live glimpses of some of today’s biggest acts, which have included double Brits winner Ed Sheeran, The xx, Florence & The Machine, The Naked and Famous, Friendly Fires, Laura Marling and Mumford & Sons, this year’s multi-venue event will take place across the Diamond Jubilee bank holiday weekend, visiting Bristol on June 2nd, Nottingham on June 3rd, making its triumphant finale in Manchester on June 4th.

Dot To Dot Organiser Anton Lockwood commented: “More than ever Dot To Dot 2012 will see a great line up of exciting new music alongside the hottest live acts at the moment. Our first announcement of indie titans The Drums and fast rising rockers Pulled Apart by Horses sets the tone for Bristol, Nottingham and Manchester to each have a great day of fresh and exciting music.”

Kicking off this year’s line-up are one of the biggest success stories of recent years, The Drums. Previous recipients of the NME’s coveted Philip Hall Radar Award, their eponymous debut album and follow up, Portamento, have singled them out as one of the most acclaimed bands around, making them a sure-fire hit for Dot To Dot 2012. Adding a fiery edge to proceedings, co-headliners Pulled Apart By Horses will be showcasing their incendiary live show across Dot To Dot’s three home cities this year. With their second album, Tough Love cementing their reputation as one of the UKs most essential bands, the Leeds post-hardcore four-piece have been described by the Observer as ‘the best live band in Britain’ so they’re certain to captivate the crowds.

Other acts set to traverse the triumvirate of cities include timeless folkster Willy Mason, whose recent hook up with Lianne La Havas opened him up to a whole new audience, Nottingham art-pop quintet and fast-rising stars, Dog Is Dead, bliss-drenched duo Summer Camp and Bombay Bicycle Club collaborator Lucy Rose. And there are still many more acts to be announced in the coming months.

With an illustrious musical heritage that has given thousands of music fans the opportunity to catch future stadium fillers and the most exciting acts around in intimate surrounds, Dot To Dot’s track record for musical discovery is second to none. And what’s more tickets, which give you access to the entire bill across all the venues are incredible value for money, currently priced at just £20 per day, so what are you waiting for?

Tickets are now on sale:

Bristol: £20

Visit for all ticket info

For more information about Dot To Dot Festival please contact Get Involved – 020 7604 2944
Bristol O2 Academy/Thekla/Louisiana/Trinity/Fleece/The Cooler/Start The Bus

Neal Casal’s debut record, Fade Away Diamond Time, was released in 1995 to much critical acclaim. Produced by Jim Scott (Wilco, Tom Petty, Johnny Cash) in a sprawling mansion in the hills of Santa Ynez, California, the album introduced the intimate songwriting and lyrical guitar work that would become the foundation of his career. In between recording and touring with other artists such as Beachwood Sparks, Vetiver, Fruit Bats, Lucinda Williams, The Jayhawks, Gin Wigmore and Rufus Wainwright, Casal managed to record multiple solo releases, including 1996′s Rain, Wind, and Speed and 1998′s Basement Dreams, both of which have recently been reissued with discs of bonus material by Fargo Records. MOJO recently wrote, “What made [Basement Dreams] so compelling was the tone, the simplicity and economy with which Casal approached each song and the naturalness with which he inhabits them… pieces of singer-songwriter perfection.

Neal Casal’s 10th solo record, Sweeten the Distance, was recorded with noted producer Thom Monahan (Devendra Banhart, Vetiver, Pernice Brothers, Lavender Diamond). While listeners will recognize Casal’s strong yet understated vocals, his acoustic-driven melodies have been amplified by complex sonic layers, resulting in a new, expansive sound that is the culmination of this prolific songwriter’s multifaceted catalog.

Casal is also known as the lead guitarist of Ryan Adams and the Cardinals, with whom he recorded four albums: Easy Tiger (which reached #7 on the Billboard chart), Follow the Lights, Cardinology and III/IV. His time in the band led to working with such luminaries as Willie Nelson and Phil Lesh and allowed another talent to be revealed when he released his first photography collection, Ryan Adams and the Cardinals: A View of Other Windows. In this lavishly produced volume, Casal captured not only the exhilaration of the stage and studio but also the harsh realities of life on the road and the creative process. Internationally lauded for his thoughtful and evocative photography both of the Cardinals and of more personal subjects, Casal described the process of creating his photographs as “the songs I cannot write; the music I hear in my head, but can’t yet play.” His photos were the subject of a solo exhibition at the Bauhaus Gallery in Tokyo in 2008 and have appeared in many magazines, such as MOJO, Harp, Rolling Stone, and Spin.

