The GEAR 8 Launch Party

GEAR celebrated the launch of its 8th edition on the 19th of June! The Summer 2025 edition was packed full of Bath/Bristol’s best hidden gems of talent, and the night of the launch itself was one to remember…

The launch took place at The Jam Jar in Bristol, and when doors opened at 20:00, the vibes were as vibrant as the venue’s walls. All attendees were greeted with a copy of G8 upon entry and got the chance to read all about the night’s headline band, Technicolour Steam Train!

The GEAR gallery boasted artwork from Abi Gold, Mairead Moore, Meg Hicks Jones, and Molly Fletcher Hebden. From paintings to pointillism, the gallery provided plenty of inspiration for those to unleash on our colouring table…

And when not indulging their inner artist, you could find the crowd making some moves at the main stage. The night commenced with The Electric Kool Aid Collective inviting all to let loose and feel the groove. Power vocals and punchy beats prepared the crowd for what was ahead.

Technicolour Steam Train were celebrating their album release at midnight, and came prepared with a set that left you itching to listen to ‘Off The Rails’ on repeat. The band shared secrets and stories whilst giving shout-outs to those who helped make the album a reality. The crowd matched the band’s high energy, giving their all for the audience participation, and going as far as creating a conga line for the band’s song ‘Hash Browns’.

A quick stop at the merch stand to pick up our newly designed black GEAR t-shirt and a TST ‘Off The Rails’ CD, and you’d be ready to dance the night out to Yiians’ DJ set. Yiian kept the vibes flowing till it was time to finally close doors on this long-awaited night.

Thank you to all who came down and supported GEAR. We truly love every aspect of the community we have built, and GEAR would not be possible without it. Thank you to the artists who took part in the GEAR gallery, and all who took to the stage. See you at the next one! <3