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Singing in the bath: summer gigs bring noise back to Bath's Roman attraction

The Guardian

3 days ago

Entertainment
The Guardian

Singing in the bath: summer gigs bring noise back to Bath's Roman attraction

When night falls and the Great Bath empties of visitors, it usually morphs into a quiet place of glimmering light and shadows. But not at weekends this summer. DJs and musicians are to set up next to the steaming water and turn the historic space in the city of Bath into something of a party venue. 'It's a departure for us, an experiment,' said Amanda Hart, the director of archaeology at the Roman baths. 'We would like people to experience the baths in a different way and maybe attract a slightly different audience – visitors who wouldn't necessarily come to the baths.' The Summer Lates music series promises DJs playing disco, funk, gospel and jazz as well as live acoustic sets. It is not clear if people will dance. 'We're all a bit unsure as to how people are going to respond,' said Hart. 'Maybe people will have a bit of a dance.' But what would the Romans have made of it? Hart said there was no firm evidence music had been played at the baths in the south-west of England in Roman times 2,000 years ago – but she believes it probably was. Music was important in ancient Rome and was played on social occasions and at ceremonies and spectacles. 'I think we can make the assumption that music was played at the baths,' Hart said. 'It was a very sociable place. People wanted to be seen there and hang out and some people did business there and ate there. 'It wasn't just a place to go and partake in the bathing routine. It was a place to meet people and have fun as well. We're picking up on that idea. These were not quiet, contemplative places to be.' The Roman philosopher Seneca the Younger wrote vividly about how rowdy baths could be. He once lived directly above a public baths and described the noise in a letter: the arguments, the hullabaloo of a thief being caught, the cacophony of a bather who wrongly thought he was a good singer, the splash of a person leaping into the water. 'Think of the different shouts of the drinks seller and the sausage seller and the pastry seller and all the cookshop hawkers selling their wares, each with his own personal cry,' he wrote. Sign up to Sleeve Notes Get music news, bold reviews and unexpected extras. Every genre, every era, every week after newsletter promotion The idea of the Summer Lates sessions is not to generate raucous evenings but to create a 'subtle, ambient' atmosphere. The publicity material promises the baths will be turned into a 'rich soundscape where heritage meets rhythm'. There will be live performances by Hayden Thorpe, the former frontman of the band Wild Beasts, and Our Man in the Field, an Americana group. The Bristol-based DJs Beavs (Lauren Beavis) and Fivestylez (Oli Ackroyd) are among those who will play sets. The Bath and North East Somerset council leader, Kevin Guy, said the Roman baths had long been a place where people came together. 'We're continuing that tradition in a bold and contemporary way. It reflects our ongoing commitment to sharing Bath's heritage in ways that are creative and relevant, and we look forward to welcoming residents and visitors to experience the Roman baths in this new way.' Summer Lates is a six-week programme of evening openings from 21 July to 31 August. The Great Bath will be lit with torches and there will be a pop-up bar. The live music and DJ sets will take place on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings. From Monday to Thursday, the Roman baths will remain open until 8pm. On Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and the August bank holiday Monday, the site will host visitors until 10pm.

