Dreadzone: Bristol Sounds

Dreadzone took the stage in the mid-afternoon slot, just before the headline acts really got going. They already attracted a large crowd ready for a ‘bounce’ as main vocalist Spee often encourages his audiences and they often oblige. The band have always had a well crafted sound, having coming out the ashes of Big Audio Dynamite, so a number of them have now been playing together for nearer 45 years.

Being a shorter festival set, they certainly bounce through it themselves. Tracks like ‘Music Army’ getting a good response from a crowd evidently familiar with their material. ‘Rise Up’ again see more of the crowd join the dancing. All orchestrated by Spee, not just a lead singer but more of a conductor with his walking stick flailing in the air and dancing on his stool.

The biggest cheer and bounce is saved for their top forty hit (how have they only had one) ‘Little Britain’ that really burst them into the scene in 1996. Which they haven’t looked back from, being a live favourite around the country. At the end of the song the crowd think it’s all over, but they treat us to ‘Captain Dread’ too for one last bounce and sadly it is now the end of their set. But with some quality acts still to come in this first Sunday of Bristol Sounds.