Bristol is never short on opportunities for a good rave, but Forwards Festival has quickly cemented itself as a highlight of the city’s annual calendar. Taking place over two days and drawing up to 60,000, it’s the city’s biggest inner-city festival, blending electronica, pop, indie, and dance. Already renowned for its diverse lineup, Saturday’s bill included two Mercury Prize winners, rising stars, and genre-defining legends. With sunshine breaking through against forecasts, it promised a good day out for music lovers.
We arrived shortly after the gates opened, catching South London’s Undici, who earned their spot by winning the War Child Rising competition. I always feel for bands tasked with playing to a nearly empty festival field, but Undici confidently owned the West Stage, even dropping a pretty good stab at the Foo Fighters’ “All My Life.” A quick dash over to the East Stage greeted attendees with the mad spectacle of Mermaid Chunky. Now signed by LCD Soundsystem’s James Murphy, the band’s set felt like a children’s TV show exploded into reality: synchronized dancing, ass-shaking, face paint, and utter weirdness. They describe themselves as “milkmaid serenity and improvised chaos.” Whatever you call it, it was fun and perfectly set the Forwards vibe flowing.
By 2 p.m., the festival grounds were filling up nicely as Katy J Pearson delivered the day’s first fully packed set. A Bristolian herself, Pearson’s Americana-tinged indie went down a storm. Backed by a seven-piece band, material from last year’s Someday, Now sounded rich and melodic. With her singular voice and an ear for a hook, she provided the perfect warm-up before the day got rowdier.
Speaking of rowdy, Happy Mondays might not be the pill-popping maniacs of old, but they still have tunes and charm to days. The Madchester legends kicked off with “Kinky Afro,” Shaun Ryder nonchalantly speak-singing while dancer and maracas-shaker extraordinaire Bez got the crowd hyped. Forty-five years after forming, it’s heartwarming to see the OG ravers still playing the hits, with many old-school fans in the crowd reminiscing about more carefree—and no doubt messier—days.
English Teacher’s brand of art rock drew a solid crowd, with numbers like “R&B” and “The World’s Biggest Paving Slab” landing better than some of their slower material. Restless and refreshingly original, they delivered the day’s final blast of indie goodness before things got loud. Australia’s Confidence Man offered a more divisive experience. On one hand, the audience loved the duo’s heavily rehearsed set: a big, brash slab of fun built on catchy, straightforward electropop. On the other hand, the performance was entirely lip-synched—not unusual in pop, but a strange sight at a festival filled with top-tier musicians. Essentially, Forwards watched a couple of sexy idiots prance across the stage. I, however, remained among the unconvinced minority.
The following Ezra Collective was an act everyone could get behind. Comfortably the winning set of the day, the jazz-adjacent quintet brought passion and power to Clifton Downs. With a long-standing love for Bristol—the city’s Canteen venue being an early supporter—drummer and bandleader Femi Koleoso had the crowd worked up a treat, as fellow members climbed over the barrier to blast trumpets in fans’ faces. The joyous vibes were infectious, with at least 35,000 people dancing en masse.
As the sun set, dance legends Orbital took the stage. Rocking their signature torch headbands, the brothers looked almost alien. They tore through classics like “Belfast” and “Chime,” cheekily dropping in bits of The Spice Girls and “Heaven Is a Place on Earth.” It was an hour of pure, no-nonsense bangers to get your feet moving. What more could you want on a summer’s eve?
Scottish electronic producer Barry Can’t Swim closed out the day—and did so with aplomb. Accompanied by impressive visuals, he proved the UK dance scene is stronger than ever. Even after hours on their feet, the crowd reminded everyone of Bristol’s love for getting down. Nostalgic yet full of energy, his set delivered big tunes to hum all the way home.
Now in its fourth year, Forwards struck gold again with a blend of thought-provoking music you can dance to and the hottest rising acts. While the lineup would impress anywhere, it carried a uniquely Bristol flavor—eclectic, full of character, and a perfect fit for the city. I can’t wait to see who’s on the bill next year.
Byline: Sam Walker-Smart
Photo credit: Rhys Dolman