Bristol in Pictures: Harbour Festival and Gromit Unleashed 3

BBC News

3 days ago

Entertainment
BBC News

Bristol in Pictures: Harbour Festival and Gromit Unleashed 3

As far as festivals go, this is one of the biggest weekends in the Harbour Festival has returned, bringing the usual ships, live music, water displays, food markets and Gromit Unleashed 3 trail continues to delight visitors and residents alike, and we are all feeling a little less hot under the collar now the heatwave is was also time for one more dance at Motion as the legendary club closed in its current location near Temple usual, this gallery celebrates award winners and interesting events in and around Bristol, which this week means penguins in a care home and motoring apprenticeships in Bedminster. They've bean busy: An array of colourful and unusual home-made crafts took part in Saturday's cardboard boat race as part of the Bristol Harbour Festival. Tracking them down: The 53 sculptures which are part of the Gromit Unleashed 3 trail are proving popular as both city residents and visitors try and spot them all. The trail will be with us until 31 August and the sculptures will then be auctioned off in aid of The Grand Appeal, Bristol Children's Hospital charity. One more time: Saturday was an emotional time for fans of legendary Bristol nightclub Motion as it held the last event in its current location. Some of the world's biggest DJs have played the venue over the past 20 years. Hot stuff: Can it really be only a week ago the city was sweltering in temperatures above 30C? The weather has been a bit less dramatic since then. Hottest ticket in town: Seats have remained hard to come by as Moulin Rouge continues its run at the Bristol Hippodrome, a run that comes to an end on 9 August. Pick up a penguin: Residents at Avon Valley Care Home had a memorable experience as penguins and monkeys were brought in for them to hold, feed and stroke. Coming soon: Bristol artist Alex Lucas has been hard at work creating a pond-inspired artwork which will be unveiled this week in Quaker's Friars in the city centre. The project, in collaboration with creative producers Bakehouse, will be finished just in time for the school holidays. Fast rise: Fairfield High School pupil Isla is making waves in the world of dance, scoring highly in the national freestyle competition held in Stoke-on-Trent recently, despite only taking up dancing in 2021. The kettle's on: Independent Bristol business the Double Puc Cafe has been chosen as the food and drink provider for Crescent, a new development in the heart of Bristol's Temple Quarter. Top of the class: Bedminster-based S&B Academy, which opened in 1972 and now offers apprenticeships in Bristol and nationwide, won training provider of the year at the Prestige Awards, which were held at Ashton Gate Stadium.

Woman dies at Tomorrowland days after devastating fire on main stage

The Independent

4 days ago

Entertainment
The Independent

Woman dies at Tomorrowland days after devastating fire on main stage

A Canadian woman has died at Tomorrowland festival just days after the festival opened despite a huge fire destroying the main stage. Authorities in Antwerp are investigating the 35-year-old's death after she became unwell at the festival grounds on Friday night. A statement said emergency services resuscitated the woman, but that she later died in hospital. The public prosecutor's office in Antwerp said in a statement: 'The prosecutor's office immediately launched an investigation. Initial findings indicate strong evidence of a drug-related death. An autopsy and a thorough toxicology examination will provide definitive answers.' It is the second tragedy that has struck the festival in recent days, after its main stage was destroyed in a fire earlier in the week. Images shared on local news sites and social media showed flames and plumes of black smoke engulfing the stage and spreading to nearby woodland on Wednesday. Fireworks seemingly ready for performances were also seen exploding into the air as nearby residents were urged to close all windows and doors until the fire was contained. No members of the public were present at the time of the blaze, but 1,000 employees were on site. Dozens of emergency teams were seen rushing through the festival grounds just after 6pm on the day of the blaze in an attempt to extinguish the flames and evacuate those inside the grounds. The cause of the fire has not yet been confirmed. Some of the world's most popular DJs are due to appear on the stage over the weekend, including Martin Garrix, David Guetta, Fisher, Swedish House Mafia and Steve Aoki. Organisers raced to build an alternative main stage, with the festival opening two hours later than planned on Friday. The Independent has contacted Tomorrowland for comment regarding the death of the woman. Festival spokesperson Debby Wilmsen told Brussels Morning: "She received first aid and was then transferred to the University Hospital of Antwerp. 'We were informed she passed away there. Our condolences go out to her family and friends. The Antwerp prosecutor's office is investigating the cause of death and will update further on this matter.'

Legendary UK nightclub that's hosted world's biggest DJs is shutting doors this weekend after two ‘incredible' decades

The Sun

6 days ago

Entertainment
The Sun

Legendary UK nightclub that's hosted world's biggest DJs is shutting doors this weekend after two ‘incredible' decades

