Bristol acts added to FORWARDS festival line up

The new festival will go ahead on September 3-4

The Chemical Brothers will headline the festival on Sunday 4 September
Author: James DiamondPublished 5th Apr 2022

Several up and coming Bristol artists have been added to the bill for a new music festival this summer.

FORWARDS will go ahead on the Downs in September with headliners The Chemical Brothers and Jamie XX.

Today it has been announced several of Bristol's "brightest stars" will be joining them.

They include Ishmael Ensemble and Friends featuring guests such as Rider Shafique, Tiny Chapter, STANLÆY and Chris Hillier; the 90s-inspired rap of Willow Kayne; and Harvey Causon.

They will also be joined by visceral jazz-punk-Afro-funk band Melt Yourself Down, raw post-punk vocalist Billy No Mates, Rozi Plain and alternative indie band Hypothetics.

Further new additions to the bill include psyche-space legends Spiritualized, alongside London post-punk band Warmduscher and rebel rapper, Kam-BU.

As well as The Chemical Brothers and Jamie XX, those already on the line up include Little Simz, Róisín Murphy, Khruangbin, Caribou, Fred Again.., Shygirl and more.

The organisers of FORWARDS, who are the same people behind Love Saves the Day, say the festival represents a new breed of festival, "committing to positive change through social initiatives and forward-thinking discussions, alongside epic music moments".

"The festival is built with social initiatives at its core, partnering with a range of Community Interest Companies (CICs)," a statement from them reads.

"Big Team CIC will nurture new music talent and open doors for young people in the city who have historically been excluded from and are under-represented in the festival and events industry.

"Team Canteen CIC, who fight against food vulnerability, will also provide community-led catering at the festival."

NHS workers are being offered discounted tickets for their work during the pandemic.

Team Love’s Director Tom Paine said: "We are thrilled to shine a light on the fantastic talent that Bristol has to offer, and excited to see these superb local artists perform to home crowds.

"FORWARDS Festival feels like a proper celebration and more than just a music festival.

"We are challenging what metropolitan festivals can be today and how they can do good from the inside out – and this is just the beginning.”

Day tickets are now available from £49.50, with weekend tickets available from £95.

Concessions are available for children aged 5-15, local residents and low-income individuals.

You can find out more and book tickets by clicking here.

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