Antony Szmierek

Manchester-based musician and writer Antony Szmierek brings his blend of spoken word, indie pop and electronica to O2 Academy Bristol on 17 October 2026. First active on poetry and performance circuits, he’s built songs from everyday scenes, urban stories and intimate portraits, delivered with a quick, near-rap cadence. His 2023 EP Poems To Dance To sets the tone: spoken verses slipping into melodic hooks over warm, unfussy beats that nod to house and slow hip-hop. On stage, that balance turns into a set that moves while giving the narrative room to breathe.

Expect tight, minimal arrangements, lines that unfold like short stories, and choruses that catch without crowding the text. Szmierek switches between full-band and more stripped formats, but the constant is a close link with the crowd and an energy drawn from both slam nights and indie gigs. In Bristol, the focus stays on voice, detail and flow, with production kept lean so the storytelling hits first and the groove follows right behind.