The GEAR 11 Launch Party!

GEAR ZINE
Jun 20
3 min read

Knock knock.

Who’s there?

GEAR.

GEAR who?

GEAR 11th edition launch party!!

That’s right folks, we did it again — and by “it”, we mean another swagtastic launch party that was jam-packed full of cool tunes,

beautiful art, and lovely people. Sorry, we can’t help it, bringing the vibes is just in our nature ;)

Held at the wonderful Star and Dove pub, our launch party was truly a night to remember. Isabella Rosser kicked off the evening with some beautifully woven tunes, and we couldn’t help but sway along to the deliciously catchy melodies and poetic lyrics. She even played a Panic at the Disco cover, so safe to say our 13-year-old emo side (it’s not a phase!!!) was over the moon.

Following swiftly were Custard, Bristol's very own dream pop extravaganza — complete with a trumpet! Their blanket of hazy melodies and otherworldly guitars transported me to somewhere well beyond the Star and Dove, fusing together dreams and reality into a blissfully sweet embrace.

After this came Ziggy2000, the sparkly cover star of our 11th edition. She held the room in a trance as her airy vocals transcended the space, suspending us all in a starry glow. Finally, local slack rockers Nobody’s Dad took to the stage, and brought with them a flurry of shoegaze guitars, intimate vocals, and a whole lot of fun. And let’s not forget our afterparty, as provided by the local DJ SUMI — her intoxicating beats had us dancing well past our bedtime!

For the first time ever, our event sprawled partly across a beer garden — a perfect pairing with the gorgeous weather we were blessed with. In said beer garden were GEAR themed tote bags, but the fun didn’t stop there… We also brought fabric pens for everyone to decorate their bags with as they pleased! And boy, you guys went nuts.

Remember: the best way to get your hands on one of our physical zines is to get your butt down to one of our launch parties!

Alongside this fun new addition, we had some fan favourites returning. Namely, the GEAR lucky dip™ and our colouring in tables! Honestly, one of our highlights when we pack down our events is seeing all the wacky doodles you guys have created. Speaking of fantastic art, our art gallery also returned for the launch, with features from Billy Martin, Eliza Brindle, Ellie Webb, Jingyuan Ma, Phoebe Peel, and Sadie Sharp. The humble back corner of the pub was transformed into a feast for the senses, with huge vibrant tapestries, and even some free zines! And that brings me neatly onto the star of the show… GEAR 11th edition.

We really poured our hearts into our 11th edition, bringing a fresh new perspective to our page design and even adding a brand new game! As attendees will know, everyone walked away with a free copy of our beloved zine to read, share, and tear up as they please. We won’t give too much away, as you’ll be able to read the edition online very soon… All we’ll say is that it’s crammed full of awesome female-fronted acts like Ziggy2000 and Honeyglow, as well as mixing tips from Oli Baldwin (Dry Cleaning, Planet Earth III), and of course some tasty horoscopes. Oh, and there’s tons of art and even a poster to put on your wall!

Remember: the best way to get your hands on one of our physical zines is to get your butt down to one of our launch parties. And, as if that isn’t enough incentive, they also happen to be some of the coolest events ever. Don’t just take it from us — take a look at all these happy faces!

We had the best time putting together the latest magazine and launch event. A massive thank you from the bottom of our hearts to everyone who came, played, and displayed art! You guys really are the backbone of GEAR, and we love you SO much. Give yourself a pat on the back, and sit tight for the next one…