The Dot-To-Dot Festival takes place over three days across three cities; Bristol, Nottingham and Manchester. It aims to showcase new bands and as such sometimes it lucks out and finds that bands it has booked have broken through to the mainstream before the event. One such this year was Ellie Goulding. Thus while most festival goers were clogging the Rock City venue, I and about 150 likeminded individuals were enjoying some of the lesser known acts down the road at The Bodega Social Club in more comfortable, less crowded conditions.
Although bands continued to take the stage at The Bodega until 2am, Villagers were in effect the defacto headliners of the stage and attracted the biggest crowd of the evening. Villagers are the brand that songwriter Conor O'Brien trades under, and his debut album Becoming A Jackal released last month is one of the strongest debuts i've heard in many a month. Anyone who saw his performance on Later With Jools Holland might detect an earnest young man in the vein of Fionn Regan or Damien Rice, however amongst the wordplay there are moments of lightness of touch which would befit a more mature writer especially on The Pact (I'll Be Your Fever).
Conor has recruited a band to perform these songs live, and the performance is a revelation. This bands rocks The Bodega, driving the many album ballads to new uncharted territories. Conor comes across as confident and focused, none of the fake shyness that many singer songwriters use as a mask in their live performances. With only thirty minutes for the set, banter is kept to a minimum, while fans and newcomers digest material which cajoles you in, before taking you to heights especially in the coda to Pieces.
Setlist
01 The Meaning Of The Ritual
02 Home
04 Pieces
05 The Pact (I'll Be Your Fever)
06 Ship Of Promises
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