Rafe Llewellyn

Aspiring freelance journalist

ASBO Magazine •

ASBO Meets Sonar: A World of Electronic Goodness

Words: Rafe LlewellynSonar festival is set to engulf the Catalan capital Barcelona with a whirlwind of decadent innovation this weekend. The celebration of talent begins each day with ‘Sonar by Day’ held at Fira Montjuïc. Discussions, workshops and installations are seamlessly weaved into an alluring electronic music experience that sees an intelligently curated and versatile bill to stimulate all. As sun sets however the attention will shift to ‘Sonar by Night’, a sonic expedition through time...
ASBO Magazine •

ASBO @ Sonar by Day – Thursday

Words: Rafe Llewellyn, Images: Sonar Insta/PressStill absolutely rocking after a heavy weekend at Primavera, the ASBO boys are back to take on the electronic dystopia that scintillates Barcelona each year: Sonar. Traditionally two weeks apart, this year we are treated to no such respite from the chaos of festival season as both festivals are occurring back to back.Regardless, rest assured we are keen to take on the two busiest days of Sonar, Friday and Saturday, which hold both Sonar by Day and...
ASBO Magazine •

ASBO @ SONAR by Day – Friday

Words: Rafe Llewellyn, Images: Sonar PressHaving just about managed to grasp the layout of the vast landscape that covers Sonar by Day we returned to Fira  Montjuïc with fervorous zeal for the afternoon ahead. With the prospect of a sunrise Barry Can’t Swim set in the back of our minds, we decided that a deeper dive into the project area was the perfect way to begin the day.As writers, we’re naturally slight Artificial Intelligence sceptics already, so we tentatively approached the Music & AI se...
ASBO Magazine •

ASBO @ SONAR by day – Saturday

Words: Rafe Llewellyn, Images: Sonar PressBarry Can’t Swim had finished mere hours ago, but the beauty of Sonar is that it never really sleeps, so before long we were back down the wide road leading to Fira Montjuïc for the final portion of the ‘by day’ edition of Sonar.This point in the weekend is usually where many ravers get hit with the reminder that festivals are a marathon not a sprint. Could we lie down in the face of greatness though and miss a whole day of festivities, saving ourselves...
ASBO Magazine •

Seu Jorge: A night at London’s Roundhouse

Words: Rafe Llewellyn, Images: Ravi ChandaranaLast Tuesday I had the pleasure of taking a gander down to North London to see world-renowned Latin star, Seu Jorge for his first UK appearance in 6 years.From the moment I arrived bodies and souls aligned on the floor of the Roundhouse venue. The renowned venue is akin to an  amphitheatre of sound, darkened seating circling above a packed pit of shifting bodies. As the eyes above peer through the darkness , the ground shines  alight with dancing and...
ASBO Magazine •

Melina Blanco

Words by Rafe LlewellynPhotos by Willow ShieldsFrom footballing glory to soul-shaping shows across London, Melina Blanco is proof that 3 months of football training as a young child is enough experience to call upon to defend with resolute determination on any 6-a-side pitch. A multi-faceted talent, I first met Blanco directly after her performance on stage at Soccer Six festival, held at the Mile End football stadium in East London. Hoping to call upon her Argentinian roots, Blanco was set to a...
ASBO Magazine •

SOCCER SIX

Photos by Olly BromidgeThe United Kingdom’s favourite music X football tournament festival blend Soccer Six reunited for their 30th year anniversary at the Mile End Stadium on May 10th with regular attendees and music scene legends ‘The Darkness’ headlining a star studded 6-a-side tournament that also Included ‘Deadletter’ and ‘The Clause’. A unique combination event, the live music lineup of the day promised to entertain the masses as Musos award winning talent Ben Walker was set to lineup alon...
Epigram •

'We started as performers and that's still our favourite part': In conversation with Drax Project

By Rafe Llewellyn, Second Year HistoryI'm searching for possible technology faults as my screen flashes quickly from an old photo of the band to the two members of Drax Project I've been given the opportunity to chat to ahead of their highly anticipated tour. Sam Thompson, who plays bass, sits back in his chair and gives a gentle wave as we exchange pleasantries. He's sat on a spinning chair with Ben O'Leary to his left peering curiously at the screen.The two adjust their seating positions befor...
ASBO Magazine •

Rodrigo Cuevas at La Linea 25 – One to Remember

Words: Rafe Llewellyn, Images: PressDescending on Islington assembly alongside myself was a sea of red and white. Arsenal were due to kick off their 8pm Premier League tie just down the road that evening and their fans joined me in the last portion of the journey to see Rodrigo Cuevas’ show at Islington assembly. The second instalment of Latin festival La Linea’s London scattered selection of productions, Cuevas’ performances promised to be a ‘rave pilgrimage’ and the North London giant’s fans p...
ASBO Magazine •