After the Cardinals went on hiatus in 2009, Casal moved his home base from New York to Southern California, where he has worked on a variety of projects. He released the self-produced solo effort Roots & Wings, Connections–the third album by his rock-and-roll band Hazy Malaze –  and played guitar on Ryan Adams’ newest release, Ashes And Fire. 

In early 2011, Neal joined forces with Black Crowes’ frontman Chris Robinson’s new band, The Chris Robinson Brotherhood, as lead guitarist. The band has been touring throughout 2011 and are now making plans to record their debut album.

Renowned for her warm, engaging stage presence, Sarah McQuaid is a versatile and beguiling performer. In addition to her own elegantly crafted originals, she interprets traditional Irish and Appalachian folk songs, Elizabethan ballads, 1930s jazz numbers, surprise covers and lively guitar instrumentals with panache and poignance.

Dan Ashton – Untypical songwriter

**** “Jake Morley and his impressive band more than have what it takes” The Independent
9/10 “There will be nothing to stop this guy” Virgin Music
“This is music to cherish” MusicRiot
“A superb show even for myself, a newcomer to his music” AllGigs
“There is no one out there at the moment that even comes close to what Jake is doing” WooHoo Music

PUSSYCAT AND THE DIRTY JOHNSONS-sounding like theYEAHYEAHYEAHS
Karen O fronting THE RAMONES after a seriuos cough syrup binge,PADJ’s
play slowed down,lewd and crude garage punk-rock’n'roll as evidenced on album ‘Excercise Your Demons’.Heavy doses of melody atop grinding guitar lines,this band will grab your attention…fast!-vive le rock mag

FUCKING ACE-chris mitchard.

THE DYNAMITE PUSSY CLUB-Check it out now,the punk soul brothers.Swirling in a whirlpool of soul,funk and garagerock,the DPC might just be the next in line for the crown Of Jim Jones Revue if they keep this up.-Vive Le Rock

Debut album’CHURCH OF YEAH’ out April.2012.

RADIO NASTIES-Buzzcocks fastpaced beatpunk garage aceness.Featuring Turbowolfs bass player and some kickass tunes.

LOFI HIFI PRESENT: BEAR IN HEAVEN
ENTRY//£8adv

Bear in Heaven is a Brooklyn-based rock band formed by Jon Philpot. The sound of the band incorporates influences from psychedelic music, electronic music, and krautrock.

Jon Philpot has previously released music as part of the duo Presocratics, in collaboration with guitarist and composer Need Thomas Windham. Presocratics released two albums on the record label Table of the Elements in 2001; both were produced by Philpot.

The first Bear in Heaven release (Tunes Nextdoor to Songs, Eastern Developments 2003) was an EP of solo recordings by Philpot, with guest musicians performing on various instruments. Shortly after the release of Tunes Nextdoor to Songs, Philpot joined with guitarist Adam Wills, keyboardist/guitarist Sadek Bazarra (a graphic designer with Brooklyn design collective GH avisualagency), guitarist David Daniell (of San Agustin), and bassist James Elliott (Ateleia, School of Seven Bells). Eventually drummer Joe Stickney (formerly of Perpetual Groove, drummer with Paul Duncan, Rhys Chatham’s Essentialist project, and current touring drummer with Panthers) was added to the lineup. Daniell left Bear in Heaven in 2005 to focus on his solo project. In 2006 they did a Take-Away Show video session shot by Vincent Moon.

Red Bloom of the Boom, Bear in Heaven’s first full-length album with the full band, was released in 2007 by the Hometapes record label.

Elliott left the band after the completion of the recordings of Red Bloom of the Boom to focus on School of Seven Bells and his solo project, Ateleia. Bear in Heaven now performs as a four-piece with Philpot on vocals, guitar and keyboards; Wills on guitar and bass; Bazarra on bass and keyboards; and Stickney on drums.

Their most recent album, Beast Rest Forth Mouth, received the “Best New Music” award from Pitchfork Media, with the reviewer stating: “Beast Rest Forth Mouth is as familiar-feeling as it is difficult to pinpoint. Mostly made up of textural, spacious three- to four-minute pop anthems with towering choruses, BRFM is a welcome reminder that an album doesn’t have to be bombastic to feel huge and important. Take out the earbuds and let it fill a space: This is music that’s bigger than your iPod—music you’ll want to feel all around you. Though not quite coming out of nowhere, BRFM seems like a surprise gift—a striking consolidation of the spiky psych-prog tendencies of their debut into a pop framework.”

