Preview: Dials Festival 2018 (Part 3 - Later Evening)

Here is my third and final preview / tips post for Dials Festival 2018. A 5 venue wristband access event on Albert Road in Southsea, Portsmouth that I am helping organise in support of Solent Mind.

Having waffled on about how I became involved in the festival, the philosophy that underpins this year’s event and some of my thinking about the booking of the festival I feel that it’s time to sit back and just write about the artists a little more. This is a relatively waffle free post!

So here are 3 tips for artists nearer the top end of the bill that I think are worth your attention. This has been a particularly hard selection – as I haven’t space to mention the beautiful mellow pop of Art School Girlfriend that reminds me a little bit of Massive Attack and Portishead or the fiery Estrons who played Dials in 2016 in the Edge of the Wedge and return to blast the mighty Wedgewood Rooms with their visceral sound. But as in previous posts I’m limiting my choices to three. All have featured in past blog posts.

19:30-20:00 Bokito – The Vaults

Bokito is named after a gorilla that escaped from its cage at a zoo and that is exactly what this band are like. When lead singer Moses gets on stage he unleashes his inner caged animal. But it’s not a rock beast. No, it’s a hip swinging, falsetto crooning, crouching tiger of a man who dances like a African tribesperson. Imagine Everything Everything with a big heap of sunshine tossed into the music - and lots of confetti in this video for current single How Dare You.




20:30-21:00 Fröst – Edge of the Wedge

With a debut album Matters coming out next week we’ll get the full picture of what Fröst sound like, but from their transcendent singles such as Record Still Spinning and Black Mountain, which have found love from this blog and Lauren Laverne of BBC 6 Music, they can be described as having a sound full of retro analogue synths, pulsing electronics and motorik beats. Featuring a member of Fujiya and Miyagi and a French-Swedish sound artist, fans of Goldfrapp or Broadcast might be particularly smitten with Fröst. Dials is pleased to present them as one of just four shows they’re playing this October. The video below is a live recording of Record Still Spinning.



21:00-21:30 Grace Savage – The Loft

Another one of the curve balls I mentioned yesterday, Grace Savage is a beatboxer of extraordinary skill. Having seen her perform twice, once at Winchestival and the other time in the surreal setting of a roller-skating disco in Margate I can confirm that Grace will astound you. “She can’t be doing that just with her mouth and a loop station,” you’ll possibly cry. Oh yes she is. It’s why she’s four times UK beatboxing champion. If you want to see something different that you’ll probably remember for a long time after Dials 2018 finishes, Grace Savage is the one. No video can do her justice - you have to see it live.



You can find the full timetable for Dials by clicking here.

You can buy tickets for £16 plus a small booking fee from this link or direct from the Wedgewood Rooms box office where there is no fee. Tickets will be more expensive on the day so I advise to buy them now.

To prepare fully for Dials there's a playlist on Spotify featuring all the artists you can get by clicking here or just search for Dials Festival 2018.

New Music: Bokito - How Dare You

London’s Bokito got me all hot under the collar back in March 2017 with their single Better At Getting Worse and since that time I’ve spent far too much time learning to dance like their uniquely charismatic front man Moses Moorhouse, who cavorts in a way that is both carnal and camp, unleashing his inner gorilla and finding that groove in a way you just wouldn’t expect. 

This week the band released a new single How Dare You and once again I can feel my hips beginning to twist and my legs beginning to explore just how far they can bend and warp as Bokito make summer go indie. Singing with a falsetto that’s a saucy mix of silk and gravel Moses has explained that the tune is: “A celebration of finding someone that matches your madness, the insecurities and concerns that come into building a relationship and the ever growing feeling that these thoughts may be pushing the other person away. But ultimately, the comfort in knowing that someone has those same uncertainties in relation to you!” 

This one's a flaming joy.

If you want to see more of Bokito, Moses incredible dancing and be ready to move with some force yourself, your next opportunity will be at The George Tavern in London on 21st July. However, the gig I’m most excited about Bokito playing is in October when the band hit the stage in Portsmouth at Dials Festival, an event which I’ve had a reasonably big hand in curating (booking about 1/3 of the acts). They'll be on stage at the Wine Vaults, one of 5 venues that we will be taking over for the multi-venue event. Other acts playing that stage, which will run from early afternoon to evening that have featured on Breaking More Waves include Art School Girlfriend, Jerry Williams and Temples of Youth (subject to final confirmation of line up and times). You can buy tickets for Dials for just £16 by clicking this link. The festival is over 18s only except for the Wedgewood Rooms and Edge Of The Wedge venues which is over 14s. The earlier you buy, the more help you will be giving the festival and therefore Solent Mind the mental health charity that Dials Festival is supporting in 2018, so grab one quick before they’re gone.

Bokito - How Dare You

New Music: Bokito - Love Gotten

When Bokito first hit Breaking More Waves with Better At Getting Worse I described their carnival-afro-pop-indie sounds as a potential party in waiting, and that description turned out to be very accurate when I finally caught them playing to a packed room at The Great Escape Escape festival in Brighton in May. What was touching about the performance was the way that the band was clearly thrilled that so many people had turned out to see them and in return they delivered a show that, centred around frontman Moses Moorhouse, made you feel glad to be alive, with Moses pulling some outrageously hip wiggling free dance moves that seemed to have more in common with African tribes people than a typical UK indie bop / mosh and the songs themselves managing to stand out from the crowd with their inventiveness.

