Going "Back to our Roots" with Loula and Mairead Moore

All photos by Ed Strelling (@eds_sketchbook_)

On May 8th, I had the opportunity to go to one of the coolest multi-media extravaganzas. And that really is the only way to describe it — a night filled with music, art, video installations, and even a tent. Yep, that’s right. A tent!

The night lived and breathed grassroots — from the literal natural themes to the gloriously independent vibe of the space. Hosted in one of Bath’s most intimate grassroots music venues, Roseberry Road Studios, I felt right at home. 

Leading the line-up was Loula, the artist behind much of the event. The two supporting acts — Isle of Skeye and Lily Rainbow — fed perfectly into the DIY, passion-fuelled music fest that Loula helped bring to life. Complementing these musical performers was Mairead Moore: the visual artist responsible for the gorgeous paintings that draped around the stage.

Revisiting childhood through art, finding meaning with each guitar strum; each paint stroke

After speaking with event organizers Livvy (Loula) and Mairead Moore, I discovered that this event had been a long time coming. Each of them spoke of revisiting childhood through art, finding meaning with each guitar strum; each paint stroke. Mairead spoke of her focus on sustainability in her craft, using natural dyes in her paintings and even on the dress that Loula would later wear on stage. The night was perfectly coordinated with these themes, with every moment feeling reminiscent of nature and the reclamation of innocence.

The whole live room was bathed in green light, and actual foliage was spread out across the monitors and stage. More than representing metaphorical growth, this natural theme served to mirror Loula’s experience writing her upcoming EP, Tomato. Specifically, it reflected on the few days Loula had spent with her partner and co-producer Slark. Described as “extremely windy, and so, so cold!”, Loula recounted to me how they brought an entire studio setup with them and wrote an EP out in the sticks. Loula had previously found herself in a writing rut, but discovered the perfect antidote in a tiny two man tent. It’s poetic, isn’t it?

They brought an entire studio setup with them and wrote an EP in a tiny two man tent

Lily Rainbow

The gig began with the hauntingly beautiful lyricism of Lily Rainbow, who some of you may know from trip-hop duo Bellyful. In her solo music, Rainbow crafts an acoustic soundscape that's perfectly balanced with her silky voice. Each song shone beautifully, combining ethereal melodies with unpredictable yet wickedly catchy lines.

Merch stand!

After Lily’s set, I took the liberty of exploring the space a little more — soaking up the atmosphere and even buying my very own tomato tee! Designed and printed by Mairead and based on an idea from Loula, the t-shirts featured a gorgeous lino cut of a tomato on top of a bed of swirls. Also at the merch desk were some prints of Mairead’s artwork, some handmade zines, and even a visitor book for people to write down their thoughts of the gig.

Second on stage were Isle of Skeye, who blew me away with their intimate yet captivating set. Electric guitar paired with acoustic to create a uniquely vibrant and varied soundscape that wove together like silk thread. Their use of vocals as an all-encompassing instrument (even performing a whole song as acapella!) was truly mesmerising and reminded me of the mythical tones of Irish folk band Lankum. In fact, Isle of Skeye’s tracks were so comforting that they seemed as timeless as traditional folk.

Isle of Skeye

After Isle of Skeye’s set, I dove into the pop-up tent that occupied the space at the back of the live room. Set up with a monitor playing Loula’s camping documentary, along with a CD player and pair of headphones that invited you to listen to an EP demo, I was truly hooked. I lay down on the air mattress, complete with pillows, a blanket and even a lamp, and listened to the intricate fizzle of the original demo. It felt truly special to be able to hear the track in such an early form, and as I listened, I was transported to that blustering hillside in February.

The tent was set up with a monitor playing Loula’s camping documentary, along with a CD player and pair of headphones that invited you to listen to an EP demo

Inside the magical tent!

When I took the headphones off, I realised that Loula’s set had started. I rushed out of the tent and immediately drank in the jagged, groovy beat of the first song, which set the mood perfectly for a glittering set. After the opening tune, the band broke into fan favourite, by now, and the devilishly catchy chorus soared high above the crowd.

Part way through the set, Loula took a second to explain the EP name, reminiscing about the fact that she grows tomatoes every year with her mum — which is so ridiculously wholesome if you ask me. Then, she broke into the next song, which tumbled from one section into another like a waterfall; and the one after that, which featured a killer riff and a powerful, emotional chorus.

Loula

The audience stirred excitedly as Loula announced she was about to play her most recent single, Love Another. This is a personal favourite of mine, and I could feel the electricity in the air as the crowd waited to hear the track. Featuring a synth and a fantastic guitar line, the song was beautifully translated to a live setting and it stormed through the set like a flash of lightning.

The last song began acoustically and felt incredibly intimate, calling back to the earlier performers of the night. The song gradually emerged through the soil to become a soft, ballad style track that grew constantly towards a sunny chorus. The song ended with an ethereal guitar solo that guided the band to a soft and soothing finish.

I was amazed at the effort that had gone into the night, from the curation of the line-up to the decoration of the space. Each detail had been meticulously planned, and as a result, all elements of the night had blended together perfectly. It felt like a camping trip with your mates, fusing a relaxing atmosphere with natural themes. I went home feeling fulfilled and excited to see what Loula has in store for us with her upcoming Tomato EP!