Combining an eclectic mix of music from across Scotland, The Alternative Peers Ball returned for its second year.Taking over the Assembly Rooms with an alternating line-up allowing you to catch every act, it was a night fuelled by live music and art with a bill of Scottish acts.
Missed out or looking to reflect on the night? We’ve rounded up our 5 favourite acts from the Alternative Peers Ball 2018!
With a 5pm kick-off, there was a surprising turnout for festival opener Zoe Graham. Minutes into her set, it was clear to see why they’d turned out so early. Utilising loop pedals and electric guitar, she showcased a versatile talent and songwriting skills with her stripped back set. ‘August’ sounded almost country-tinged while ‘Hacket & Knackered‘ raised the tempo to get your foot tapping. The set was extremely laidback to ease you gently into the night, but perhaps this could’ve kickstarted the festival in style with her band in tow. However, the beautiful venue did provide the perfect backdrop to the stripped back stylings, especially thanks to the Projector Club’s incredible backdrops, and we’re keen to catch Zoe live again.
Bringing back those summer festival vibes in seconds, Kobi Onyame instantly ramped things up. With crowd interaction from the moment he stepped onto stage, his hip-hop meets rock blend was an intriguing yet engaging mix with the crowd quickly dancing along. ‘DMCRZY’ and ‘Chosen Ones’ demanded attention, with ‘Gold”s repetitive ‘chuku chaka chuku chaka like a train yo!’ adding to the already fired up crowd engagement as hands were in the air throughout the full set. On the surface, Kobi’s releases are catchy African-infused singles guaranteed to get you moving, but upon listening closely they soundtrack powerful lyrics that delve into topics from democracy to adversity. Kobi had the crowd hooked minute-by-minute and there was a sigh in the air when it was time for him to go as he strolled off stage leaving the crowd wanting more.
The Xcerts added to their never-ending festival appearances this summer, following the release of their new album ‘Hold On To Your Heart‘. Commanding the main room and simply breezing through their set, they returned to full pelt as they showcased tracks from over their year repertoire, effortlessly oozing talent with every note struck. Set closer ‘Feels Like Falling In Love’ was, unsurprisingly, a particular singalong highlight with the rather tame crowd finally appreciating the moment.
Another first time watch for us were Bossy Love who brought their outlandish pop blend to town. Frontwoman Amandah Wilkinson demanded attention with vocals flowing with swagger and attitude – that may sound off-putting in text, but in a live setting Amandah carries it off with style, projecting an instantly likeable personality and a powerhouse voice to match. Latest track ‘No Control‘ was a set highlight with its R’n’B hip-hop mix, giving you an insight into Bossy Love’s world.
With their electro-pop groove-along tracks in tow, BABE enchanted the room with a taster of their new album ‘Kiss & Tell‘. Changing up from the hip-hop influenced beats, the crowds got rowdier and the volume amplified as BABE’s 80’s tinged synth sound served up an engaging set that had us dancing into the night.
Utilising the Assembly Rooms provided a fantastic atmospheric setting with the beautiful decor simply amplifying the excitement. The layout and alternating stage times offered the chance to enjoy all the bands and art with ease, alongside a breakout space to grab a drink and catch up with friends. Due to the length of the festival, this could have been improved with the addition of food options to grab a quick bite between sets as it was an eight-hour night (featuring many pints..) but, despite Jamie’s Italian restaurant downstairs, you did not want to leave to miss any music.The art aspect was something I’d never considered at any event before, but watching the Too Much Fun Club artists work away, as the painting unfolded during the night, added to the entertainment and was a talking point during the night.
The Alternative Peers Ball 2018 was overflowing with Scottish talent waiting to be enjoyed by music fans. Each act breezed seamlessly through their sets proving why they’d been selected to join the bill, each as talented as the next with versatile sets throughout the night. Due to the genre mix there was an act for everyone, giving music lovers the chance to catch bands they’d perhaps never have stumbled across. We left the Alternative Peers Ball with smiles on our faces, new friends and acts now added to our radar for future gigs – alongside the hope (or should we say plea!) that Assembly Rooms will host many more gigs in the near future.
Here’s to the Alternative Peers Ball 2019!