Since that time the band released another track, Aloof, and now return with Love Gotten a tune that high-kicks and struts with a nerdish indie pop joy. Bokito’s eccentric fidgety sound sits comfortably (or perhaps given the general jerkiness of their grooves maybe I should say uncomfortably) alongside the likes of Everything Everything and shows once again that indie music can, when it tries, be both imaginative and fun. 

The band play at the Strongroom Bar in London on the 27th May.

Bokito - Love Gotten

Preview: The Great Escape 2017 (Part 2.2 - Music Tips)

Following yesterday’s post of 5 Breaking More Waves approved acts that I’m recommending to watch at 2017’s Great Escape in Brighton here are a further 5 that, should you be a little overwhelmed by the sheer enormity of music on offer at the festival, you might want to consider watching. If you fancy watching them all, this is possible - the timetable allows you to catch all 10 with a bit of planning.

Alas the Royal Pavillion pictured above isn't one of the venues at the festival, but if you do have any spare time in Brighton when the music isn't on, I'd recommend a trip there as well as Resident Records store, the North Laines, Brighton Museum and a stroll along the seafront.

6. Alice Jemima (UK)

Regular readers won’t be in any way surprised to find Alice Jemima on this list, she has after all been one of the most featured artists on Breaking More Waves since 2011. Alice first played the Great Escape 2 years ago at a small Alt-Escape event watched by about 10 people. Last year she was on the main programme with just one afternoon show at the outside venue of Jubilee Square. This year she returns with several million streams on her Spotify, 2 shows at Great Escape (one late night and one opening) and a debut album of softly sung indie singer songwriter pop with touches of electronica, that fulfils on her promise. 

Latest Music Bar 23.00pm May 19th
Komedia Studio 12.15pm May 20th



7. Bokito (UK)

Not to be confused with Kero Kero Bonito, Bokito come to Great Escape with a strong debut song (Better At Getting Worse), a decent amount of support from music blogs and a nomination on the Glastonbury Emerging Talent competition longlist. With a lead singer that looks like a metal band but ‘dances like an African woman’ (his words) and having drawn comparisons to Vampire Weekend, Everything Everything, Metronomy and Jinja Safari, Bokito will be playing their blend of tropical indie in the Queens Hotel, one of the stranger venues of Great Escape – the space is basically a staircase lobby below the reception. But everyone has to start somewhere – I saw Dan Smith from Bastille play this space, before he’d even formed Bastille (see this review from 2009 here).

Queens Hotel 13.30pm May 20th



8. Sultan Of The Disco (South Korea)

Two of the best things about Great Escape is the sheer variety of music on offer and the fact that there are many international showcases. This year one such showcase is a South Korean extravaganza, which will include rapper MC Sniper, rock band The Monotones and the incredible Sultan Of The Disco who first came to prominence in the UK following an appearance at Glastonbury Festival 2014 (although they formed in 2006). Taking inspiration from soul and funk, Sultan Of The Disco are all about dance moves, costumes and lots of entertainment. 

Latest Music Bar 15.15pm May 20th
Latest Music Bar 22.30pm May 20th



9. Casi (UK)

Back in 2013, another music blogger, Chris from The Metaphorical Boat tweeted me about a singer called Casi Wyn, suggesting he thought she would be my metaphorical cup of tea. At the time the music she was doing didn’t really grab me. Fast forward two years and not only had I changed my mind (see here) but Casi (minus the Wyn) had played a Welsh music showcase at the Great Escape in 2015. Since that time her music has developed even further significantly and her expressive electronic pop song The Beast encapsulates just how good she has become. She’s back at Great Escape 2017 and is now firmly one of my recommendations.

Coalition 21.15pm May 20th



10. Skott (Sweden)

Striking electronic pop from Sweden? Yes, it’s Skott, one of Breaking More Waves past 10 Ones To Watch for 2017 and the last of my tips for the Great Escape 2017.  You’ll find a number of the 10 acts that I featured as One to Watch for 2017 on the Great Escape bill such as Jerry Williams, Hazel English, Cabbage and Liv Dawson but it’s Skott that takes the glittering, icy crown with her dramatic multi-blog approved sound. Catch her immediately after Casi on Saturday night.

Coalition 22.15pm May 20th

New Music: Introducing - Bokito

Back in 2008 when it seemed that indie guitar music had ran out of steam and pairs of skinny jeans, Vampire Weekend was a shining light, mixing afro-pop with more traditional indie sounds to create something effervescent, exciting and engaging. They brought a freshness to a dated scene.

Now, nearly 10 years on from the cardigan wearing Ivy League graduates debut, here’s a band from London fronted by a bearded man named Moses Moorhouse from Ireland, who come from a similar musical place. They have a very simple statement on their Facebook page: “We’ll make you dance”. 

On their song, Better At Getting Worse, the only track on their Soundcloud, they definitely have the recipe to make that mission statement a possibility. Part of the ingredients is that same chirpy afro-pop jitter that Vampire Weekend used, but added to that are plenty of retro organ sounds and Moorhouse’s unusual vocal which reminds me a little of Jonathan Higgs of Everything Everything with a more rasping tone. Apparently he's quite a mover on stage as well. 

Put all those musical components together and what have you got? A potential party in waiting, that's what. And all of this from a band that appear to be named after a famous gorilla. You can catch them at this year's Great Escape Festival in Brighton in May.

Bokito - Better At Getting Worse