Tag: Music

373. Upfest 2016 (24)

Tucked away in the garden of St Francis Church on North Street were a collection of artists who had prepared their works on boards 1.2m x 1.2m. Lurking here in one of the festival ‘backwaters’ were some wonderful treasures.

Swilfa, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
Swilfa, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016

This magnificent piece by Swilfa, a London artist, captures Bob Marley really beautifully. What is different about his pieces is that they are created using a combination of acrylic paints and old pieces of vinyl records. If you look carefully you will see that the hair is styled from some 40 vinyl records (according to Swilfa’s Facebook page).

Angels

 

Raising children can

try the patience of angels;

my wings need preening.

 

by Scooj

 

  • with a nod to Eddie Reader and an earworm.

335. Devon Road (6)

Let me take you back a short while to a gorgeous May day, when I discovered for the first time the wonders of Devon Road. This is a place where the local community wanted to brighten up their back street and so invited some of Bristol’s street artists to paint back doors, gates and walls. The result is absolutely wonderful and this is, in my mind, one of the highlights.

Sepr, Devon Road, Bristol, May 2016
Sepr, Devon Road, Bristol, May 2016

This brilliant piece by Sepr contains many of the themes he uses in his work. We have two young women playing instruments, in this instance snare drums and high-hats cast in monochrome on a delicious blue background.

Sepr, Devon Road, Bristol, May 2016
Sepr, Devon Road, Bristol, May 2016

I have been holding on to this piece for a long while, keeping it close…behaving a little like Gollum. It is my ‘precious’ you see. Well sort of. Now it is out there for all to enjoy. And if you get to Devon Road, be sure to stop and enjoy this piece.

334. North Street, 188

This is an absolute gem recently stenciled on a rather obliging white wall by one of Bristol’s finest street artists, Stewy. What make this piece extra special for me is that it is a picture of one of my favourite musicians, Robert Wyatt, whose version of ‘ship building’ is in my top ten personal hit list.

Stewy (Robert Wyatt), North Street, Bristol, July 2016
Stewy (Robert Wyatt), North Street, Bristol, July 2016

Stewy, when he is not stenciling animals, is creating images of well known people. Other works I have posted on include Cary Grant and DJ Derek. I love his work and was really excited to come across this one. I knew he had done it, but just didn’t know where. I expect It’ll get loads of attention at Upfest 2016.

Stewy (Robert Wyatt), North Street, Bristol, July 2016
Stewy (Robert Wyatt), North Street, Bristol, July 2016

Flash mob

 

Dancers disguised, spring

into action and dazzle

bemused spectators.

 

by Scooj

228. Devon Road (3)

I’m still excited by Devon Road. This is an exceptional piece by the brilliant Sepr. Typical of his pieces, it is in shades of gray and features a musician, in this case a guitarist.

Sepr, Devon Road, Bristol, May 2016
Sepr, Devon Road, Bristol, May 2016

The mustachioed character has a continental look about him and there is something rather peaceful about the work. I can almost hear the music.

Sepr, Devon Road, Bristol, May 2016
Sepr, Devon Road, Bristol, May 2016

I think it is fairly obvious, but I am a big fan of Sepr’s work and to find this near-perfect mural in Devon Road made me very happy indeed. Imagine my surprise when I came upon another one just around the corner. More on that one soon.

Sepr, Devon Road, Bristol, May 2016
Sepr, detail, Devon Road, Bristol, May 2016

Dawn chorus

Compensation for

an early start; sweet singing

and unfettered joy.

by Scooj

175. Cheltenham Road, No 126

I found this lovely tribute to DJ Derek, the first of many I suspect, along the Cheltenham Road at the back end of last week. It is by Lemak and I believe was completed on 3 April 2016.

Tribute to DJ Derek by Lemak, Cheltenham Road, Bristol, April 2016
Tribute to DJ Derek by Lemak, Cheltenham Road, Bristol, April 2016

Lemak originally comes from Fleetwood but is currently based in Bristol.He was originally inspired by stencil artists and first took to spraying in 2011. I think this work is very accomplished, and the stencil portrait of DJ Derek is a fine and fitting tribute.

Tribute to DJ Derek by Lemak, Cheltenham Road, Bristol, April 2016
Tribute to DJ Derek by Lemak, Cheltenham Road, Bristol, April 2016

DJ Derek, was a locally well known septuagenarian disc jockey who played at clubs all around Bristol and beyond. He mysteriously went missing in July and his body was found in March this year. More on this in my posts 31. Leonard Lane (3) and 146. The Bearpit (6).

The Fantastick

 

Captivated by

her looks and celebrity;

my crush did not last.

 

By Scooj

 

  • Inspired by a conversation with Rose. It recounts a schoolboy crush I had on a girl who was in a school production of The Fantasticks.

Le nozze di Figaro

 

Operatic farce;

love lost and gained; Jealousy

vanquished in the end.

 

by Scooj

  • We went to see a fabulous Welsh National Opera production of The Marriage of Figaro last night. Perfect Christmas present from Mrs Scooj.