Comments Off on Travel Diary: Melbourne musician Olympia hits the road in the United Kingdom
Melbourne artist Olympia and her fantastic band recently toured the United Kingdom, taking in events like The Great Escape and Liverpool Sound City. Join Olympia in this exclusive travel diary, capturing all the behind-the-scenes experiences on the other side of the world:
Our last show of an incredible run of shows, new band mates and audiences. Thanks to Pirate Studios for having us.The first day I had actually met our UK drummer and bass player, we locked ourselves in a room at Brighton Electric and rehearsed for 12 hours straight. As can be expected, things got weird and stokholm-syndromey.
Our first showcase as part of The Great Escape at Patterns, Brighton. This was such a cracking set, and we even had local hero Big Jeff (of VICE fame) pump his fists at this set. I initially thought he was waving, and so I waved back. My British band mates filled me in after the set. Thanks to Sounds Australia for hosting this stage, alongside other Australian bands Gold Class; Ainslie Wills; and Lisa Mitchell. This shot was taken by Brighton local Georgie Dalbiac. We also have 30 mins footage of people’s back and heads if anyone is interested.What we look like straight after a show! Our UK touring team emerging from Patterns after our show. Left to right: Olivia Bartley; Sarah Belkner (AUS); Marcus Hamblett (UK: Bears Den); Jools Owen (UK: Bears Den); and our Tour Manager Scott Humphries. A good TM is always on the phone.Warming up for SoFar Sounds in a beautiful converted shop from the 1800s in Hoxton, East London. The SoFar experience was a wonderful introduction to playing to English audiences, and on the way home I saw a pack of domestic dogs running together and I wondered where they went for a good couple of hours.On the way home from Liverpool Sound City – straight to Heathrow airport and the queues of travellers cut loose off their British Airways flights.Waiting to load in – The Great EscapeI took my jet lag to the Tate Modern and drew strangers moving around the works within The Radical Eye exhibition. Wolfgang Tillmans’ exhibition ‘2017’ was incredibly inspiring. Each room curated by the artist, including research and news articles tying the work to the present day. Felt like being inside a Radiohead album. Good gift shop – 5 stars. Hot tip – take the stairs.The Great EscapeHaving a laugh in the best company. (Also – I stole this picture from Lisa Mitchell)Stockholm Syndrome (the band)Fitting in some writing/drawing in between shows in LondonLiverpool Sound CityMy right hand woman, the artist and producer, Sarah Belkner.Backstage at The Lock Tavern after our sold out headline show. This was our first headline show in London, and was a cracker, regardless of the spiral staircase load in.BTS of a shoot with Wonderland magazineLiverpool Sound City. The guys eating hamburgers pre-set in front of the world’s biggest brick building (according to Holy Holy’s Matt Redelich)ost set, pre interview at the great Escape. Looking confident!Brighton is great. I spent a day at the Rose Hill artist-run pub to catch acts as part of The Fake Escape, including Sarah Belkner and Emma Gattril. I put this photo down to exhaustion and craft beer.Celebrating our final The Great Escape showcase with my right hand woman at the pub, both fighting off the inevitable touring cold. Highlight was the owners British Bulldog who walked around the pub.Load in at Omeara, LondonPlaying solo at SoFar Sounds, Londonnterview on the stairs. This guy’s grandpa (?) was in Mary PoppinsLady outside OmearaLove a spiral staircase load in Ladies at the Flower Market, HoxtonLondon Fields and The Dove
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