Review: Dot to Dot Festival 2021

Dot to Dot Festival 2021 has been and gone. A gathering of Nottingham’s beloved artists spread across some of the best venues in the city, the day saw music fans reignited with the excitement and passion for live tunes we have all been longing for over these past two years. Attending and performing at Dot to Dot has to be one of my favourite days of the year, and I was so happy to be back. Here are some of our highlights from the event..

Do Nothing

Encapsulating the audience with what can be described as staccato post punk, Do Nothing packing out Rock City was something to be remembered. Frontman Chris Bailey’s comedic and spoken-esque vocals made for a captivating performance as usual. Balancing the line between thrill and theatre unpredictably, their performances were not only exhilarating but technically skilful. Later on, Do Nothing surprised with a secret set in their beloved home, The Bodega. Going from seeing this band fill Notts' most iconic venue to bringing Bodega to full capacity was something truly special, and it's difficult to pick a favourite performance. It's obvious that these guys are just at the start of something pretty special.

Tori Sheard

Stunning vocal melodies encompassed the stage for Tori Sheard’s intimate performance in the Bodega bar. Able to silence a crowd but also have everybody dancing is something Tori can certainly do, and she owned the stage. With a feeling of pop but also folk at the same time, the set was passionate, natural and blissful. With pretty acoustic guitar and melodious vocals, Tori had the room singing along in unison to the few covers that she threw within the set too.

Jerub

Soulful and entrancing, Jerub’s performances are always unforgettable. But his set in a packed out Red Room, upstairs in Rescue Rooms, was something to be remembered. The local singer-songwriter brought his incredibly powerful vocals to the stage, showcasing emotive and meaningful lyrics. With songs that have stories, you can feel that Jerub sings from the heart, and it's no surprise the success he is gathering for himself - after he was selected as one of the top five BBC Introducing acts earlier this year. This performance is an impressive run-up to his headline slot at Bodega on 2nd December.

Black Honey

It isn’t very often that you go and see a band and the vocalist sounds just like the record, but sparkling frontwoman Izzy B Phillips nailed it to a T. Advocating for a safe space for women at live events and making sure the mosh pit was a positive experience for all, Black Honey offered perfectly balanced indie rock and Izzy’s persona radiated sixties and seventies glitz and glamour. Piercing but delicate, the four-piece are owning it right now and Rock City mainstage suited them down to the ground.

Sports Team

Known for their fantastic live performance, Sports Team smashed their first ever headline slot. With a frontman boasting an incredible persona, the six-piece encompasses something that hasn’t been seen in a band for a good few years, and the impact they are having was clear as Rock City goers screamed Camel Crew. Vocals from both the guitarist and the lead singer and exciting interludes led for a thrilling set. Moshing to M5 was certainly the highlight. I will definitely be heading down to their performance at Rock City on 17 November to experience more crowd surfing shenanigans. 

Black Cats and Magpies 

Following their recent headline show at Bodega, Black Cats and Magpies took to the stage at The Chameleon for one of the last sets of the day with their uplifting, echo heavy indie rock. The three-piece graced their audience with long time favourites like Away and with a strong rhythm section, their sound effortlessly filled the stage with anthemic energy. With upbeat, ascending choruses, they know how to get everyone singing along to their tunes. 

Overall, a very successful Dot to Dot. I only wish I had got to see more amazing Notts artists, and am already excited for 2022…