Chemical Brothers and Jamie xx top lineup for major new Bristol festival

The team behind Love Saves the Day are bringing a star-studded lineup of international music talent to the Downs for a brand new festival.

Chemical Brothers and Jamie xx have been revealed as the headliners for Forwards, which takes place on September 3 and 4 this year.

Team Love promise the event will mark a “new era of festivals” that seeks to challenge what metropolitan festivals can be today and how they can do good from the inside out. Harnessing the power of live music, the aim is to bring people together to help drive positive change, through social initiatives and a space for discussion and debate.

Little Simz, Róisín Murphy, Kae Tempest, Caribou, Sleaford Mods, Shygirl, Khruangbin, Fred again…, Floating Points, Kojey Radical, Self Esteem, The Comet is Coming, Overmono (live), Gabriels, Sudan Archives, Chrissi and Connie Constance are all on the lineup for Forwards, and tickets go on sale at 8am on Friday.

Kae Tempest is among a star-studded lineup for Forwards – photo: Wolfgang Tillmans

Unveiling details of the new festival, Tom Paine, co-founder of Team Love, said: “We’re proud to be unveiling a new festival for a new era of festivals, in the best city in the world, our hometown of Bristol.

“Now, more than ever, it’s important that our events invite debate and challenge the audience to do more to make the world a better place, as well as being a place to come together, dance, and make memories.

“Alongside one of the most exciting lineups we have ever brought to Bristol, we’re creating an area called ‘The Information’, to provide a space for urgent conversations from some of our favourite activist and political voices. We’re partnering with CICs to nurture new talent, provide community catering at the heart of the festival and give back to our communities through the festival ecosystem.”

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The brand new festival by Team Love and AEG Presents will see prolific remix artist and producer Jamie xx headline the Saturday night. The Chemical Brothers will then bring their globally renowned, psychedelic live show to the Downs on the Sunday night in a performance that sets hallucinogenic visuals to some of the biggest anthems in dance music.

The two-day festival will also boast a programme of inspirational experts, disruptors, artists, writers, and thinkers from across the global social and political spectrum, as well as Bristolian voices and collectives. Full details are to be revealed this spring.

Forwards, in association with social impact arm of Team Love Big Team CIC, seeks to open doors for young people in the city who have historically been excluded from and under-represented in the festival and events industry. There will be work experience, shadowing and paid job placements available across the festival, supported through outreach and partnerships with local youth organisations such as ACE and Babbasa.

As part of wider collaborations with Bristol Pride and other event organisers, there are plans to create further opportunities beyond Forwards.

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Team Love is putting a big emphasis on sustainability this year and pledging to measure the impact of its live events. There will also be Team Canteen CIC, a hospitality collective working to tackle food vulnerability, hosting a pop-up cafe at Forwards, as well as catering backstage for artists and crew.

Tickets go on sale at 8am on Friday, February 25, with pre-sale tickets at 10am on Thursday. More information is available via www.forwardsbristol.co.uk.

Main photo of the Chemical Brothers: James Basely

Read more: 10 stages and a new venue for 10th anniversary of Love Saves the Day

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