Live Review: Estrella Galacia x Paperdress Vintage, London - 15/06/2023
On a quiet Thursday, Hackney’s beloved Paper Dress Vintage became the setting for a lively night of music, beer culture and positive impact.
SON Estrella Galicia was brought to London for their third event in partnership with Paper Dress. The music project aims to promote British and Spanish cultural exchange, giving attendees the opportunity to experience a busy evening of beer tasting, gastronomy, art, and sustainability in anticipation for a buzzy line-up of musical acts.
Doors opened at 6PM and attendees trickled into the venue gradually, with many flocking to the garden to enjoy Estrella Galicia in the summer breeze. The space was soon vibrant with conversation, indie-rock tracks, and the aromatic smell of tapas. Just over the road, artist Tim Gresham (Penfold) teamed up with consciousness-action platform WE Sustainability to curate the interactive ‘Trash Mural’. Viewers were asked to glue pieces of rubbish to the ocean depicted on the mural to demonstrate the impact of waste and encourage environmental awareness. From 7PM, small groups could venture upstairs for a workshop led by beer expert Xabier Cubillo. Xabier delivered an engaging tasting session in which he referred to instruments to explain the role of each ingredient used for brewing, offering a better understanding of how they work in harmony to create a distinctive flavour profile.
The live music kicked off with electronic band Playback Maracas. Getting the crowd dancing was no problem for the Barcelona three-piece. The room was flooded by flashing lights and a mesh of sound inspired by indie, house, psychedelia, and cumbia. Hypnotic synth, Latin guitar melodies and cuttingly bright saxophone pieces rightfully earned the eccentric group an excited round of applause and “One more song!” chant from the audience. Unfortunately, the thirty-minute set did not come with an encore. However, enthusiasm was ever-present as Miss Tiny prepared to take the stage.
Miss Tiny was formed by Speedy Wunderground founder Dan Carey and musician Ben Romans-Hopcraft as an experimental project. With their debut EP ‘DEN7’ set to be released in July, they gave the audience a glimpse at what has come of their ‘anti-recording’ philosophy. Their alternative sound was made up of steady percussion, fuzzy garage rock-style riffs and lightly buried vocals. This gritty transition permeated the mellowed-out crowd which moved in tune with the heavy rhythms. Their spontaneous approach to musicianship was well-received, setting a perfect entry point for the final performer of the night.
It wasn’t long before Jessica Winter emerged, shifting the audience into a pop groove. Following the success of her third solo EP ‘Limerence’, Jessica intends to push the boundaries of the genre with emotion and vulnerability. Her vocals rose highly over beats rooted in art-pop, trap, and disco. She made the stage her dance floor with ease and the energy burned brightly through the room as fans danced and sang along, her presence holding glamour and grace.
SON Estrella Galicia’s partnership with Paper Dress has presented a unique chance to enjoy an invaluable experience of Spanish culture in East London. In addition to catching electrifying performances, attendees were also able to take home important messages about positive social and environmental change. With several events scheduled throughout the remainder of year, this is a project to keep an eye on.
Words by Kayla Sandiford
Photos by Alex Amorós