New album ‘Human Don’t Be Angry’ released April 16 on Chemical Underground

Former Arab Strap guitarist Malcolm Middleton returns to Glasgow’s seminal alternative label Chemikal Underground in 2012 with his self-titled debut album as Human Don’t Be Angry. Named in honour of the German version of board game Frustration (“Mensch ärgere Dich nicht”), the album was recorded at Chem19 studios during October 2011 alongside producer and drum programmer Paul Savage, with live drum parts from Middleton’s old Arab Strap partner Aidan Moffat.

‘HDBA is a facade, a front so I can have fun again musically,’ says Middleton, who describes himself as having felt bored and restricted by what he jokingly refers to as the ‘heart-on-sleeve complaining’ of his solo work. ‘I thought I’d go back to what I enjoy,’ he says, ‘which is playing guitar and writing melodies.’

The original idea to create an album of gentle guitar instrumentals and drum-free ambient atmospherics was soon put paid to when Middleton entered the studio with Savage, as drum tracks were added and lyrics emerged for some of the songs, albeit often as poetic repetitions of phrases rather than structured verse-chorus-verse affairs. The words fit with the laid-back air of the music and help showcase Middleton’s often under-rated skill as a guitarist, leaving the sense that he’s made ‘more of an album I’d want to listen to than the one I thought I wanted to make.’

MARTIN JOHN HENRY

www.gargleblastrecords.com, www.facebook.com/martinjhenry, twitter.com/martinjohnhenry

Photograph by Mirja Kofler

MUGSTAR / ISOLA / SVALBARD
ENTRY//£6adv

Bio:
Mugstar are the sound of 10,000 suns exploding, pulsing with repetitive beauty, pounding like a supersonic mantra with shades of Sonic Youth, Neu!, Oneida and Pink Floyd. Mugstar’s new album ‘Lime” is released on Important Records in October 2010. Contact mugstar383@hotmail.com
DISCOGRAPHY:
“Spotlght Over Memphis” 7″ Critical MASS Records 2003
“Flavin’ Hot Rod” 7″ Critical MASS Records 2004
“Peel Session” BBC Radio One Session for John Peel June 2004
Split 7″ w. Hunting Lodge Farm Girl Records 2004
“Dark Matter” mini album Kabukikore Records 2004
“Trail” Singles Comp. Critical MASS Records 2005
“Super X” Split CD with My Way My Love 2005 (Japan only release)
“One Music Session” BBC Radio One for Huw Stevens August 2005
“My Baby Skull Has Not Yet Flowered” 7″ Lancashire & Somerset Records 2006
“Mugstar” CD Album Sea Records 2006
“Mugstar” Vinyl Album Critical MASS Records 2007
“Bethany Heart Star” 7″ Trensmat Records 2007
Split 7″ w. Mudhoney Trensmat Records 2008
“Tam Lin” Split 10″ w. Red Panda Lancashire and Somerset Records 2008
“Today Is The Wrong Shape” 7″ Trensmat Records 2009
“Sun, Broken” Album Important Records 2010
“Red Shift” 7″ Champion Version Records 2010
‘Lime’ New Album Important Records October 2010

Beth Porter is an in-demand cellist, based in Bath, UK. She has over 60 album credits on a wide spectrum of genres, from Eliza Carthy to Kula Shaker and plays regularly with a number of artists, as well as teaching, session work and her own project, Beth Porter and the Availables.

Killing No Murder are a four piece acoustic folk group with an indie mindset from the town of Trowbridge, Wiltshire in the South West of England.

The name Killing No Murder comes from the bands interest in history, and refers to a pamphlet from 1657 which advocates the assassination of Oliver Cromwell during the English civil war.

Formed in November 2010 by lifelong friends, vocalist Lu Cooper and guitarist Cailean Hunt, they play a mix of self penned traditional and contemporary folk songs – some foot stomping and some mellow. Talented singer songwriter Chris Hoar and accomplished multi-instrumentalist David Moss joined the band early in 2011 to complete the line up.

They have been performing in their local area which has always had a great music scene and have also played some fantastic gigs in Bristol throughout the summer.

