The Whiteboard Reports #2 : Dot 2 Dot Bristol
Down the other side of the City I found myself lurking suspiciously around a massive ship. Yes, we all know my love for boats and this is well documented. However, Bristol’s Thekla was a boat which contained two venues of varying amounts of music-induced sweaty pleasure. I managed to squeeze in between the copious amount of beautiful and scene-styled hipsters and caught the brilliant Stagecoach who I previously made Single of the Week.
On the upper deck of the Thekla, a very decent sized crowd squeezed in nice and tightly to witness the pure energy and buzz that squirted from every orrafice that is Stagecoach. There’s not many bands out there in Britain at the moment can put on a live show as capturing and fun as Stagecoach. Their latest single, Jonah Lomu, went down a treat and Stagecoach’s show concluded with the band getting into the crowd and playing in the middle of their fans – what did they think of it all?
What did you think of Stagecoach?
A few minutes pass and whilst I’m limping my way through the car park to the next venue, the lovely lads from Stagecoach invite me over for a beer so I give them a whiteboard and some (classic Dan Charman) questions. This is how it turned out.
Draw me your ideal festival…
If you could create a brand spanking new animal, what would it look like?
You guys are called Stagecoach. What would be your ideal mode of transport?
Hours pass and after managing to catch the wonderful Niki and the Dove and To Kill A King on an actual boat (can you tell I still can’t believe I got to go on a boat…rad!) I caught up with the chaps from Trophy Wife in their tour van to chuck a few questions at them before they hurried off to start their set.
If Trophy Wife was a pizza, illustrate the ingredients and toppings…
If you could collaborate with any band or artist, living or dead, who would it be?
Draw your ideal girlfriend/boyfriend/wife or ‘Trophy Wife’ (har har)
Being in a band has ups and downs. But what is the best thing about being in a band?
As a special treat, joining the band on tour is the hugely talented Tinhead. Not sure who he is? Get yourselves over to the Foals website and check out their artwork. Yep, that’s him. Being the lovely guy that he is, he offered to give us a small insight into his very interesting occupation.
Designing work for the brilliant Foals must be ace, but which band or artist would you love to collaborate with?
You recently went to the NME awards, who were the most famous people you met?
Who did you want to be when you were growing up?
Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
And that was the end of a wonderful Dot 2 Dot festival in Bristol. Personal highlights include the incredible sets by Trophy Wife and Stagecoach, the delightfully gorgeously dressed ladies of Bristol and the free beers provided by the lovely bands. Negatives of the day included overpriced cider (common Bristol, I thought you had super rad cider?), not being able to actually go on a moving boat and the whole event only lasting a day. Well played Bristol, you certainly impressed me!
Words and photographs by Dan Charman.
