Top 5 Essentials To Make The Most Out Of Your Forwards Bristol Festival Experience

Forwards Bristol Festival is returning for its 2025 edition, on Saturday 23rd August and Sunday 24th August, and this time around, it’s set to be bigger and bolder than ever. The festival, held at Bristol Downs, aims to present “high quality, diverse and heritage music acts alongside emerging artists from Bristol & beyond”, and serves as a love letter to the city, heralded as one of the most prolific music capitals in the UK, having raised legends such as Massive Attack, Portishead, among many others.

Over the years, Forwards Bristol has steadily become a staple in the festival scene beyond London, with a strong holistic ethos focused on advocating for the need to tackle the climate emergency and sparking conversations around the challenges artists and music promoters face in the UK’s creative industries.

Similar to previous editions, the festival will feature a one-of-a-kind dedicated stage with panels and discussions exploring the role of music festivals and the challenges faced by music industry professionals. The festival also provides paid music industry opportunities and placements to young people aged 18–30 in partnership with Big Team, along with affordable ticket schemes for those who need them.

This year, headliners Barry Can’t Swim and Ezra Collective take the stage on Saturday, 23 August, while Doechii, Jorja Smith, and The Last Dinner Party lead the lineup on Sunday, 24 August. Alongside them, an eclectic lineup of established and emerging artists will play across the Main Stage, The Arches and The Information Point by Night — the festival’s secondary stages.

According to the festival’s 2023 impact report, more than half of the lineup featured women and artists from gender minorities. It’s great to see that this commitment to representation continues this year.

As the Sonic Hub team prepares to cover the festival and get stuck in on the action, here are 5 essentials to make the most of your 2025 Forwards Bristol experience:

1. Fall In Love With New Acts

Festivals are a great way to discover new acts in a non-pressure environment, fall in love with new music, and update your playlists. This year, Forwards Bristol has amalgamated an incredibly eclectic lineup, balancing a wide range of acts, from established to emerging. Why not give some love to some of the non-headlining artists gracing the set this year? We’ve compiled a couple of our picks below so you can update your playlists ahead of time.

Anna Erhard (Saturday, 23rd August)

On Forwards Day 1, Swiss-born Anna Erhard takes the stage. With a tongue-in-cheek alt-pop affection, the singer has steadily grown an audience, armed with autobiographical lyrics, distorted guitars, and an enticing sound inspired by Kurt Vile and Courtney Barnett.

Must-listen songs: ‘One Minute of Silence’, ‘Botanical Garden’

Mermaid Chunky (Saturday, 23rd August)

There is no better way to describe Mermaid Chunky than camp, glitter and controlled chaos. The audiovisual duo, comprised of UK-based artists Freya Tate and Moina Moin, embark listeners on what is as much a live visual performance as it is a sonic journey. Through striking visuals, bold wardrobe (frills, anyone), eximious set design and extremely danceable trance rhythms, Mermaid Chunky will take you to new, pink-fuelled heights.

Must-adds to your pre-festival playlist: ‘Céili’, ‘Gemini Girls’, ‘Chaperone’

Alemeda (Sunday, 24th August)

Sudanese-Ethiopian Alemeda is bringing her alt-pop magic to Forwards. With a perfect blend of alt-pop and alt-adjacent genres, Alemeda has cemented a name for herself since the release of the TikTok sensation ‘Gonna Bleach My Eyebrows’ in 2021, and has since released ‘FK IT’, her first EP. For the lovers of cutting lyrics about the ups and downs of love, friendship and all the inbetweens, the power of being sure of who you are, and alt-pop in all its multitudes, Alemeda is for you.

Must-listen songs: ‘I Already Dug Your Grave’, ‘Don’t Call Me’, ‘I Hate Your Face’

2. Attend a talk at the Information Stage

The cultural landscape and the music industry in particular face significant challenges in the UK and beyond. And what better way to find community and talk about them than at the very place where the magic happens? The Information Stage is a space aimed at sparking conversations about the role of live music, its challenges, and beyond. This is a great opportunity to hear from guests and experts from across the cultural and political landscape, through a carefully programmed series of talks, discussions, and debates; all aimed at thinking critically about the future of the music industry and exploring where it’s headed.

3. Outfit repeating is in!

The combinations you can come up with, with a sprinkle of imagination and a bit of inspo, are endless. In the spirit of Forwards and its sustainability ethos, protect the environment by wearing pieces you already own or swapping with friends. Give a new lease of life to those items that have been sitting in your closet for far too long; fostering a circular economy is hot!

4. Hydration Nation

Water is your best friend, especially in the summer. Make sure to bring a reusable water bottle with you, as the festival will have multiple hydration points spread across the site, always being mindful of both your water and food waste.

In addition, Forwards has partnered with Bristol-based local vendors to provide affordable food options for all palates and dietary requirements throughout the festival.

5. No Music Without Connection

The best way to enjoy the festival is with the people around you; you never know what conversations might spark when you take a moment to look up and connect, especially over shared interests such as music. Try making a conscious effort to be more present, put your phone down and enjoy being part of the crowd, as you take in the atmosphere around you.

After all, hearing old favourites and discovering new ones in a setting like this is always something special.

Forwards Bristol returns for its 2025 edition on Saturday, 23rd and 24th August 2025. For location, FAQs and tickets, please visit the festival’s website here.

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WORDS BEA VASQUES

COVER PHOTO CREDIT FORWADS BRISTOL FESTIVAL