In a new poll by the Performing Rights Society Bristol has emerged as Britain’s most musical city, producing more musicians per head of population than anywhere else.
Long overlooked, perhaps it is now time to give Bristol its due. The city missed out on the Beat boom, and to an extent the punk revolution. However in the past twenty five years few places on the planet have held the allure of Bristol.
Beginning with the Wild Bunch Sound System, Bristol’s heady brew of soul, funk, hip hop and electronica has inspired some of the country’s most forward thinking producers.
The likes of Massive Attack and Portishead call the city their home, with a new generation of dubstep dons keeping the flame burning. Beneath this sit a number of indie acts and songwriters, with Bristol’s music scene being incredibly open minded and diverse.
In a new poll by the Performing Rights Society Bristol has been named as the most musical city in the UK. Speaking to BBC 6Music, Massive Attack singer Daddy G claimed that the area’s ethnic diversity could well fuel this creative explosion.
“There’s a huge West Indian population in Bristol, which is really amazing because it’s helped influence the sound and the textures of Bristol” he explained.
“We started off as the Wild Bench playing in St Paul’s, which is the heavily dominated West Indian area. Back in the 80’s the police didn’t come into that area much so it was slightly lawless and we could do whatever we wanted.”
Meanwhile, Geoff Barrow of Portishead explained that the city has always been a place to find left field talent. “If you look at the musicians that came out of Bristol traditionally, whether it was The Pop Group or Mark Stuart and the Mafia it was pretty out there and interesting.”
