Bristol's new 'Sound Check' exhibition celebrates iconic music scene
'Sound Check', curated by Sickboy and IDLES' Adam Devonshire, showcases reworked gig posters and music photography, highlighting Bristol's iconic music legacy.
The striking visual tribute to Bristol’s music scene will open from May 9 to 11 at The PIT.
Leading urban-contemporary artists have responded to pivotal moments in Bristol’s music history to create works of art, including Inkie, Mr. jago, Matt Eko, Mudwig, Mini Hamada, Sickboy, Lucy McLauclan and Xenz.
Sound Check will feature range of reworked gig posters and music photography ranging from underground punk flyers to iconic rave nights and landmark gigs.
Some highlights of the exhibition include Mina Hamada’s explosive reinterpretation of a rare 1977 T-Rex poster from Bristol Beacon, Mr Jago’s take on an original Dug Out flyer by Inkie and Mudwig’s reimagining of a 1993 Radiohead poster from The Fleece as a ‘time bomb’.
Inkie and DJ Dazee will also reunite on a a reworked 1996 Ruffneck Ting flyer, celebrating jungle and drum & bass as Bristol’s sonic lifeblood, with nods to key venues like Trinity and Lakota.
Other standout pieces include Matt Eko’s wild visual remix of the genre-defying 2016 Simple Things Festival and Xenz’s dreamlike tribute to the 2019 Downs Festival, blending skyline and sound in a poignant homage to collective highs and recent losses.
Alongside the reimagined artworks, a newly revealed series of music photography capturing three decades of Bristol’s live music culture will also be displayed.
The photo collection has been curated through an open call to the city’s photography community, and features names like David Jeffery Hughes, Lindsey Davies, Ben Birchall, Giulia Spadafora, Colin Moody, Ciara Hillyer and more, a cross-section of established and emerging talent whose work spans electric live performances, intimate backstage moment and everything in between.
Sickboy commented: “Bristol’s music scene isn’t just about sound - it’s a living, breathing culture. Sound Check captures events that remain incredibly relevant in the development of Bristol's inimitable style of musical activism and reframes them as art.”
Devonshire, whose band IDLES has helped put Bristol’s music scene on the global map, said: “Live music is a life source. It's a way of life for countless people and this exhibition is a celebration of those who capture those unique moments.
“The relationship between artist, audience and photographer is paramount to the beauty and mayhem of the live music experience and this exhibition is a love letter and a warm hug to those who bask in live music's ample glories.”
For more information on Sound Check, visit pitbristol.com. For updates and announcements, follow @thepitbristol on Instagram. Sound Check is open from 12pm - 7.30pm Friday and 10am - 5pm Saturday and Sunday.