After spending the first few months writing and gigging, they have just released their debut EP ‘Vagabond Soul’. Recorded in October, it features five original tracks and is now available from their website as well as mainstream distribution channels such as iTunes and Amazon. 2012 is already looking to be a busy year for the band who as well as writing new material will be looking to play more gigs all across the UK, including a performance at the highly regarded Village Pump Folk Festival in the summer where they will be joining the likes of Seth Lakeman and Cara Dillon. To find out more about the band you can visit their website www.killingnomurder.co.uk or find them on Facebook and Twitter.

THE HIT UPS / ABANDON MUTE / DEAD ELMS
ENTRY//£4adv

DOT TO DOT FESTIVAL UNVEILS
FIRST ACTS FOR 2011

HURTS
(Best New Band – NME Awards)

THE NAKED AND FAMOUS
(Philip Hall Radar Award – NME Awards)

DARWIN DEEZ (Manchester only)
THE JOY FORMIDABLE
…AND YOU WILL KNOW US BY THE TRAIL OF DEAD (Bristol & Nottingham)
ED SHEERAN
THE PHOENIX FOUNDATION
SBTRKT
TOTALLY ENORMOUS EXTINCT DINOSAURS
CULTS
BENJAMIN FRANCIS LEFTWICH
BRAIDS
ALPINES
DOM
WOLF GANG
BLAWAN
BEN HOWARD
ROYAL REPUBLIC

Bristol: Saturday 28th May 2011
Nottingham: Sunday 29th May 2011
Manchester: Monday 30th May 2011

http://www.dottodotfestival.co.uk

Dot to Dot offers a unique experience for festival-goers and artists alike’ – efestivals

‘A forest of new stars, old favourites and plenty of mischief at one of the UK’s fastest rising festivals’ – NME

‘With a stunning bill and venues within yards of one another we’ll leave you to join the dots.’ – Clash

Having expanded to a three-day event last year, Dot to Dot Festival is set to take over three of Britain’s musical hubs as part of what has quickly become the leading urban music festival in the country. Manchester, Nottingham and Bristol will continue the event’s tradition in hosting some of the most exciting up-and-coming artists and on the strength of the seven names we can now announce, there is no let up in the depth of talent which will be on show.

Dot To Dot Event Organiser Anton Lockwood Commented: ‘2011 is shaping up to be the best Dot To Dot ever. We’re really excited to have the UK’s most stylish avant-garde electronic pop act Hurts headlining the festival. And, this is just the tip of the iceberg as we have many more fantastic established and up and coming acts from around the world still to be announced.’

Headlining this year’s Dot to Dot are Hurts. The Manchester duo had a fantastic 2010 with their debut album, ‘Happiness’, going Gold, peaking at number four in the Official UK charts as well as selling out their headline UK tour. The synth-pop act have won a number of high profile fans after coming fourth in the BBC Sound of 2010 poll from the NME to Scissor Sisters who they supported on tour last year.

The Naked and Famous are also set to delight Dot to Dot audiences in 2011. The New Zealanders will play the event off the back of a huge British, European and American tour which is showcasing their ‘Passive Me, Aggressive You’ album. Impressive Nashville Teddy Boy-rockers, Mona, are confirmed for the 3-day, 3-city event. With their guitar layered tracks, lead singer Nick Brown has even declared they will be “bigger than Bono” which sets a standard for their future ambitions.

Stepping up the tempo and also highlighting the diversity of artists Dot to Dot attracts will be Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs. Under the tutorledge of Hot Chip’s Joe Goddard on the Greco-Roman label, it should be an opportunity to hear some of his hotly anticipated album material which is due out later this year. UK singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran is also taking the stage in all three cities, as are New Zealand’s finest, The Phoenix Foundation, showcasing tracks from their acclaimed ‘Buffalo’ album while Darwin Deez is playing an exclusive set on the Manchester leg.

With a deserved reputation as the festival that showcases the freshest bands around, Dot To Dot will be announcing even more boundary pushing acts in the near future, who will join the ranks of Friendly Fires, Ladyhawke, The Temper Trap, Patrick Wolf, Mystery Jets, Ellie Goulding, The Hold Steady, The XX, 65daysofstatic, Annie Mac, Kissy Sell Out, Little Boots,Marina And The Diamonds, Mumford & Sons, Klaxons, Gallows, Spiritualized, Late Of The Pier, Los Capmpesinos!, Laura Marling, British Sea Power, Foals, Jakwob, Egyptian Hip Hop, Santogold, Glasvegas, Kano, Erol Alkan, Frank Turner…and many more who have all previously made early career appearances at Dot To Dot Festival.

