Posted December 31st 2017
Melting Vinyl’s 2017 highlights and what to look forward to in 2018
On the countdown to Christmas this month we ran through some monthly gig highlights of 2017 with a recommendation for 2018! In case you missed some, they are here below!
Thanks for joining us this year, may your 2018 be spectacular.
January 2017: Martha Wainwright at Komedia Brighton
The one and only Martha Wainwright returned to us in January with her most powerful album yet Goodnight City.
Recommendation for 2018: Joan As Police Woman at The Old Market
If you loved Martha then you’ll love Brooklyn multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Joan As Police Woman. She plays The Old Market – April 23 – in support of her upcoming new album Damned Devotion.
February 2017: Marry Waterson & David A. Jaycock @ Marwood Bar & Coffeehouse
Our new favourite collaborative singer-songwriter duo of 2017. From one of British folk’s most revered families – and David A. Jaycock – a mutual friend and collaborator of James Yorkston, it was a wonderful evening!
Recommendation for 2018: The Handsome Family @ St George’s Church, Brighton
If you don’t know them already, try your hand out at seeing the gothic Americana duo – The Handsome Family – at St. George’s Church.
March 2017: Haley Bonar @ Komedia Brighton
Haley returned with her latest LP Impossible Dream, a haunting, delicate voice and elliptical lyrics, telling real stories back to us as if they were our own.
Recommendation for 2018: Lord Huron @ Komedia Brighton
Americana desert rock Michiganders also have a haunting, hazy vibe to their music. Far away, large landscape stories for us to get sucked into.
April 2017: PINS @ Rialto Theatre
A top sold-out show and return to Brighton from the much-loved Manchester shoegaze-pop band PINS. Wonderful noise and energy!
Recommended for 2018: Ezra Furman @ Folkestone Quarterhouse
If you want strong energy and raw passion come and see Ezra Furman, hands-down one of the best live performers out there with so much to say (in the best and most thought-provoking ways possible).
May 2017: Hannah Peel at Folkestone Quarterhouse
Hannah Peel makes some wonderful gems of electro-pop, but she also composes experimental classical/electronic pieces. Basically she does everything interesting in the world of music. Seeing her live is also an enthralling experience!
Recommended for 2018: Gwenno @ Rialto Theatre
The multi-linguistic talents of Gwenno is not based on pure novelty, it’s genuinely intriguing, intelligent pop music. From her first album written and sung entirely in Welsh to her upcoming sophomore now entirely in Cornish, we love her celebration of these languages, and it proves that music is a non-language which can be harnessed in whatever way you choose.
June 2017: The Staves @ The Old Market
The sister-trio played a sold-out The Old Market earlier this year and it was nothing short of spectacular. Their talents are much appreciated and loved!
Recommended for 2018: The Weather Station @ Latest Music Bar
Canadian, Polaris prize nominated The Weather Station creates intriguing poem-prose narratives in her songs; well-crafted, bold and cinematic pieces. Come and see her live!
July 2017: Chorusgirl at Rialto Theatre
So much fun with the dreamy and shimmery sounds of Chorusgirl noir-pop and lush – they played a great show at the Rialto.
Recommended for 2018: Lewes Psychedelic Festival 2018 @ All Saints Centre, Lewes
If you want to continue on with the dreamy, psych-y and hypnotic sounds, come along to our yearly Lewes Psychedelic Festival. For the first time it’s a 2 dayer event packed full of really interesting and psych-orientated acts.
August 2017: Death And Vanilla – Rialto Theatre
The Swedish cult trio from Malmo translated an enigmatic, atmospheric and vintage sound to their set at the Rialto, topped off by great visuals from innerstrings who helped cultivate a slow-mo, dark yet glistening journey.
Recommended for 2018: This is Psychedelia 2018 – Folkestone Quarterhouse
Come see them again! Death & Vanilla will play the second ever Folkestone Psychedelic Festival called This is Psychedelia happening at the Quarterhouse. Along with other brilliant acts such as Flamingods, SNAPPED ANKLES, Cobalt Chapel and Dreamweaver.
September 2017: Michael Nau – The Greys
Full Time Hobby signing Michael Nau has been releasing new material really quickly in the span of a year, so of course we have to get him over to Brighton. He played such a lovely and intimate show at the Greys, it really did warm us.
Recommended for 2018: Eric Bibb @ St George’s Church, Brighton
Come and share an evening with fiery, gospel and soul singer Eric Bibb at St. George’s Church. It’s what the blues in the new century should all be about.
October 2017: Godspeed You! Black Emperor – Brighton Dome
Epic post-rock goodness from Godspeed You! Black Emperor, moments of apocalypse and flairs of triumph. Destruction, love and hope!
Recommended for 2018: Lewes Psychedelic Festival 2018
Continue expansiveness epic-ness with our special 2 dayer psych fest in January!
November 2017: Perfume Genius – The Old Market
Mike Hadreas’ music always make us cry from poignancy, he touches a part of the soul very few people can do. His show at the Old Market was beautiful and revelatory!
Recommended for 2018: Joan As Police Woman – The Old Market
Joan As Police Woman is very special so we’ve recommended her twice in this list, you can’t ever go wrong with her music.
December 2017: Pictish Trail – Rialto Theatre
A perfect way to round off our 2017, Johnny was in top form, top tunes and top banter. Merry Christmas!
Recommended for 2018: Trembling Bells – Brunswick Pub
Scottish free-flowing psych folk meets post rock from Alex Nielson and his collective, they will be playing their latest album ‘Dungeness’ which finds the band plunging further out musically and looking deeper in lyrically.