Al Studer

Name, where are you from?
Al Studer, from Switzerland but living in Bristol.

What do you do?
I run a record label called Stolen Body Records and put on Astral Festival.

Describe your style in three words?
What I like.

What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
Probably Neil Young at Glastonbury in 2009. Rockin’ in the Free World was amazing, the amount of encores he did of it was the best.

If you could be on the line up with any two bands in history?
Nirvana because I would love to see them play and the reaction from the crowd, and The Doors because I’m not sure anything has come by before or after that’s as real, dark and beautiful.

Which subcultures have influenced you?
The hard rock and grunge scenes. Specifically hard rock from 1971, but around that time is ok. I just really feel it’s the high water mark and the last time music truly was real. Grunge I feel tried to get there, but the greedy record labels and managers made sure to ruin it.

If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
That’s tough… Jim Morrison would be good to hang out with. It’d be nice to separate the myth from the man. Not sure I could do it for an hour though, maybe just one beer.

Of all the independent venues you’ve played, which is your favourite?
In Bristol it’s easily The Old England. The one spot in town that really cares about the music. It’s what a venue should be and one that respects the music. The best show I’ve played was in Paris at La Mécanique Ondulatoire. It was supporting Part Chimp and had a similar vibe.

Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
Anyone that had to, or still does, put up with racism or sexism whilst trying to do something they love. Those people that are willing to do it even though people try to put them down for no reason. Those are the real heroes.

Astral Festival (previously Bristol Psych Fest) presented by Stolen Body Records is back for its 6th year on 6th July 2019 and it's the biggest one yet. Taking place across three of Bristol’s best venues in the city centre - SWX, The Lanes and Rough Trade. This year's line up includes Thurston Moore Group, Temples, Mattiel, Bo Ningen, King Khan, Bo Ningen and more.

www.astralfestival.com