Tickets are now on sale:

Bristol: £25
Nottingham: £25
Manchester £20

Visit http://www.dottodotfestival.co.uk/ for all ticket info

For more information about Dot To Dot Festival please contact Get Involved – 020 7604 2944

Print/Broadcast: Katy Emami / Aidan Byrne – katy@getinvolvedltd.com / aidan@getinvolvedltd.com
Online: Bruce Hay – bruce@getinvolvedltd.com
Regional: Orla Bennett – orla@getinvolvedltd.com

The Louisiana ( formerly the Bathurst Tavern – The Smugglers – Garrick‘s )

If you had taken a walk across the Prince Street bridge in the early nineteenth century you would have had the water on one side and an extensive view over the surrounding countryside ahead of you across the River Avon.

Then, in 1809, you could have been forgiven if you had thought you were in New Orleans as the lace ironwork balconies on the The Louisiana stood out on the horizon like a ship’s prow.

The Louisiana, now on the corner of Wapping Road, then stood proudly at the entrance to the Basin with a splendid view over the green fields of Bedminster. The Basin itself was constructed as part of the Floating Harbour scheme in 1804-9 by William Jessop, where the Malago Brook once entered the Avon, turning the wheels of the old Trimm Mill as it did so.

The Basin formed a locked link between the New Cut and the Floating Harbour and The Louisiana overlooked the southern lock. The Bathurst family had a long association with Bristol when Charles Bragge was its member of parliament at the end of the eighteenth century.

He changed his name to Bathurst in 1804 and so, when the new Basin was created it was named in his honour, Bathurst, rather than Bragge’s Basin.

The Tavern or Hotel as it was then called was originally purpose-built in 1809 to cater for the seafarers and travellers brought to this area once the Basin was created. It was this association with the sea which inspired the design for the new hotel; the first-floor tented balcony covering seven bays with the iron standards and railings so reminiscent of New Orleans, gave a sailor’s eye view over the countryside.

The ironwork was probably the work of a local craftsman who first designed it and then actually made it himself. It is aesthetically pleasing at this corner. A fan-light over the entrance door is of patent metal with the well-known ornamentation so often seen in Bristol.

A feature of many nineteenth century houses and inns is the ‘window-tax’ blocked-up casement. The Louisiana has many of these visible reminders of the iniquitous tax which was not repealed until 1851. Just opposite the Tavern in Commercial Road is the ruined gatehouse of the Old Gaol built by 1820 to replace the dreadful Newgate Prison.

The Corporation had begun excavating for the new prison in 1816 believing that ‘it would be the means of employing a considerable number of hands during the ensuing winter, who perhaps otherwise will be reduced to starvation and misery’.

These early philanthropic city fathers invited tenders for the excavation and ‘plans could be seen on application to Mr William Cleak at the then named Bathurst Hotel. ‘ It is difficult to imagine the excitement which this new prison must have caused with, as reported a newspaper of the time, ‘gardens laid out in esplanades and parterres filled with beautiful flowers, among which were thousands upon thousands of roses and lilies in full bloom, filling the air with the most delicious fragrance.’

Now, only the gatehouse remains as the gaol itself was the target of the 1831 Rioters who burned it to the ground. The Governor of that gaol, William Humphries, was actually taking refreshment at the Bathurst Hotel when the mob attacked his gaol and he was forced to stay there and watch the destruction.

The gateway of the gaol was the scene of the last public hanging of a woman in Bristol, when in 1849 Sarah Thomas was hanged for murder. In 1978, the Bathurst was renamed the Garrick’s, when the landlord of the demolished Garrick‘s Head on Bristol’s Centre took over the inn and hoped to keep most of his old clientele.

Then, in 1982, the name was again changed to the Smugglers and some new external decoration and internal decor added. Murals of disappointing artistic quality depicting smugglers in action have been painted below the superb iron balconies and the smugglers’ motif has also invaded the interior.

The Tavern stands at the junction of Wapping Road and Bathurst Parade and is part of an ambitious scheme which has brought life to a once threatened derelict area. The early nineteenth century merchants’ houses in the Parade have been superbly restored as Merchants Landing and though small craft have replaced the tallmasted ships, the Bathurst Basin is once more the home of seafarers.

