Words and photos by: Anna Hatfield
Dot to Dot festival is always a highlight for the Bristol music scene, highlighting bands from all over the country (and sometimes further afield) across the span of Bristol’s most famous and most intimate venues alike.
I started the day off strong with a favourite of not only myself, but a good portion of the country by now. Mother Vulture opened in Electric Bristol, a venue aptly named for this electric band. Every time I see this band, they have been playing bigger and bigger venues, and for good reason. Not only do they deserve all the fame and recognition possible, but they are also one of the most energetic bands I’ve ever had the pleasure of photographing. Seeing every member of this band take up all the space possible on this stage was an absolute delight, and, of course, their sporadic movement didn’t impede their musical ability by any stretch of the imagination. The whole set was a perfect storm of punk rock chaos and a perfect way to start the festival.
Moving onto a slightly smaller, renowned venue, I made my way down to The Louisiana to catch a band that’s had a lot of buzz around them recently. Thistle were recommended several times when I was sorting my schedule for today, so I had to get down to see what the noise was about. This band is the perfect blend of grunge and shoegaze, catering for a variety of rock fans. With only a few singles out, they managed to pack out The Louisiana, which, considering they were on relatively early in the day, was an impressive feat. For those of us in Bristol who can’t get enough of this band (me included), they’re heading back for a headline show on 20th July to take The Old England by storm.
Having started my day with some pretty heavy bands, I made my way to the upstairs of an already packed O2 Academy to catch some of Good Health, Good Wealth. These guys have a unique blend of spoken word and dance music, perfectly executed as a two-piece, with the same level of charisma as every member of a full band combined. This duo has mastered a conversational tone, somehow summing up the essence of classic British culture while simultaneously conveying the depth of socioeconomic issues, in one nonchalant breath. Covering everything from climate change to McDonald’s (see their song Full Circle for further context). This band have nailed both their brand of music and their stage presence, getting the audience dancing along for the duration of their set. For those of you intrigued by this magnetic band, they’re returning to Bristol’s Louisiana on 28th November.
A highlight for me was this next band, which I had firmly on my list from the start. The Orchestra (For Now) were a band I knew I had to catch today, and they certainly didn’t disappoint. For fans of Black Country, New Road and Black Midi, this avant-garde indie rock band have some of the most experimental compositional choices, blended with the most atmospheric and gorgeous string arrangements. The blend of traditional classical elements with contemporary post-punk vocals and guitar parts really makes this band stand out. It was a musical journey through a sea of talented musicianship and performance from start to finish.
I couldn’t leave without catching one of our very own Cornish bands, Rizts. This grungy math rock trio have been making a name for themselves both in the local Falmouth and now further afield! You can’t help but be drawn into the small Mr Wolf’s venue from the street, as the noise of the lead singer’s vocals is amplified into the evening by the old telephone attached to the mic stand in front of him. Intriguing, experimental, and contemporary, this band is making all the right noise at the moment.
I rounded off my night, as so many did, with one of my favourite bands, Sprints. A rapidly growing, female-fronted punk band were just what I needed to say I’d ticked off a pretty solid range of bands today. Sprints managed to draw in a hugely diverse crowd and packed out the newly renamed Electric Bristol (previously known as SWX). They were the perfect choice to headline that stage, bringing the energy everyone wanted for a good dance (and mosh) as well as the fantastically thought-provoking lyrics and heavy riffs. This band has it all, and it was a pleasure to see them play and a joy to watch the sea of moving audience below. The mass of people moved as one as Sprints rounded off the day in style.
View the full photo gallery from Dot to Dot Festival 2025 in Bristol.
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