Nine Bristol acts to catch at Glastonbury 2022

With hundreds of musicians playing across 32 stages at this year’s Glastonbury festival, choosing who to see can be overwhelming. So we’ve narrowed it down for you so you can enjoy Bristol’s abundant music scene at the UK’s biggest music festival.

It’s time to don your flares, slip into those wellies and start head-rocking because these nine local acts are not to be missed at Glastonbury 2022:

IDLES

Formed in 2009, IDLES’ raw vocals and volatile compositions have solidified their place on the Bristol music scene. The explosive music is amplified through their radiant, often chaotic sets. As a product of a free and expressive city, they will no doubt provide a jaw-dropping set at Glastonbury.

The Park stage: Friday, 7:45pm – 8:45pm

Giant Swan

Having developed their reputation through tumultuous and often improvised shows, Giant Swan has become masters of aggressive, bass-heavy hypnotic dance music. Their growth through the underground scene birthed anarchic freedom of music. Glastonbury should be ready for sensory overload.

The Spike stage: Thursday, 11:30pm – 12:30am
The Glade stage: Sunday, 9:25pm – 10:25pm

Batu

DJ, producer, and owner of Timedance label, Bristol extraordinaire Batu relentlessly pushes bassline music into new waters, and alongside his label, has kept Bristol at the forefront of this music culture.

Ilcon stage: Thursday, 9:30pm – 11:30pm

Katy J Pearson

If there was one act to epitomise the sun setting, cold beers, and an overwhelming sense of perfection then it’s Katy J Pearson. Her seemingly effortless melodies blend with her soft vocals to capture the eccentric, hippie nature that has encapsulated the Southwest.

Croissant Neuf stage: Friday, 4:30pm – 5:30pm
The Park stage: Saturday, 12:45pm – 1:30pm
Green Peace stage: Saturday, 3:15pm – 4pm

Ishmael Ensemble

Fronted by producer and saxophonist Pete Cunningham, Ishmael Ensemble’s breakthrough in the British jazz scene was always protected by their roots in electronic base. Cunninghams’ inception as a producer working with techno and jazz royalty alike has elevated Ishmael Ensembles’ status to new peaks of popularity.

Arcadia: Friday, 9:30pm – 10pm
Holts stage: Sunday, 11am – 12pm

Grove

With their debut album Queer + Black sweeping through the country, Grove is another example of how the Bristol dance scene is unlike any other. Their desire to not be pigeonholed has included a vast array of philosophy, personal and political beliefs to help set the dance floor ablaze.

Lonely Hearts Club: Thursday, 6pm – 6:30pm
Gas Tower: Friday, 12:15am – 1am
The Rum Shack: Saturday, 12am – 12:45am

Yola

If you make it to Glastonbury and miss out on Yola, that is a crime of the highest regard. There can be no underestimation of the force behind her voice. Yola is a modern soul extravaganza who has gone from strength to strength since her humble days in Bristol. Yola’s success seems like an inevitability, she was placed on stage by a form of musical deity to combine soul with fist-pounding pop, and we love it.

Left Field stage: Sunday, 9pm – 10pm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4jyCqkkZWY

Dizraeli

Dizraeli’s combination of hip-hop, spoken word, singing, and heavy baseline has defined his rise through the ranks of Bristol artists. With his latest album, The Unmaster, he derails the comparison with Kate Tempest and ventures into no-mans land, combining heavy bass and grime-esque vocals to deliver heart-wrenching stories.

Cornish Arms: Thursday, 10pm – 11pm
The Rum Shack: Saturday, 2am – 3am

Laid Blak

Thanks to DJ Bunjy and MC Joe Peng’s silky-smooth combination of dub and reggae, Laid Blak was born. Their collaborations with the most exciting musicians in Bristol helped define them as ones to watch. Rooted in the ska/reggae genres that have dominated the Bristol airwaves for years, their latest album, From the Vaults, takes inspiration from across the spectrum including dancehall, soul, hip-hop, and jazz.

Lonely Hearts Club: Sunday, 5:15pm – 6:15pm

Main photo: Colin Moody

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