One of Bristol's most iconic attractions will double up as a gig venue with a difference. The SS Great Britain is bringing back its Summer Lates Series starting today (Thursday, June 15), opening after its usual hours to stage live music.
Visitors will be able to enjoy barbecued food, local beers and cocktails in the dockyard while also watching live bands. Organisers describe Brunel's ship as "Bristol's most unique gig location", and say there are twice as many dates this time compared to in 2022.
Phil Smith, chief operating officer at the SS Great Britain Trust, said: “Following last year’s success, we can’t wait to welcome even more locals for our Summer Lates. It’s an opportunity for Bristolians to relax and have fun at Brunel’s SS Great Britain after hours, seeing the ship in a whole new light.
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“Taking place in our iconic dockyard, our line-up will showcase up-and-coming talent from a range of genres, so there’ll be something for everyone to enjoy and you may even discover a new favourite band or artist.”
Timings are between 6pm and 9pm, meaning visitors might just about get a glimpse of Bristol's stunning harbourside at sunset as the events draw to a close. Indie-electronica duo Iris Lyre will start off the series tonight, but there is a big range of musicians throughout the summer encompassing many genres.
The eight gigs, held in partnership with Coffee Club Bristol, run until August 17. The full line-up released by organisers is listed below:
- 15th June – Iris Lyre – an indie-electronica duo from Bristol who create soulful alt-pop tracks with a live-looping set up. Likely to appeal to fans of Self Esteem, Lianne La Havas and Arlo Parks.
- 22nd June – The Mighty Shinkickers – the West Country’s finest scrumpy-loving punk folk band. Their songs explore everything from the swamplands of Somerset to the apple famine of 1841. Fittingly, they’ve even got a few timber shivering shanties up their sleeves!
- 29th June - Ålesund – a Bristol-based alt pop band, Ålesund is fronted by British-Norwegian singer-songwriter Alba Torriset. Expect dreamy pop hooks, atmospheric soundscapes and ethereal vocals.
- 6th July – Sugarmoon – delivering a blend of blues, rock, folk and pop, Sugarmoon has appeared at Bristol’s Exchange Basement, Swansea Fringe Festival and Inglefest. Their music will delight fans of The Doors, Belle & Sebastian and The Beatles.
- 13th July – Santa Fe - a Bristol-based neo-soul band which fuses glistening funk and low-slung grooves with blended vocal melodies. Guaranteed to get you dancing!
- 20th July – Gwyd Ion and Lola’s Demo Yard - Gwyd Ion is a bilingual artist who blends soulful singing with blues and jazz-inspired guitar. His set is made up of improvisational guitar and vocals, reworked classics, and his own Welsh language songs. Lola’s Demo Yard is the current project of musician Josh Dovey. Josh aims to emulate the best of traditional British songwriting with a contemporary lo-fi edge – resulting in soulful and intimate music.
- 3rd August – Long Tonic – a five-piece bouncy blues band specialising in groovy riffs, knee-bending bops and overly-sentimental lyrics.
- 17th August – Kololo - an independent electro pop group, which blends luscious harmonies and trippy production to make an unforgettable sound of computerised groove.
Beer and cider for the Summer Lates Series will be locally sourced, and guests can also enjoy food fresh from the barbecue, including a vegan option. General release tickets cost £13 and have to be booked in advance rather than bought on the door.
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