The pub is now used as a live music venue for up and coming bands and renamed The Louisiana – the upstairs of this public house is now a venue for live music sees many different local and touring bands each week playing a variety of styles.

Information courtesy of Paul Townsend: Local historian for the City of Bristol England and webmaster of www.gertlushonline.co.uk

We host 2-3 bands/night, pretty much every night of the week. As well as National touring acts, we also put on shows by the best local bands.

We advise to regularly check the listings.

The Louie has seen some rather impressive acts grace it’s stage over the years… We have played host to the likes off:

(If we’ve missed anyone, let us know)

AIRBOURNE, AIRIEL, AMELIA TUCKER, ANDY SMITH (PORTISHEAD DJ), ARCHIE BRONSON OUTFIT, ART BRUT, BADLY DRAWN BOY, BAXTER DURY, BEACH HOUSE, BELL X1, BEN’S BROTHER, BIS, BLOC PARTY, THE BOOKHOUSE BOYS, BOY LEAST LIKELY TO, BOY KILL BOY, BRITISH SEA POWER, CHRIS T-T, CLEARLAKE, COLDPLAY, CORINNE BAILEY RAE, DAVID FORD, DELAYS, DIRTY PRETTY THINGS, DOT TO DOT FESTIVAL, DRAGONETTE, ELBOW, ELECTRIC SOFT PARADE, EMILY BREEZE, EMMY THE GREAT, EUGENE MCGUINNESS, EXIT CALM, FAN FARLO, FEEDER, FIELDS, FIGHT LIKE APES, FINDLAY BROWN, FLEET FOXES, FLORENCE & THE MACHINE, FORTUNE DRIVE, FOY VANCE, FRANCOIZ BREUT, FUTURE OF THE LEFT, GABBY YOUNG & OTHER ANIMALS, GAVIN THORPE, GEMMA HAYES, GHOST, GIANT DRAG, GOGOL BORDELLO, GOLDEN SILVERS, GOLDFRAPP, GOLDIE LOOKIN CHAIN, GOMEZ, GONGA, GRAMMATICS, GUILLEMOTS, HOT HOT HEAT, ILIKETRAINS, IMELDA MAY, INTERPOL, JACK SAVORETTI, JACOB GOLDEN, JAMES MORRISON, JAMES YORKSTON, JAMIE SCOTT AND THE TOWN, JAMIE T, JAY JAY PISTOLET, JENIFEREVER, JEREMY WARMSLEY, JET, JOHNNY FLYNN & THE SUSSEX WIT, JOHNNY FOREIGNER, JOSE GONZALEZ, KASABIAN, KATE NASH, KATE WALSH, KEANE, KID CARPET, KID HARPOON, KILL CASSIDY, KING CREASOTE, KINGS OF LEON, KUBICHECK, KYTE, LIAM FINN, LIONHEART BROTHERS, LONGCUT, LOS CAMPASINOS, LOW vs DIAMOND, LUKE HAINES, MALAKAI, MARK EITZEL, MARTINA TOPLEY BIRD, MERZ, METRONOMY, MISSISSIPPI WITCH, MISTY’S BIG ADVENTURE, MOGWAI, MR HUDSON AND THE LIBRARY, MULL HISTORICAL SOCIETY, MUMM-RA, MUMFORD & SONS, MUSE, MY MORNING JACKET, MYSTERY JETS, NINE BLACK ALPS, NOAH AND THE WHALE, OFFICIAL SECRETS ACT, OPERAHOUSE, PADDY MILNER, PALLADIUM, PATRICK DUFF, PAUL STEEL, PAULO NUTINI, PEGGY SUE AND THE PIRATES, PETE DOHERTY, PETE MOLINARI, PETER, BJORN & JOHN, PIVOT, PLACEBO, PRETTY GIRLS MAKE GRAVES, PULLED APART BY HORSES, RADIO 4, RAZORLIGHT, REDLIGHT COMPANY, REGINA SPEKTOR, REVEREND AND THE MAKERS, ROYWORLD, SANTA CRUZ, SARABETH TUCEK, SATURATION POINT, SCISSOR SISTERS, SEAFOOD, SEBADOH, SECRET MACHINES, SEMI FINALISTS, SERGEANT, SHE CREATURES, SIA, SKY LARKIN, SLOW CLUB, SNOW PATROL, SON OF DAVE, SONS AND DAUGHTERS, SOUNDTRACK OF OUR LIVES, SPINTO BAND, STEREOPHONICS, SUNSET CINEMA CLUB, SUPER FURRY ANIMALS, TEITUR, THE AUTOMATIC, THE BLACK KEYS, THE BOY LEAST LIKELY TO, THE CAZALS, THE CORAL, THE DATSUNS, THE DEARS, THE DEATH SET, THE DIVINE COMEDY, THE DODOS, THE DRAYTONES, THE ENEMY, THE FRANCOS, THE FUTUREHEADS, THE HIGH LLAMAS, THE HOOSIERS, THE HOT PUPPIES, THE KOOKS, THE LIBERTINES, THE LITTLE FLAMES, THE LOCARNOS, THE METROS, THE MUSIC, THE NOVA SAINTS, THE ORGAN, THE PADDINGTONS, THE PIPETTES, THE RAPTURE, THE SCARE, THE SCRIPT, THE SLEEPY JACKSON, THE STROKES, THE SUBWAYS, THE TWANG, THE VIEW, THE VINES, THE WAVE MACHINES, THE WHIP, THE WHITESTRIPES, THE WOMBATS, THE YOUNG KNIVES, THE ZUTONS, TIMES NEW VIKING, TINY DANCERS, TRAVIS, TWISTED WHEEL, ULRICH SCHNAUSS, UNION OF KNIVES, VENN FESTIVAL, VIJAY KISHORE, WE SMOKE FAGS, WHITE ROSE MOVEMENT, WINCHELL RIOTS, YOU SAY PARTY WE SAY DIE, ZERO 7

