Have You Heard? #6: This Is The Kit

This week, singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist This Is The Kit, the alias of Kate Stables, shares some of her fondest memories of Bristol, as well as her thoughts on her upcoming performance at Beacon Hall, the band’s biggest Bristol show to date.

Born in Winchester, and currently based in Paris, This Is The Kit came to be once Kate moved to Bristol and began collaborating with local musicians. Since then, the project has taken her and a revolving line-up of live musicians on tours and festivals around the world and garnered admiration from critics and peers alike – from Aaron Dessner (The National) to Guy Garvey (Elbow, BBC Radio 6).

Could you share any fond Bristol memories from over the years?

I lived in Bristol for a few years before I moved to France so I have many, many fond memories – they were very formative years for me and Bristol is a place that will always feel like home.

I remember lots of great times at the Cube Cinema and Cafe Kino in particular, as well as St Werburgh’s Hill and Easton swimming pool.

How does it feel to be performing your biggest Bristol show to date at the new Bristol Beacon?

Pretty bonkers – and pretty exciting that it’s at the Beacon. Quite a hefty amount of history in that place.

But mainly it’s just going to be really special to have the full band playing together in Bristol, where we’ve all lived for significant years of our lives (and some of us still do!).

What makes a stand-out performance for you?

There’s no putting your finger on it, I reckon – a mysterious, magical alchemy between the band members and the audience.

It’s often inexplicable and quite surprising. But a big “home show” like this is a good start for a whopper of a time.

What are you listening to right now?

Lately I have been listening to a lot of Gruff Rhys – partly because I’m a huge fan, and also because we just toured with him in the States and it was a total dream come true to hear his songs live every night. Totally brilliant.

I’ve also been enjoying ex-Bristol resident Dominie Hooper and a brilliant band from Chicago called Edith Judith.