Behind the scenes : Promotors
By Resonate | March 31, 2022
words by Tom Pittard
cover image by Lydia Cashmore Photography
Pleasure Gallery
Throughout a quiet 2020 Alec Hamilton expanded his interest in ambient music after noticing that there weren’t many people pushing the sound. By creating Pleasure Gallery in March 2021, he’s made space for his love of ambient music and art. Pleasure Gallery hosts a mix series on Soundcloud that showcases some of the finest ambient artists from around the world. With mixes from the likes of Lilli Zylka, Mu Tate and Exael, the series has all areas covered in the ambient scene. To supplement the music, each mix comes with its own piece of an overall artwork that is revealed after the twelfth and final mix of each series which can be viewed on the Pleasure Gallery website and Instagram. After a few months of the mix series gaining traction on Soundcloud, Alec started his monthly residency on 1020 Radio, continuing the theme of ambient, minimal, and experimental music heard in the Pleasure Gallery mix series.
More recently, Alec approached Bristol venue Strange Brew with the idea of a seated electronic ambient show, leading to the first Pleasure Gallery event in January 2022. The night was an intertwined experience of visuals by mixed media artist Nicole Gordan and live music by electronic ambient artists Mu Tate and Nexcyia. With a focus on promoting ambient artists and curating serene events, Pleasure Gallery has brought something new to Bristol, providing a platform for ambient artists in an otherwise club-driven city. With a sold out first show, it’s clearly something people have been waiting for.
Climaxed
After receiving a grant through an internship and Black Acre Records, George Buckthought, manager of the Bristol alt-rock band HAAL, decided to throw an event in partnership with Youth Music Charity, Black Acre Records and Strange Brew. Climaxed was born. Focusing on making an inclusive space for queer creatives, Climaxed’s first event at Strange Brew showcased a plethora of talent with mixes from Taahliah, Intervention and Benson Streaker, and an array of stalls stocked by creatives. For Climaxed’s second event, they looked to the new Bristol venue Dareshack. Still, in its renovation phase, the venue supplied the perfect vibe to host a live performance from HAAL and mixes from Bristol-based DJ, journalist, and curator Ifeoluwa and Robin Stewart of industrial dance music duo Giant Swan. As of November 2021, Climaxed began a monthly radio show on 1020 Radio. Friends and clients of Climaxed step up each month for a Sunday mix to end your week with no bounds on genre.
Beginning with management for HAAL and Clemencie, Climaxed also works closely as a booking agent for Bristol DJ, journalist, and curator Ifeoluwa. Most recently Climaxed, in partnership with Youth Music Charity and Harbourside Artist Management, have started the Disability Empowerment Project, looking to fund a four-track EP for an artist or band. The artist or band will receive support from Harbourside Artist Management and have an EP released by July 2022. With Climaxed’s one-year anniversary approaching a celebration event is planned, so be on the lookout as it’s sure to be something special.
BrickPhone Audio
Lewis Haywood looks towards Fantazia and Castle Morton as inspiration for his events brand BrickPhone Audio. In a Bristol scene flooded with drum and bass and techno nights, BrickPhone offers a space for garage and house lovers to see some of Bristol’s best emerging DJs spin records in intimate settings that offer a sense of nostalgia to a generation who may not have witnessed the 90s rave and club culture. Kicking things off in May 2021 with a seated event at Dare2Club, BrickPhone showed potential, and a sold-out show in September 2021 followed at Cosies with sets from Boy Corduroy, Clarabelle, Zofia and Mutha Goose. Next up was Dare2Club which held a massive eight DJs across two rooms, showcasing some of the best 2-step and garage. The night was a hit.
Since then, BrickPhone has taken to Basement 45 and is quickly building a name for itself. Each lineup is completely different to the last, and Lewis sees putting female and minority groups first as an important part of BrickPhone. BrickPhone has also expanded into a weekly mix series from different artists each week, and now into Wax Wednesdays, a vinyl-only mix night hosting garage, house and breaks from some of Bristol’s finest new DJs. Bristol is home to some of the UK’s best small venues, and Lewis plans to keep BrickPhone Audio underground in these small spaces. With plenty of previously sold-out shows, it looks like the people of Bristol are here for it.
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