Monday 14-01-2019 - 15:46

Written by Rafaella Barratt, one of the founding members of Bristol Suspensions

The Bristol Suspensions, a 16-piece a cappella group, will be taking over the Anson Rooms with a very special event on Saturday 2 Feb. This year marks the 5th year of the group and to celebrate, alumni will be joining with the current group members to bring you “Maroon 5: Five Year Anniversary Concert” (named in reference to the group’s maroon performance attire!) 

The group was formed in October 2014 and it’s been a whirlwind far beyond what any of them could have imagined since then! They have recorded and released several albums and music videos, performed far too many gigs to count, toured the East Coast U.S.A., sung live on the radio many times, won several awards in competition, taken 4 shows up to the Edinburgh fringe with two whole sell-out runs, appeared on prime-time TV on BBC Ones’s ‘Pitch Battle’ and been named national champions at The Voice Festival UK 2016. More than anything it’s been so much fun and kindled some lifelong friendships and lifelong memories, both within the group and the UK a cappella community. In the anniversary gig, the group will be sharing some of their favourite memories and a selection of their favourite songs as chosen by each cohort. Some of the old favourites include Uptown Funk (you may have seen their debut music video!), Madness/ Magic, A Cappella Block Tango, Hush Hush and many more.  

It’s always very emotional saying goodbye to members leaving university and beginning their lives in the real world, but equally the group are always blown away with the new talent brought by the new members replacing them each year. Now in generation 5 of the group, there is a growing network of alumni, including some as far reaching as Singapore and Los Angeles. The Bristol Suspensions has held a special place in the hearts of them all and around 25 ex-members of the group are travelling from across the country to celebrate the group that has meant so much to them and to get together with their best friends. It will be so exciting to have more than 40 Suspensions on the stage together! 

All profits from the gig will be going to “Off the Record”, a Bristol-based Mental Health Organisation doing some exciting and forward-thinking work to improve mental health for the young people of Bristol, a cause which The Bristol Suspension felt was very pertinent at the moment. Tickets are available here (£5/7).