Video courtesy of Guardian.co.uk and 02 Wireless Festival

Roni Size, Nick Talbot & Gravenhurst, The Louisiana, Thekla, Malakai, Nova Saints amongst others, as part of O2 Wireless feature on Guardian.co.uk

Jools Holland is excitable by nature, but when he spots a new artist who has what he considers “it,” his enthusiasm goes off the scale. To go by his reaction to Imelda May, she has “it” in spades. “I’ve got to have you on the show,” he told her after seeing her play live – and so, a couple of months ago, she duly found herself on “Later With Jools Holland,” wowing an audience who included Jeff Beck, Elbow and Roots Manuva. Beck, in fact, made a point of telling Holland that he was only there to see Imelda.

www.imeldamay.com

The Louie caters for all manner of special occasions

SET MENUS

We cater for between 30-50 people in the day.

This includes a starter, Main Course, Sweet and Coffee

Prices start from £22.50 per head and menus can be tailored to your wishes.

(Subject to availability)

BUFFET

We cater for up to 150 people in the evening.

Menus can be discussed with management.

(Subject to availability)

To discuss party booking, please phone Mary or Gianni +44(0)1179 265 978

EVERY SUNDAY

12 noon – we run out

Every Sunday, Bristolians dash to the Louie for the infamous Sunday carvery, cooked up by Giovanni (Landlord) himself.

Choose from: Beef, Lamb, Pork, Broccoli, Carrots, Peas, Gravy, Cheesy Cauliflower, Crackling,

£9.00

Every dish is prepared and cooked in-house, using the best and freshest locally sourced ingredients. For our latest menus & offers, join our mailing list below.

It works on a first come first served basis, so be quick. Some advise: fast in the week leading to the day, due to Giovanni’s somewhat generous portions…

The Louie offers a select range of freshly made paninis every lunch time

You may wish to know who and what you might be listening to.
At 23 amelia is already a confident writer, producer, and performer of her own songs.
the songs come influenced by a motley mix of early listening including pink floyd, radiohead, kate bush and the beach boys. With a love of the processes and techniques involved in recording and production, amelia has been doing  this herself for years and most of the recordings you will hear were done entirely at home.
now privileged to be accompanied onstage and occasionally in recordings  by “the backing band to dream of”, including Dave Burbidge on drums, Sam ?Stockley on Keyboards, Joe Allen on bass and Calvin talbot on guitar, she can now accompany her vocal meanderings with more literal meanderings about the stage between piano and guitar.

http://www.ameliatucker.com

PLAYING THURS 11th MARCH 2010

Hailing from England’s rural South West, Thought Forms were brought together mid-2004 amongst the ley-lines and ancient vibrations by a shared love of guitar abuse and pedal worship.

http://lavathief.blogspot.com/