FORWARDS Festival is set to close out the summer in style this August bank holiday weekend, revealing final artists for its standout 2025 lineup.
The main stage Saturday line up is rounding off with genre-bluring singer-songwriter Nilufer Yanya, with her blend of indie rock, jazz and psychedelia and electronic sound, and Berlin-based artist Anna Erhard. Sunday sees new names such as boundary-pushing rapper Pa Salieu and experimental rock outfit Squid, all making their debut.
For the first presentation of The Arches, joining Annie Mac, FORWARDS has debuts from powerhouse DJ Jamz Supernova on Saturday, alongside Helena Star, Feel The Real and Spicyivy. Sunday commands the dance tent with jungle trailblazer LTJ BUKEM, grime, UK hip-hop to classic house and beyond DJ Shy One, DJ Rea. Also featuring Bristol homegrown talent with trip hop group Smith & Mighty Soundsystem Featuring Special Guests return after many years in the wilderness, working on brand new music and looking at this summer as a relaunch, not to be missed - plus local up and comer Miss Mash.
Also announced today are the late-night performances on The INFORMATION Stage, offering an intimate music experience each evening and spotlighting the next wave of local talent, and a clear reflection of Bristol based festival and event producers Team Love, ongoing commitment to championing local artists, further amplified by the addition of acts nurtured through Big Team and Bristol Beacon’s artist development programme, Next Level.
The INFORMATION Stage Saturday night highlights include Bristolian soulful Bossa Nova-inspired singer Ava Zarate, and Bristol’s own Laura Dia brings a smooth blend of R&B, pop, and soul, both graduates of the Next Level programme. As well as Mould, Alamay And Omar Cassius. Sunday night features Guy, alongside UK experimental trailblazers Waldo’s Gift, and Dizraeli & Joy Machine and Red.
Image - @Eljaybriss at Forwards 2023 Saturday
The complete 2025 line up for FORWARDS festival is as follows:
Saturday
Barry Can’t Swim | Ezra Collective
Confidence Man | Orbital
Mount Kimbie | English Teacher | Happy Mondays
Nilufer Yanya | Katy J Pearson | Ishmael Ensemble And The Rituals Orchestra I Mermaid Chunky | Anna Erhard
The Arches
Annie Mac | Jamz Supernova | Helena Star | Feel The Real | Spicyivy
The Information By Night
Mould | Alamay And Omar Cassius | Ava Zarate | Laura Dia
Sunday
Doechii I Jorja Smith | The Last Dinner Party | Olivia Dean
Fabio & Grooverider Orchestra And The Outlook Orchestra | Pa Salieu
Squid | Moonchild Sannelly | The Silhouettes Project
Alemeda I Snapped Ankles
The Arches
Ltj Bukem | Smith & Mighty Soundsystem Featuring Special Guests
Shy One | Rea | Miss Mash
The Information By Night
Dizraeli & Joy Machine | Waldos Gift | Guy | Red
Clifton Downs, Bristol:
Saturday 23 August + Sunday 24 August 2025
Tickets available now
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