Bristol Legends, an awards ceremony highlighting some of the city’s incredible talent, culminated in an afterparty featuring Invisible Circus, Emily Breeze, Laid Blak, DJ Cheeba, Felix Joy and Gotsome.
Ashton Gate stadium had been decorated with beautiful lighting and huge flowers, in fact it didn’t feel like a stadium entrance at all. I actually forgot I was at Ashton Gate Stadium. Instead of feeling like a typical stadium event, the atmosphere felt intimate, vibrant, and distinctly Bristolian. The crowd was relaxed and enthusiastic and the space buzzed with conversation, laughter, and anticipation between sets.
After enjoying the sheer talent of The Invisible Circus, I was feeling suitably full of whimsy. I was then thrust headfirst into the world of Emily Breeze. The best way I can describe Emily Breeze is: angst but make it sultry and elegant. With a blend of aggressive tambourine and rugged riffs, their sound is a dose of post-punk nostalgia. With dreamy notes that are reminiscent of the Cocteau Twins and The Cure, Emily’s vocals and presence on stage were entrancing.
Lyrically and visually, there were plenty of nods to Stokes Croft and Bristol’s cultural landscape, which gave the performance an added sense of local identity. Emily Breeze didn’t just perform songs, she seemed to channel the creative and rebellious energy of Bristol itself, embodying the city’s spirit with a fierce lust for life.
Speaking of Bristol spirit, next up was Gardna. He brought a surge of rhythm and momentum that lifted the crowd into full party mode. It is fair to say I’m partial to a bit of Drum n’ Bass, and I actually spent the majority of the set beaming like a kid in a candy shop. The sound system pulsed with basslines while rave classics filled the room, creating a nostalgic yet electric atmosphere.
Meanwhile, Gardna put in an excellent shift as MC, effortlessly guiding the crowd through the set with charisma and confidence. It was really lovely to see people of all ages and backgrounds boogie to some jungle. He engaged with the crowd so well, everyone was bouncing around and the vibes were excellent.
I love when you can really see how much artists enjoy performing, Gardna was clearly having as much fun as us. To round off what had shaped up to be a great night, Laid Blak provided us with some street soul tunes. With inspiration taken from ska, reggae, funk and jungle, their sound is unique and invigorating.
Their set was the perfect wind down to the night, everyone was swaying and bobbing about in a happy daze. There was a shared sense of contentment in the room, like everyone knew they’d just experienced something special. It was simultaneously relaxing and exciting, with chilled reggae infused with junglist drums. That combination created a dreamy closing atmosphere, the kind that leaves you walking out of the venue still humming the tunes and replaying the night in your head.
All in all, the Bristol Legends afterparty proved to be far more than just an add-on event. It was a celebration of Bristol’s creativity, musical diversity, and community spirit.
// Words: Freya Waters //