A UK nightclub that has hosted the world's biggest DJs will officially shut its doors this weekend. After almost two decades in business, the iconic establishment is set to host one last wild night out. 5 Motion, located in a Grade-II listed industrial warehouse in Bristol, has hosted famous nights out since 2006. The venue has welcomed a variety of iconic DJs, drawing techno music lovers and ravers from far and wide. But don't worry if you're a fan of Motion, the owners have secured another site nearby. However, they still shared their sadness at leaving the iconic venue, explaining that it holds "a lot of special memories". Managing director Dan Deeks has described the closure as bittersweet. "We're trying to keep our heads up high and enjoy the last weekend and keep a celebratory mood... but obviously massive sad that we're going to lose the club," he told the BBC. "We've had massive support, a real outpouring of supportive messages, memories. It's been really heart-warming. "It holds a lot of special memories, some really special times." Deeks has worked at the club for more than 15 years and explained that the nightclub owners had put forward a bid when the landlord shared plans to sell the site. "They don't want us to buy it. Our lease expires and that's the end of it," he explained. SKY Amazing plan for world's 2nd tallest skyscraper twice as big as The Shard with highest ever nightclub & observation deck While he is unsure of the landlords' plans for the building, he went on to say the club was "incredibly grateful" for the past two decades. Deeks added that despite the sadness of the closure "things are looking good". "We've got a new site to move to and we're really pleased because it's not a leasehold, it's a freehold site," he said. Famous names Motion has played host to countless music acts over the years, including Rudimental, Sub Focus, Conducta, Jax Jones, Barry Can't Swim, Greg Wilson, Mall Grab, Honey Dijon, and DJ Seinfeld. DJ and producer Eats Everything spoke to the BBC about the club's closure, calling it "a piece of UK nightlife history". Famous acts who have performed at Motion Rudimental Sub Focus Conducta Randall Artwork Greg Wilson Mall Grab Sonny Fodera Honey Dijon DJ Seinfeld object blue DEBONAIR Calibre Big Miz Kettama Demuja Chase & Status Princess Nokia M Huncho Jeff Mills Floating Points JME Hunee Mr Scruff Disclosure Ben Nicky & Friends Chris Stussy Enzo Siragusa Theo Kottis A for Alpha Joseph Capriati Max Dean Samsön Todd Terry Marshall Jefferson Graeme Park Goldie Special Request DJ Storm Doc Scott Ant TC1 Benny L DRS GQ Lowqui Medic Richie Hawtin Chicane Kryder Interplanetary Criminal Soul Mass Transit System Skeptic Amy Dabbs Miley Serious Gia Logic1000 Jasper Tygner Hammer O'Flynn Barry Can't Swim LP Giobbi TIBASKO Jax Jones Route 94 Enzo Is Burning Maisie Jane Sean Johnston Chaos In The CBD Christian AB DANILO PLESSOW FREAKENSTEIN LUKE UNA Steffi x Virginia TOM RIO DAN WILD JETHRO "It's one of the most important venues in the country," he continued. "Friendships, marriages, children, all manner of relationships will have been formed on the dance floor in this place. "It's broken tracks, it's broken artists that have had their first gigs here and now have gone on to become massive stars. "You've had every single DJ under the sun come play here. And now it's closing and it's sad, man. It's a sad day, it holds a big place in my heart." 5 Benefit to Bristol Carly Heath, who works as a night-time economy adviser in Bristol, recalled spending thousands of hours handing out flyers outside Motion, as well as putting on nights there. "I'm trying not to think about [the closure] too much. I feel really, really sad," she said. She explained that venues like Motion were "critically important to our economy", contributing to culture, togetherness, and well-being as well as generating tens of millions of pounds. "These guys are going to go on and do amazing things. Cities are about flux and change," she added. "This is the end of one chapter but I firmly believe it's the beginning of another." Motion will draw the shutters for the final time after a final 24-hour party over the weekend. "We are absolutely going for it. There's points where it won't stop," said Deeks. "Everyone will be able to come down, have a good time, and see it off in style." 5 More closures Plus, a family favourite restaurant chain has closed the doors of a "landmark" branch. A Poundland location has been evicted from an iconic UK seaside town. And a Michelin-star chef has closed a "spectacular" restaurant after just five months in business. Plus, a major card chain has launched a closing down sale after announcing it is closing down for good. A major retailer is having a 50% Christmas sale in July after closing nine locations.

Lottie Moss sets temperatures soaring with skimpy bikini snap from girls' trip

Daily Mail