Noz’s Top 20 Picks for Nozstock 2018
We are huge fans of each act heading to Nozstock this year. With it being our 20th anniversary, we thought we’d let you in on Noz’s top 20 picks from this year’s line-up from across the festival.
1. Chase & Status (DJ Set + Rage)
Our Friday headliner, and an act that need no introduction…drum ‘n’ bass royalty, Chase & Status. With multi-platinum albums, regular appearances in the charts and industry awards to their name, you can’t miss their incomparable sound at this year’s Nozstock.
2. CW Jones
Blues poet, Soul Junkie & Psychedelic wizard, CW Jones, will soothe your soul and invigorate your mind with his fresh and eclectic sound.
3. Pengshui
We couldn’t leave Pengshui off this list. With vocals from Illaman (Foreign Beggars, Goldie, Chinese Man), Fatty on bass (Submotion Orchestra, Alex Clare) and Pravvy Prav on drums (Foreign Beggars, Gentleman’s Dub Club) this new live act are set to bring a raw and visceral live show to Nozstock.
Winners of 2016’s Love Supreme Discovery Competition, Feelgood Experiment feature the best of Bristol’s music scene with rhythms rooted in jazz, soul and R&B and rich lyrical content. With their first single being produced by Jim Barr (Portishead) and mixed by Oli Baldwin (PJ Harvey), this group are well on their way to breaking into the UK jazz scene.
5. Honeyfeet
For some years, Honeyfeet have been the conduit for the ideas and expressions of an exotic mixture or Manchester based musicians. Once referred to as Folk-Hop and Barrelhouse-pop, with that description, you know they are unlike any band on the circuit.
Returning to Nozstock to baptize your ears and eyes with their Pentecostal parody party, it is the heavenly, Oh My God! It’s The Church. Join Reverend Michael Alabama Jackson and DJ Sister Mary Lou for wild sermons and an unapologetically holy disco.
7. Macka B
With a career spanning over 30 years, Macka B is a British Reggae and dancehall legend and activist.
He has worked with artists like Lee Scratch Perry and Horace Andy and performed with Nelson Mandela. Catch him on the Orchard Stage.
8. Chris Tofu
Chris Tofu’s tracks come with the dust of a thousand mad all-night magical festivals, over fifteen years, all over Europe. Fusing every genre under the festival season sun, we can’t wait to hear the sound of his legendary past of DJing.
9. Stiff Joints
From a four piece reggae outfit of four brothers in 2009, The Stiff Joints have evolved into an eleven-piece Ska collective and also a Nozstock favourite. Come and party to their infectious two-tone self described ‘ska-feast’.
10. Mollie Collins
With beautiful liquid vocals over jump-up basslines, and named the Drum and Bass Breakthrough DJ of 2017, we can’t wait to have Mollie Collins’ incredible techniques fill The Cubicles.
11. Capas
After lighting up The Bandstand last year with a 12 piece, horn-led cinematic sound, we welcome back the sensational Capas. A talent not to be missed.
12. Buffos Wake
Hailing from Brighton and armed with accordions, violins and buckets of gusto, Buffos Wake waltz, tango and mosh their way through various influences from Balkam to punk rock. Catch them on the Orchard Stage.
13. True Strays
Good time vintage roots rock and roll, fuelled by rhythm and blues! You can find the True Strays leading festival line-dances or sparking late night revelry.
Heading to our Garden Stage, is the brainchild of top drum ‘n’ bass vocalist Collette Warren, Collette The Dots. Having worked with many top producers, she has releaseson Soul:r, Exit Records, Innerground and many more. Performing as a live seven-piece, expect funk, soul, jazz and of course, drum ‘n’ bass.
15. Kelvin 373 ft. Gardna
Performing as part of the Rumble In The Jungle Takeover down at Elephant’s Grave this year is Levin 373 & Gardna. Kelvin 373 has been hugely influenced by the underground free party movement and Bristol lyricist Gardna has been embraced throughout the UK Bass scene. You know it’s gonna be huge.
16. Kiko Bun
From North-West London to the Hidden Valley, Kiko Bun creates a contemporary sound interlaced with golden era hip-hop and reggae with a distinctive voice and infectious beats.
Do you want to dance? We do too. Come join the riff raff and dance with Gypsy, ska, dub, swing connoisseurs Mr Tea and the Minions.
18. Normanton Street
Back at Nozstock with their warm bass grooves, lyrical mastery and dynamic sound, Ned, Nicholson and Phoebe aka Normanton Street are one of our favourites.
Be more, do better, but don’t change. Writer, rhymer, actress and director, Roisin Crowley Linton asks “why is everyone so obsessed with love?” in a collection of stories and poems about self-improvement. Premiering at 2017’s Prague Fringe, she will be heading to Edinburgh this year, but first stop, Nozstock.
20. Verbal Highz
Blending boom bap production with tongue twisting lyricism, Verbal Highz bring together 4 MCs and are guaranteed to win ever crew battle they find themselves in. Catch them on the Garden Stage this year.
