The multi-venue, multi-city Dot to Dot Festival is making its mark on Bristol and Nottingham this weekend, and we can’t wait to join the fun!
Dot to Dot (D2D) is dedicated to showcasing emerging talent from across the globe, and they intend to deliver; this year’s announced lineup features a whopping 77 acts hailing from all over the UK, Europe, and the USA. The Bristol and Nottingham dates on 25 and 26 May, respectively, will each feature a batch of local talent to support the touring acts. So much music, so little time! Below are just a few artists we think the Loud Women community will particularly love.
This year’s headliners include the experimental pop duo Jockstrap, whose members Taylor Skye and Georgia Ellery draw inspiration from all over the musical map.
Monmouthshire’s punk trio The Bug Club, folksy sibling band Infinity Song, DIY riot grrrl outfit Panic Shack, and the dream-poppy, new-wavey Picture Parlour (whose song “Norwegian Wood” was LW’s Track of the Day last July) will also be gracing the D2D stages.
With the ramping up of release season, we are bound to hear some brand-new music on these stages. Welsh-language indie rockers Adwaith, whose album Bato Mato won the Welsh Music Prize in 2022, are joining D2D fresh off the release of their single, “MWY”. Alt-rock trio mary in the junkyard are releasing their highly-anticipated debut EP, This Old House, on 24 May – just a day before the festival kicks off.
In addition to its impressive roster of bands, this year’s D2D will feature a number of talented solo artists, many of whom are self-produced. London-based pop artist Aziya, who makes music she “would want Debbie Harry to sing, Prince to co-produce and John Bonham to drum on”, is joining D2D to promote her upcoming EP drop this summer.
Manchester’s indie darling Freak Slug, Nashville-based softie Mali Velasquez, Iranian-British-Danish post-punk artist trout, and 19-year-old pop prodigy gglum will also be keeping the DIY spirit alive. And for the DIY jungle/drum ‘n’ bass lovers among us, Dublin newcomer Annie-Dog will be there to meet your needs with her PinkPantheress- and Grimes-inspired tracks.
Some other incredible artists worth checking out include riot grrrl band Sulk, noise rock six-piece Man/Woman/Chainsaw, alt-rock group Full Flower Moon Band, soulful singer JGrrey, experimental R&B artist Saya Gray, and so many others. You can explore the full lineup with artist details here, and you can listen to D2D’s official 2024 playlist, featuring all of this year’s acts, here.
Dot to Dot won Best Metropolitan Festival in last year’s UK Festival Awards, and with such a talent-packed lineup, this year will undoubtedly be up to par. Tickets for both Bristol and Nottingham are still on sale if you haven’t nabbed yours yet!
