Since its inaugural edition in 2022, Forwards weekend has been one of the biggest and boldest dates highlighted on the Wax calendar. The eclectic line up, unassuming atmosphere and sheer quality of artists has made Forwards a distinctive presence in the UK’s festival line up.
Forwards has always possessed an uncanny knack to balance the cutting-edge with the crowd-pleasers. Few festivals boast as consistent a track record of booking up-and-coming artists on the cusp of mainstream success – look no further than Olivia Dean’s massive set last year – while also offering space to promote musicians, bands and ensembles you might not get a chance to see anywhere else.
Across just four stellar editions of the festival, Forwards has brought the jarring sonisphere of Aphex Twin, infectious joy of Ezra Collective and contemplative indie-dance nostalgia of LCD Soundsystem to The Downs for a series of sets unlike anything else on the UK festival circuit. We love Forwards, and can’t wait to see what they surprise us with next.
This year, the festival sets down a clear marker as an event committing to striking out against mainstream habits, boasting a female dominated set of headliners – from Australian punks Amyl and the Sniffers to the genre-blending star of UK hip-hop Little Simz. Lower down the lineup, we’re excited to see Swedish post-punk favourites Viagra Boys finally make their way to Bristol, after having to pull out of the festival last-minute three years ago. The famed ‘Information Stage’ also offers an opportunity to take in the reflective, conscious side of Forwards, with artists, writers and thinkers across the social spectrum coming together to discuss topics including food inequality, black artistry and the Manosphere.
Of course, as the traditional closing curtain of the Bristol summer, it’s no surprise to see a number of the city’s favourite acts littering the line up, from rising stars to favourite sons venturing home. Here’s just a few we’re excited for:
Grandma’s House
With almost a decade of touring up and down the country under their belt, Grandma’s House have slowly evolved from a raucous group of self-taught punks into a snappy, lyrically-smart songwriting machine. Their balance of grunge-soaked-ragey-rock undercut with hallmark raspy vocals will be familiar to anyone acquainted with Bristol’s underground scene, but their Forwards performance looks set to cement the coming out of this band of one of the country’s most in-your-face and thoughtful bands.
Pack of Animals
Drawing comparisons to legendary figures of indie lore such as Oasis and Jesus and the Mary Chain, Pack of Animals have garnered a significant local following for their confident melodic indie rock anthems. Very much part of the shoegaze-tinged trend pervasive in indie rock at the moment, this young group from Bristol have managed to set themselves apart through brutal authenticity, captured in honest lyrics that tackle the big questions haunting their generation – lack of prospects, taking risks and the complexities of young relationships. It’s no wonder they’re winning crowds over everywhere they go.
1-800 Girls
Away from screeching guitars and sardonic spoken-word lyricism, 1-800 GIRLS will take to the Forwards stage to highlight the other burgeoning side of Bristol’s music scene – the dancefloor. The Bristol producer has made his name filling venues with dusty, lo-fi house cuts imbued with just enough sincerity to cut through to a wider audience. A genuine force on the club circuit, 2026 saw the release of his album LOVE, a favourite amongst Wax writers for its blending of infectious, glitchy beats with sentimental lyricism. Sure to be a big crowd mover on The Downs.
Paraorchestra
Paraorchestra is the first orchestra established in the UK that includes professional disabled and non-disabled musicians. Formed by conductor Charles Hazlewood in 2011 as a means of improving the inclusion of professional disabled musicians and artists in mainstream music and arts, Paraorchestra has proved to be a hugely successful act whilst addressing cultural ablism.
In what is sure to be an awe-inspiring experience on Forwards’ Saturday date, the orchestra will bring their re-working of Kraftwerk’s seminal album ‘Trans-Europe Express’ to the festival. Composers Lloyd Coleman and Charlotte Harding draw on an arsenal of symphonic and electronic instrumentation and diverse influences, turning the orchestra into a giant synthesizer in which sounds are crushed, filtered and distorted into something entirely new and exhilarating.
Tricky
An icon of Bristol music comes home. Noted pioneer of trip-hop Tricky returns to his old stomping grounds after more than three decades since the release of his acclaimed debut ‘Maxinquaye’ for a set sure to show why he’s still one of the most enigmatic and creative electronic artists working today. This sub-header set will take the Forwards crowd through his diverse musical journey, covering rap, hip-hop, ragga and indie rock – including new single ‘I’m Yours’.
//Words: Jonathan Morris// Photography: Khali Ackford//