Bristol’s summer gig series Bristol Sounds will return for 2023 from June 21st to 25th.
This year’s first acts have been announced as Jacob Collier, James, and A Beautiful Day Out with Levellers (and friends).
An additional two nights of shows are still to be announced, as well as support artists across all the shows.
June 22nd – Jacob Collier + support act to be announced.
£32.50.
June 23rd – James + guests
£36.50.
June 24th – A Beautiful Day Out with Levellers + The Selecter + Black Grape + Peat & Diesel + Goldie Lookin Chain + Gaz Brookfield + Emily Breeze + acoustic second stage.
All day event, gates open at 1pm. £35.00.
JACOB COLLIER
It’s not often one encounters an imagination with the depth and prolificacy of Jacob Collier’s. The London-based 28-year-old is dubbed by many as one of the most innovative musicians of his generation. In 2012, Jacob’s self-made YouTube videos achieved legendary status in the music world, attracting the praise of such luminaries as Herbie Hancock, David Crosby, Steve Vai, and Quincy Jones, who manages Jacob to this day. Jacob’s debut album, In My Room, crafted entirely in his room at home, went on to wintwo GRAMMY’s. His success has led to musical collaborators and fans including the likes of Coldplay, John Mayer, Ty Dolla $ign, Tori Kelly, Daniel Caesar, SZA, Charlie Puth, Jessie Reyez, T-Pain, and Lizzo (to name a few). In January of 2018, Jacob begandesigning and creating a recording project on an unprecedented scale –a quadruple album called DJESSE: 50 songs, divided between four volumes, with each operating within a separate musical universe of sound, style and genre. Scattered across the four volumes are 30+ collaborators from across every facet of the music world. Djesse Volumes 1, 2, & 3 have earned him a GRAMMY each, affirming that Jacob is the first British artist to win a Grammy for each of his first four albums.
JAMES
2023 sees the release of a new but as yet unnamed double album from James. There will also be a 13-date tour – ‘James Lasted’ – with both the album and tour featuring a full 22-piece orchestra and gospel choir in celebration of the band’s 40th Anniversary.
There may only be one new track promised, but the reworked versions of greatest hits, fan favourites and deep cuts should keep listeners more than happy.
Recorded at Blueprint Studios, Manchester, the album is arranged and conducted by Joe Duddell (Elbow, New Order).
News on the release date, track-listing and all available formats are to be expected soon.
Over the last four decades of incendiary performances and enduring songs, James have released 16 studio albums, which collectively have sold over 25 million copies. And to prove their current and ongoing relevance, their recent run of top-five albums have been a true golden era for the band.
Last year’s ‘All The Colours Of You’ was their most critically acclaimed in many years. This was preceded by ‘Living in Extraordinary Times’ and ‘Girl at the End of the World’ – which was narrowly squeezed off the top spot in 2016 by Adele.
The new run of live dates annpunced for 2023 kicks off in Brighton, and includes Liverpool’s Philharmonic Hall and Birmingham Symphony Hall – concluding at The Royal Albert Hall, London.
The band’s 2021 arena tour was the biggest selling and most successful for the band to date. Forty years on as a band, James show no signs of losing momentum or energy.
Tim Booth said: “There are a number of great bands who have been around for 40. But to get here and to be having the best time of our lives. To be part of a supportive loving family that still has something to say and new ways to say it. To be turned on by every gig and song. To fall in love over and over again, Groundhog Day, with our bandmates and audience. Damn. That’s time well spent.
“We should have recorded the orchestra tour first time round, as many of you have reminded us. Well, we’ve done it now. And here comes the tour. The Orchestra and Gospel singers expand our palette, heighten the tenderness, heighten the celebration and, despite their numbers, somehow leave us feeling more naked and raw. It will be different, probably each night, because we are James and Joe knows how to dance with us. And because you are different, each night.’
Jim Glennie says ‘Has it really been 40 years? In some ways it feels like yesterday and in others, many lifetimes. A family of brothers and sisters, willing to support each other musically and emotionally. Uniquely challenging, always pushing ourselves into the new and taking risks collectively and individually, looking for transcendence.’
James are: Tim Booth, Jim Glennie, Saul Davies, Adrian Oxaal, David Baynton-Power, Mark Hunter, Andy Diagram, Chloe Alper, Deborah Knox-Hewson.
UK Tour Dates 2023
April
25th Brighton, Brighton Dome
26th Cardiff, Saint Davids Hall
28th York, York Barbican
29th Edinburgh, The Usher Hall
May
1st Glasgow, SEC Armadillo
2nd Newcastle, 02 City Hall Newcastle
4th Sheffield, City hall
5th Birmingham, Symphony Hall
7th Liverpool, Philharmonic hall
9th Manchester, 02 Apollo
10th Manchester, 02 Apollo
12th Blackpool, Opera House
13th Nottingham, Royal Concert Hall
