Daddy G, Roni Size & Mikee Freedom - Best of Bristol: in support of Leukaemia Care
Massive Attacks Daddy G joins DJs Roni Size & Mikee Freedom for Best of Bristol event in support of Leukaemia Care.
Thursday 31st August saw Massive Attacks’ Daddy G, DJ Roni Size and MC Mikee Freedom perform in a one-off special gig at Klosterhaus in Bristol city centre's shopping district. The event marked the closing of ‘Unicornfest’, a charity event organised to raise thousands for Leukaemia Care. It could only be seen fit that the three Bristol-based legends headline the Best of Bristol event, proving to the attendees why Bristol continues to mark the spot as one of the UK’s most influential scenes in HipHop and Reggae Dub.
The Best of Bristol event was put together by Hammerson owner and Cabot Circus asset manager to help propel one final push towards raising more money for Leukaemia Care’s ‘Unicornfest’, an event which saw 60 beautifully decorated unicorns pop up all over Bristol city, organised partly by Purplefish PR agency.
A whimsical set of tropical house set the scene whilst those invited to the event poured in, moet glass in hand. I couldn’t help but feel like an extra in Made in Chelsea, walking down the tastefully led red carpet to be met with beams of light in hues of violet and electric blue, scattered around the building's 18th-century structure.
An excitable buzz lingered in the air, as a mixture of music heads, charity representatives and some of Bristol's top corporations CEOs mingled whilst waiting for the main event, hoping to hear Massive Attack’s Daddy G drop hits such as ‘teardrop’ and ‘Unfinished Symphony’. A selection of canapes created by Ramsay scholar and BBC2’s Great British Menu’s Josh Eggleton circled the room in the form of parma ham-wrapped scallops and Yorkshire puddings filled with posh cheese and onion. I stuffed a few in my mouth, gearing up the energy needed to dance the night away to some of Bristol's most influential names in music. Press badge in hand, I pushed my way through a crowd of the cities most suited and booted to be right in front of the decks when it all kicked off.
Starting the set in his signature flat cap style was Mikee Freedom, a Bristol-based producer, MC and DJ. He professed to me that he’d been involved in the music scene for as long as he can remember, (even rubbing shoulders with the likes of world-famous Bristol Graffiti artist, Banksy - who he remained tight-lipped about) but was really shot into fame upon the release of his 1991 hit (I wanna give you) Devotion. The single reached number 2 in the UK, whilst peaking at number 1 in the US. Interestingly, ‘Devotion’ still holds the title today as the record included on most compilation albums, and managed to steal the title of greatest dance track of all time by MTV. Mikee’s daughter, Millie, was in the crowd and her infectious smile rubbed off on me as she watched her Dad perform on the decks. A sentiment that wasn’t lost on me, reminding me of the generational influence music has on all of us.
Next up to perform was Daddy G. Having started his career in the 1980s as one of Bristol's youngest DJs in the sound system group, the Wild Bunch, Grant Marshall aka Daddy G then went on to form trip-hop group Massive Attack after his debut group disbanded in 1986. Massive Attack was formed by Daddy G, alongside members Del Naja, Tricky and Vowels, and is well known today as a pioneering group in the Bristol music scene. Massive Attack's debut album Blue Lines was released in 1991, with their first single ‘Unfinished Symphony’ reaching the UK charts, and being voted the 63rd greatest song of all time by NME magazine. Their second album Mezzanine, released in 1998, contained the single Teardrop and charted at number 1 in the UK. Rolling Stones have since accredited the album as one of the top 500 albums of all time. Daddy G didn't disappoint on the evening, playing a laid-back mix of funk, disco and trip-hop anthems, solidifying his place as one of Bristol's most treasured musicians.
The turn tables were then warmed up for DJ Roni Size. Surprisingly, Roni Size was the first of the evening to drop any Massive Attack hits, which is when the room really came alive. The unforgettable percussion and hauntingly beautiful string section of ‘Unfinished Symphony’ led me to close my eyes and surrender blissfully to this once-in-a-lifetime moment.
As the evening came to a close, I was reminded of the cause for the evening, raising funds for Leukaemia care, and felt humbled by being able to support the charity event in a small way. Plus - seeing Daddy G, Roni Size AND Mikee Freedom play together is an experience I’ll never tire of replaying in my mind's eye!
Words: Jessica Holmes