Live: Lonely The Brave @ The Marble Factory, Bristol.

by | Oct 22, 2016

Mark Trotter guitarist of Lonely The Brave headlining at The Marble Factory in Bristol. (Natalie Lam)

Mark Trotter guitarist of Lonely The Brave headlining at The Marble Factory in Bristol. (Natalie Lam)

It’s an early start for tonight’s show in Bristol. Spirits are high. There’s a contagious buzz infecting the room with anticipation and with the recent praise that Lonely The Brave have received from their newest album raise, it’s no surprise why. Each member of the crowd shares that genuine enthusiasm and it’s just one of the few factors that makes tonight’s set a special one.

Mark Trotter guitarist of Lonely The Brave headlining at The Marble Factory in Bristol. (Natalie Lam)

Mark Trotter guitarist of Lonely The Brave headlining at The Marble Factory in Bristol. (Natalie Lam)

Supporting act, Tall Ships take to the stage. Their presence has a casual but driven manner that most fans only wish they could still see in their favourite band. This demeanour is just a contrast to the sound that the four-piece produce. Tracks like T=0 range in textures, from thick, layered with unconventional but dynamic riffs to comparably muted melodies and softer notes. The impact this has on crowd is reminiscent of seeing a band in a packed out 8,000 capacity venue. The sound is memorable, loud and powerful.

David Jakes, singer of Lonely The Brave, headlining at The Marble Factory in Bristol. (Natalie Lam)

David Jakes, singer of Lonely The Brave, headlining at The Marble Factory in Bristol. (Natalie Lam)

The venue fills out quickly for Lonely The Brave. Singer, David Jakes, more often than not appears timid on stage, avoiding the limelight and fan adoration (which is nonetheless, humbling), but opening with a performance of Black Mire welcomes fans with a new energy from him that seems to spur on the rest of the band. It’s not lost on the first few songs either.

Ross Smithwick, guitarist and backing singer of Lonely the Brave, headlining The Marble Factory in Bristol (Natalie Lam)

Ross Smithwick, guitarist and backing singer of Lonely the Brave, headlining The Marble Factory in Bristol (Natalie Lam)

The Blue, The Green encourages further singalongs, making the track feel like an epic anthem, filling a club venue. Halfway through, Lonely the Brave, throw a curveball of a well-executed cover of Pink Floyd’s Comfortably Numb, which transforms the leftover passive observers to attentive eagle-eyed and fox-ear’d.

Andrew Bushen, bassist of Lonely the Brave, headlining The Marble Factory in Bristol (Natalie Lam)

Andrew Bushen, bassist of Lonely the Brave, headlining The Marble Factory in Bristol (Natalie Lam)

With undivided attention now on the band, here seems like the perfect time to introduce Radar, a punchier, rockier sound. It seems like they can do it all – get a group religiously dancing, moshing, singing and chanting, desperate to hear more during an encore.

David Jakes, singer of Lonely The Brave, headlining at The Marble Factory in Bristol. (Natalie Lam)

David Jakes, singer of Lonely The Brave, headlining at The Marble Factory in Bristol. (Natalie Lam)

What seems so universally special, is the fact that you’re watching a band that are about to break the world but you’re the first to find out the secret. It’s rare to find six people that so early on display such excellent musicianship without even really realising it. They’re only two albums into their career but this is undoubtedly a small fraction of its longevity.

[photoshelter-gallery g_id=”G0000RjJxEOkVzKk” g_name=”Lonely-The-Brave” f_show_caption=”t” f_show_slidenum=”t” img_title=”casc” pho_credit=”iptc” f_link=”t” f_enable_embed_btn=”t” f_send_to_friend_btn=”t” f_fullscreen=”t” f_smooth=”t” f_up=”t” f_topbar=”t” f_show_watermark=”t” f_htmllinks=”t” f_mtrx=”t” fsvis=”f” width=”740″ height=”555″ f_constrain=”t” bgcolor=”#ffffff” bgtrans=”t” btype=”old” bcolor=”#CCCCCC” crop=”f” twoup=”t” trans=”flip” tbs=”4000″ f_ap=”t” linkdest=”c” f_bbar=”f” f_bbarbig=”” target=”_self” ]

Live Review & Photography by Natalie Lam.

