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Review: Idles Block Party, Queen Square – ‘Community, unity and freedom of expression’
One question was on everyone’s lips in the lead-up to this event: how can you fit 15,000 people in Queen Square safely and happily? Well, let’s have a look!
The sun was shining on a resplendent King Street awash with AF Gang members with every IDLES t-shirt in their history proudly displayed – the IDLES community out in force.
The crowd was over 14,000 fans strong – photo: Darren Clarke
I dash to find a good space, just in time to catch all the artists on the bill on stage led by IDLES guitarist Mark Bowen giving a plea to help medical aid for Palestinians, with a QR code large on the screen for donations.
is needed now More than ever
USE YOUR VOICE is in bold capitals, our Freedom of Speech at threat with the recent laws banning protests against the genocide in Gaza. A powerful message to start.
“Enjoy Lambrini Girls,” are Bowen’s last words. What a band to have to start proceedings! The crowd is already hyped. And what better way to start a set than with Big Dick Energy.
Lambrini Girls vocalist Polly Lunny – photo: Matt Barnes
Lambrini Girls are as direct lyrically and musically as a band can be: straight up punk rock full of defiance, anger and wit. Each song tackles a subject head-on, taking no prisoners.
Anti-monarchy and anti-fascist anthems are all welcomed here with open, jumping arms. God’s Country is a two-minute raucous punch in the King’s gut and how punk rock should sound.
Circle pits abound early doors – photo: Matt Barnes
Lambrini Girls were made for Bristol, and for this bigger stage. As Lunny splits the crowd, she swiftly nips back to the barrier, leaving a sea of sweaty limbs behind her. The dust is flying early doors, and circle pits are alive and flailing.
The set flies by and Lambrini Girls finish with Cuntology 101, a dance-punk rave mash-up. At this point, it’s hard to believe Soft Play is next up. So much energy and a masterclass of lineup choice.
All Things Bright and Beautiful pumps into the summer air and we shuffle close. I can tell things are going to get lively here. As if the energy needed lifting Soft Play fly out onto stage, singer and full-body drummer Isaac Holman flexing his best punk rock Mirror Muscles.
The energy is already high when punk duo Soft Play take the stage – photo: Matt Barnes
They say swimming is the best exercise, but I think drumming and singing in a punk band might be close. There isn’t a part of his soul he doesn’t use on stage. At only three songs in, he must have run 10k.
Sockets into Punks Dead has my brain rattling and crowd surfers surfin. Punk’s Dead turns their so-called controversial name change from Slaves to Soft Play into an anthem as we all scream “I don’t like change,” laughing at the haters and shoving their words into a punk rock classic.
Soft Play: fighting fit – photo: Matt Barnes
Holman heads into the crowd halfway through Girl Fight, performing an almost perfect back flip to a centre circle of frenzied fans before inviting all women to join the mosh pit and push the silly, sweaty men out of the way. Laurie performs the splits while his guitar glistens in the sun.
The band reminisce about Bristol shows where they played to nobody in the Mothers’ Ruin before the set highlight Everything and Nothing, a song for lost friends, Laurie’s jaunty mandolin a perfect foil for Isaac’s gut-wrenching screaming heartfelt lyrics.
Beers and tears are spilled with multiple fans leaping on friend’s shoulders to howl back at the band. It is a beautiful moment. FREE FREE Palestine rings around Queen Square as they close with the Hunter.
It’s never too early for a crowd surf…. – photo: Matt Barnes
Then it’s time for IDLES’ biggest homecoming show. Joe Talbot is all smiles as they open with Colossus, the crowd preemptively moshing in excitement before there is anything to mosh too!
It’s a celebratory return for Bristol’s favourite sons – photo: Matt Barnes
The song builds and launches like a missile into the Bristol sky. As Talbot screams “Go Go Go!” it’s too late, we’ve already gone.
This show has a celebratory feel, an angry party where people scream in your face while smiling at the same time. The locals are in but people have flown in from all over the world for this one, showing Bristol in all its wild glory.
The Square is full of fans going wild – photo: Darren Clarke
Gift Horse strikes and the place is one giant jumping pit. Whether it’s their 20th IDLES’ show or their first, these people aren’t messing about.
Talbot seems in a reflective mood tonight, thanking people for sticking with him through times when he’s been a nightmare in the past and thanking the Bristol music community for making this all possible.
Lee Kiernan joined the band in 2015 after meeting Joe Talbot out DJing – photo: Darren Clarke
The set is heavy full throttle Idles magic. War is beautiful chaos; a medal should be in the post to drummer Jon Bevis who’s performance was astoundingly loud, proud and thunderous.
Mark Bowen and Lee Kiernan enter the crowd and are enveloped by sweaty, dusty fans before clearing a space to play for lucky fans who get a gig within a gig right in front of them.
In a moment of rare quiet Free Palestine chants fill the air and are reflected back at us by the band, showing solidarity between artists and crowd. It feels like glimpsing half of Bristol in the all-consuming mosh pit, where I share a crowdsurf with Mould bass player Kane.
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The set ramps up and is 100 miles an hour as they deliver the big hitters we all wanted. With Talbot at his mic swinging, guttural, soul-wrenching best throughout, our voices are shot but his is perfect.
IDLES even made a fan’s dream come true tonight – photo: Matt Barnes
Talbot spots a young fan with a tiny sign saying ‘Can I play Rottweiler?’ Straight away Aiden is told to get on stage, and he’s on. What a dream! He killed it on a guitar right up in the mix.
Their third guitarist did not disappoint – photo: Matt Barnes
Idles sounded fierce tonight, giving everything. A night of three incredible acts celebrating community, unity and freedom of expression.
Main image: @darrencphotography
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