Bristol's Forwards Festival announces 2025 headliners
Doechii will be making her Bristol debut, while the former Haçienda-regulars Happy Mondays are also playing.
Forwards Festival has announces its 2025 headliners for its fourth year, including Barry Can't Swim, Ezra Collective, Jorja Smith, and Grammy-winner Doechii.
Forwards Festival is taking place on Saturday-Sunday 23rd-24th August 2025 on Clifton Downs in Bristol.
For the first time, it'll be taking place on the August bank holiday weekend.
Saturday:
Electronic DJ and producer Barry Can't Swim and Mercury-Prize-winning jazz group Ezra Collection are co-headliners for Saturday.
Other performers for Saturday include: Confidence Man, Orbital, Mount Kimbie, English Teacher, Katy J Pearson, Ishmael Ensemble and the Rituals Orchestra, Mermaid Chunky.
Happy Mondays will also be performing on Saturday; regulars at the iconic Haçienda club in Manchester in the late 80s and early 90s.
Sunday:
Meanwhile, Grammy-winning rapper Doechii makes her Bristol debut headlining the Sunday alongside soulful singer Jorja Smith, and indie rock band The Last Dinner Party.
Doechii will be switching the Superbowl halftime show for the Clifton Downs!
Other names include: Olivia Dean, Fabio & Grooverider Orchestra and The Outlook Orchestra, Moonchild Sannelly, The Silhouettes Project, Alemeda, and Snapped Ankles.
Tom Paine, Co-founder of the Team in charge of the festival said: “Forwards is back for its fourth year, and we couldn’t be prouder.
"Each year it grows, evolves and delivers even more for the city of Bristol and beyond.
"From an international and genre-spanning music lineup to future thinking talks, initiatives and with a growing-in-popularity kids area, Forwards is the perfect day out for everyone”.
Jim King, CEO, European Festivals, AEG Presents said: “We’re thrilled to be bringing Forwards back to the Bristol Downs for its fourth year.
"The festival will also see timely debates and conversations, providing an important platform for discussion and will be featuring a host of experts, disruptors, creatives, writers and thinkers”.
Tickets:
Tickets go on pre-sale at 10am on Wednesday (5th March), while general sale go live at 10am on Thursday (6th March).
You can buy tickets here.