FORWARDS Festival Celebrates Five Years of Genre-Defying Sounds in Bristol

Last weekend, Bristol’s Clifton Downs transformed into a hub of sound and culture for FORWARDS Festival.

Commemorating its milestone fifth year over the Bank Holiday weekend, the curated lineup brought together global icons, homegrown legends and emerging talent for a memorable end-of-summer celebration.

Saturday spotlighted an all-female co-headlining trio, featuring Tems, indie powerhouse Wet Leg, and UK icon Self Esteem alongside sets from Joy Crookes, Goldie, and Erika de Casier which added another layer of vibes to the main stage. At The Arches dance tent, performances from Crazy P and RUBII kept energy high into the night.

The festival didn’t slow down on the Sunday either. Bringing an equally dynamic roster, led by Mercury Prize winner Little Simz, Australian punk outfit Amyl and the Sniffers, and US artist Dijon, additional sets by Jim Legxacy, Jean Dawson, and Princess Nokia underscored the weekend's musical breadth to represent the underground.

Beyond the main stages, The Information stage hosted cultural conversations alongside late-night showcases of local Bristol talent. And FORWARDS delivered an elevated vision of contemporary sound, confirming its place as an essential fixture on the UK festival calendar.

Hypebeast caught up with French singer-songwriter, anaiis at the festival. Check out the interview with her on Instagram.

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