Gaz Brookfield / Apocalyptalooza - Fri Dec 21st, The Fleece, Bristol

Post apocalyptic survival celebrations at the Fleece tonight with a formidable batting line-up of the great and the good of the city’s scene.  6 acts for just under £6 pulls a merry capacity crowd clad in Santa hats and gaudy jumpers having capitalized well on a day of early office finishes.  With the end of the world averted and Christmas upon us, it’s a superb selection box of acoustic, folk/rock played on-show tonight with a mix of signed and unsigned talent available for consumption.

Apologies to the earlier acts that I missed but I arrived halfway through the event to see likeable Bristol based Glaswegian Lonely Tourist, a lively power-folk Idlewild with heartfelt and wry lyrical observations set for a bigger stage.  Next up, NME ‘Band To Watch’ and Cheltenham quartet Jim Lockey and The Solemn Sun deliver a barnstorming folk rock set ahead of next year’s headline tour.  A much heavier performance than I have seen before, they pull off a well-received versatile set that encounters the blue-collar rock/punk, indie and folk/pop of Gaslight Anthem, Biffy Clyro and Newton Faulkner respectively.   

Gaz Brookfield is the headliner though tonight; a charismatic singer/songwriter with roots in Bristol and Swindon known locally for his incredible gig work ethic (over 200 per year) and brutal, often highly comedic storytelling style.  Now on second solo album ‘Tell It To The Beer’ recorded in a homemade studio comprising of a duvet hung from the ceiling in the corner of his bedroom, he has the sing-along folk/acoustic anthems justifiably rewarded by support call-ups for The Levellers, Frank Turner, Pete Doherty and more.

 

Opening with recent re-released single ‘Diet Of Banality’ a triumphant ode to the genuine music artists and attack on faceless manufactured pop that has every punter charging their pint towards the stage; “Lets raise a glass to every real musician, at least they write their own songs.”  Brookfield wittily works the crowd throughout with a full folk band behind him as his Billy Bragg-esque storytelling covers a wide range of topics including, life on the road as an unappreciated support act (‘Limelight’), persistent van breakdowns (‘Hell Or High Water’) and political apathy/fabulously titled; ‘It Doesn’t Matter Who You Vote For, The Bastards Always Win.’  Brookfield has a clean cut, accessible vocal style reminiscent of Squeeze front-man Glenn Tilbrook as well as harbouring an accomplished percussive knuckle-rapping style and occasional penchant for two-handed fret work.

Brookfield has bags of charm as he works through his set with passion and infectious enthusiasm, clearly loved by his home-crowd many of whom would have spotted him fervently cheering on the other acts on tonight’s bill from the bar area.  Returning to the stage for Bristol National Anthem ‘Westcountry’, featuring virtuoso violin from Ben Wain, the song becomes a real event.  As was shown in last year’s corresponding fixture at the Fleece on Brookfield’s fantastic online tour diary (a fascinating insight into the life of an unsigned solo artist), the steaming crowd proudly yell “I’d rather see the west end of the M4 corridor.”  It’s a Christmas cracker of a set from one of the region’s most talented artists understandably humble in appreciation for sharing the bill with some superb and highly promising support acts.

Kindly published by venue:
http://www.venue.co.uk/music-live-reviews-g/19976-gaz-brookfieldapocalyptalooza

Best tracks - Watch through links below:

Gaz Brookfield - Limelight
Jim Lockey & The Solemn Sun - A Song About Death
Lonely Tourist - Rattling Around

Apocalyptalooza:

Gaz Brookfield:



Jim Lockey & The Solemn Sun



Lonely Tourist