La Linea 25: Ochoa lights up the Barbican

Words: Rafe Llewellyn, Images: PressThe sun is sitting patiently a-top one of the Barbican’s many towers as it prepares to host Eliades Ochoa as the opening act to Como No!’s La Linea festival. Having come from Bristol that afternoon and being admittedly rather ignorant to what London had to offer and where else I could go, I made my way to The Barbican, straight off the bus.I was pleasantly surprised though, by the oasis I found nestled within the Barbican’s brutalist metropolis. It’s here I ch...
The Bristorian •

World Book Day — The Bristorian

Established by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) in 1995, World Book Day is traditionally celebrated on April 23rd across more than 100 countries. The celebration which takes place annually aims to emphasise accessibility of books and reading and to promote literacy.    UNESCO chose the date to honour the deaths of some of history's most impactful authors, notably William Shakespeare and Miguel de Cervantes, but it has since been moved to the first Thu...
Epigram •

'Art for Art's sake': In conversation with Holysseus Fly

By Rafe Llewellyn, Second Year HistoryA circle clicked shut as Holly Wellington, better known as Holysseus Fly, sat down with me to discuss her residency at the Beacon and all things going solo. Holly studied at Bristol University and she tells me her housemate wrote for Epigram whilst she was here.Holysseus Fly is the artist alias for Holly Wellington, whose rising solo career is decorated by a mix of group successes. Notably, she plays keys and sings for Ishmael Ensemble who will be playing at...
Epigram •

Review: Drax Project @ The Louisiana

By Rafe Llewellyn, Second Year HistoryDrax Project lived up to their exceptionally high standards on Friday at The Louisiana in the final leg of their debut UK and Europe tour. Explosive energy and musical dynamism, Drax Project are comfortably one of the best bands that can be seen live. Rolling sax riffs and scintillating hooks ensure that any of their concerts are uniquely vibrant every time.Plaudits must also be given however to Juno, the band tasked with warming up The Louisiana before the...
Epigram •

Bristol clash with Local rivals Bath - Volleyball

By Rafe Llewellyn, Second Year, HistoryWelcome to Epigram's exclusive coverage of Derby Day 2024/25. From Football and Lacrosse to Netball and Tennis, here are the stories behind the biggest day for sport at the University. Brought to you by our talented team of writers.Unfortunate endings for some of Bristol’s finest athletes but a wholesome end to a season the club can be proud of. The Bristol women’s first team have had a difficult season, taking just 3 points from the women’s premier divisio...
Epigram •

Review: KiLLOWEN @ Exchange

By Rafe Llewellyn, Second Year HistoryThe 'No Service Tour' provided a perfect template for what it is, fun, bouncy and carried by the energy of a good crowd. The lineup and timings of such an event are incredibly important in these kind of gigs, especially with a rather young crowd on a champions league night. As far as supporting acts for your first Bristol headline show go, T.O and Paul Stephan are not weak options.Paul Stephan immediately called upon the energy of the crowd, calling for the...
Epigram •

Lost Track of Time sells out for secret KILIMANJARO performance

By Rafe Llewellyn, Second Year HistoryOn the 20th of February, KILIMANJARO erupted erupted into a fiery performance during a secret event hosted by Lost Track of Time in celebration of his new track, 'Come Towards the Light'.The slightly unprecedented venue, Jacobs, which sits along an unassuming row of shops near the Bristol Royal Infirmary represented the first of three launch parties to celebrate the new release of KILIMANJARO's long awaited new track 'Come Towards the Light'.The pop-up rave,...
Epigram •

Will Doechii be headlining FORWARDS Festival in 2025?

By Rafe Llewellyn, Second Year History and Benji Chapman, Music EditorThe billboard proudly displaying a star-studded Love Saves The Day lineup including Ghetts, Overmono, Nia Archives, and the highly anticipated return of Groove Armada, was replaced this week by a mysterious billboard for Love Saves' sister summer festival.Many will remember posters that were put up in late February 2024 which teased the FORWARDS headliners that year, featuring lyrics from LCD Soundsystem and Loyle Carner, who...
Epigram •

Review: Morgan Wallen UK @ Motion

By Rafe LLewellyn, Second Year History A saloon for the sheriffs of Bristol, the number of cowboy hats in the crowd was instantly recognisable; the only separation you would assume from a dusty bar in Nashville being the variety of shades of pink littered among the cowboy hats. An eclectic group shuffled slowly into the main room with Bristol oldheads and young-guns alike mixed into a gig for a tribute to a man who has helped to bring on a remontada of country music that has polarised his fan-ba...