Bristol musicians launch fundraising compilation albums to support fellow artists
Since lockdown began, a series of compilation albums created by Bristol artists have emerged online, harnessing musical talent and community spirit to raise money for fellow musicians most affected by the Coronavirus pandemic.
The Old England
The Old England pub is a vital part of Bristol's DIY music community, famous for fostering the city's abundant creativity and talent. Like the majority of local music venues, they are struggling to cover rising costs while live events are put on hold during the COVID-19 lockdown. The Old England is currently raising money on CrowdFunder as part of Music Venue Trust’s campaign, #SaveOurVenues, an initiative to prevent independent music venues from closing due to the pandemic.
Alongside the CrowdFunder campaign, The Old England has released a compilation album, Old E's Crowdfunding Collection. The team describes the album as “a collection of mostly unreleased, old or demo material from those who have lived, worked, played, and drank at the Old E. A celebration of past times and a way to pass the time.
Not a cohesive listening experience in the slightest. These 29 tracks will drag you in wildly different directions with no discernible pattern.”
You can support The Old England by purchasing the album here: https://bit.ly/3e58Nek.
The Bottle
Bristol promoters, The Bottle, have announced Frontline EP 01, the first of a series of compilation EPs being released to raise money to support the NHS. Each compilation contains unreleased tracks, demos and live mixes from some of their favourite artists from Bristol and further afield.
The Bottle are “releasing these compilations to show the support of our music scene to those working on the frontline during this crisis. We're hoping as a scene we will be raising some money to help support the NHS financially, whilst also showcasing quality music that may not have seen the light of day otherwise.”
All money raised will go towards ‘NHS Charities Together’ through their Just Giving page, directly supporting the NHS all over the UK.
1020 Radio
Bristol’s 1020 Radio has created a charity music compilation which they have released in support of NHS staff in Bristol for the Above and Beyond appeal.
Long-standing resident of 1020 Radio and Sheffield-based producer unperson, has curated a 25 track manifesto featuring the station's artists and associates, “where the heritage of Bristol's lauded soundsystem culture provides the foundation for new structures of dubwise rave architecture, whilst exploring abstract sonic territories and monolithic soundscapes”.
All album proceeds go towards the Above and Beyond appeal, and can be purchased here: https://bit.ly/3bTzNwa.
The Ark Vol 1
The complication album compiled by John E Vistic, Ark Vol. 1, is described as a “journey with sound”. The digital album features tracks such as a space rock version of Portishead’s hit song ‘Glorybox’, a psychedelic reflection of The Weary Band and the economic-political hiphop of The United Kingdoms.
All album proceeds go to the Coronavirus Response Fund of the Quartet Charity, which you can purchase here: https://bit.ly/2ZrBrCs
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