Lonely The Brave, The Marble Factory, Bristol on 7th October 2016.

Liang Lawrence (Ana Chen)

Liang Lawrence Unveils Reflective New Single ‘A Day Off In Margaritaville’ Ahead Of Autumn UK Tour

Rising alt-pop storyteller Liang Lawrence has shared her shimmering new single A Day Off In Margaritaville, a vibrant, emotionally layered track that marks the first offering from her upcoming EP It’s A Funny Thing, due later this year via The Other Songs.

Mae Stephens (Hannah Burton)

Mae Stephens Returns With Infectious New Single ‘Tiny Voice’

Breakout pop star Mae Stephens is back with a bang as she drops her irresistibly offbeat new single, Tiny Voice — a track as addictive as it is relatable. Following the runaway global success of her hit If We Ever Broke Up, which racked up over 500 million streams, landed her a Top 15 UK single, and earned Gold certifications in both the UK and US, Stephens continues to show why she’s one of the most exciting new voices in pop.

Maya Lane (Press)

Maya Lane Announces New Single ‘I Don’t Know You Yet’ And Debut London Headline Show Ahead Of New EP

Rising UK pop-country star Maya Lane continues her impressive 2025 trajectory with the release of a stunning new single, I Don’t Know You Yet, out now. The introspective, stripped-back track offers a poignant taste of her forthcoming EP, The Hurt And The Healing, due out on 4th September, and precedes her debut headline show at London’s The Grace on 3rd September.

Perera Elsewhere (Hugo Holger Schneider x Gene Glover)

Perera Elsewhere Returns With Electrifying Double Single Ft. Andy S & Announces New Album

Berlin-based, UK-raised experimental artist Perera Elsewhere (aka Sasha Perera) is back with a high-voltage double single, F*ck Le System / Time Will Tell, out now on Friends Of Friends – both featuring viral Ivorian rapper Andy S. The release serves as a bold statement on feminine strength, social rebellion, and sonic experimentation.

Don McLean @ The Long Road Festival (Press)

The Long Road Festival 2025 Assembles Its Biggest Line-Up Yet For August Bank Holiday Weekend

Now entering its sixth and most ambitious year to date, The Long Road Festival 2025 is set to deliver its boldest celebration of country, Americana, and roots music yet, taking over the scenic Stanford Hall in Leicestershire from 22nd–24th August. With more than 80 artists across six stages, the weekend promises an immersive blend of genre-spanning music, authentic Americana culture, and inclusive community spirit — and has already become the festival’s fastest-selling edition to date.

Stevie Wonder @ BST Hyde Park 2025 (Bethan Miller-Carey)

A Night In Wonderland: Stevie Wonder And Guests Delight At BST Hyde Park 2025

“Awwwwight!” drawls Stevie Wonder, arms flung wide, grinning like a teenager trying on cockney charm for the first...
Neil Young @ BST Hyde Park (Trudi Knight)

Dance, Shadow And Harvest Under The Full Moon: Van Morrison, Yusuf Islam And Neil Young And The Chrome Hearts At BST Hyde Park 2025

Gone are the sparkled cowgirls and pop princesses of previous BST gigs. It’s the turn of the Baby Boomer generation to make up the core crowd of Hyde Park – a sea of grey hair, straw hats, and sensible shoes. They reapply sun cream religiously, have brought picnic blankets, and can be forgiven for taking their time getting up and down from the ground between acts. This is the generation that invented outdoor rock and folk festivals – and they’re here to show the rest of us how it’s done.

Poptones (Rune Gro-Nielsen)

Poptones Play Their Wild Card With New Single ‘Say Something Now’ Ahead of Forthcoming Album ‘Pure’

Danish experimental rock trio Poptones have unveiled their new single Say Something Now, offering a taste of the unpredictability and emotional depth that defines their upcoming sophomore album Pure, out 26th September via Happy Metal Records. Where lead single Skin Of Sea teased a shift toward expansive and instinctive composition, Say Something Now dives headlong into that experimental impulse—guided, intriguingly, by the rules of UNO. Yes, the beloved card game.

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This

Share Thing