Meet the Busker

meet the busker Meet the busker

We talk to Nik Jovčić-Sas - known by many throughout Bath for his street performances and WIG! Drag Night at Moles - about his work supporting Ukraine and LGBTQ+ individuals...

Tell us a bit about yourself…

Hi my name is Nik and I have been running drag events in Somerset since 2016 - I also have done a lot of work as an LGBTQ+ activist in Eastern Europe, including Ukraine. WIG! the drag night I run at Moles under my alter-ego “Mother” has been going since 2018, and it’s got a great reputation as one of the foremost queer cabarets in the South West - hosting both the best in local talent, as well as featuring queens from RuPaul’s Drag Race UK and beyond!

What kind of work are you undertaking to support Ukraine?

In times of conflict, it’s often political minorities that get overlooked - including LGBTQ+ individuals. We wanted to give our support in a way that directly helps other queer people struggling in the conflict - so we’re donating money to Kyiv Pride, one of the biggest LGBTQ+ organisations in Ukraine. 25% of our ticket sales will go to charity and 100% of the profits of our raffle will go to Kyiv Pride - which has prizes from a variety of local businesses including Botanica Studios, Happy Donut Company and Wolf Wine.

We’re going to have performances from two Slavic drag performers - myself, and the incredible Stealia Jobs: known as The Queen of Poland. We’ll also have the extremely talented Bristol drag King, Manly Mannington, and performances from Bath’s own pint-sized, pink, pop-punk princess, Remy Melee, and our current reigning Miss WIG!, “Canvas”.

Can others get involved?

Yes, just come along and buy a ticket and enjoy the show! War unfortunately influenced my childhood due to my ethnicity and extended family, and in times of conflict it is important to laugh - often aggressors want to scare us and diminish our spirits, so banding together and enjoying the brighter side of life is what we need. So what better thing to do than come to a drag show?

Are there other ways to support Ukraine?

Educate yourself - misinformation is one of Putin’s greatest weapons so take your time to learn a little about Ukraine. Keep your eyes peeled for other local events and organisations trying to do their best to help give relief to victims of the conflict!

Support for Ukraine

Bath Abbey tower lit in solidarity with Ukraine thanks to Bath BID, B&NES Council and Bath Abbey.

meet bath’s indie Meet bath’s indie heroes heroes

In 1978, despite heavy snow, Moles opened its doors for the first time to a crowd of friends, family and locals for a New Year’s Eve party.

Initially primarily a vegetarian cafe with jazz music, Moles blossomed into one of the most important small independent venues in the country. The first big band to take to the stage was The Smiths, who played to just 30 people. Having just released ‘Hand In Glove’, they became one of the most influential bands of the decade. In fact, this set the tone for the success of Moles, acting as a springboard for countless bands before they hit the big-time. Britpop behemoths Pulp (1985), Blur (1990) and Oasis (1994) all debuted here, firmly cementing Moles as a mainstay of the British music scene with both it’s stage and studio (which has recorded Biffy Clyro, Elbow and Portishead, amongst others!).

The noughties brought more artists on the precipice of popularity; in 2004 The Killers played the day before ‘Somebody Told Me’ was to be released, which would go to number three in the UK charts. Ed Sheeran played in 2011 whilst circuiting small venues promoting his debut album ‘+’, and Bastille concluded their 2012 tour here. A solid favourite with locals and beloved by bands, it seemed like Moles was unstoppable - until disaster struck.

During the night on 8th March 2014 an electrical fire blazed through the venue after hours, which led to smoke and water damage throughout the entire building. Luckily Mallory Knox, who had been recording in the studio, were all away for the weekend - the venue was empty and nobody was injured. However, the venue was out of action for over a year while repairs were completed. While this kind of catastrophe would have spelt the end for many small businesses, Moles bounced back thanks to its dedicated team and their hard work.

With a full refurb and brand new soundsystem, Moles was ready to throw its doors open with two sold-out shows in November 2015: Don Broco performing live followed by Erol Alkan and Eats Everything DJing into the small hours. Since then, the big names have kept coming. Fatboy Slim rang in Moles’ 40th birthday in 2018 with ‘The Big Bou-tiki’, selling out in minutes and raising thousands of pounds for a local charity. Artists such as Nova Twins, Bury Tomorrow, John Newman and local celebrities Idles have graced the stage - either as burgeoning newcomers or established acts returning to their roots.

Even the pandemic was no match - with its doors closed, the venue continued to broadcast live music from local bands and at-home clubnights from the resident DJs. When seated entertainment returned, sit-in gigs became the new normal.

Now, things are looking brighter than ever for Moles. Live bands are back with a bang (Orlando Weeks and Beans on Toast among the most recent shows), and the appetite for clubnights is stronger than ever - especially with headliners like Jax Jones and Jodie Harsh on the decks! Music in Bath is here to stay - #longlivemoles.