THE CITY OUTSIDE
The outdoor stages, city takeovers and community celebrations in the Bristol Music Weekly archive.
Original guide descriptions and image links preserved from BMW. Some links refer to previous editions; check the organiser’s latest dates and programme before booking.
01FESTIVAL ARCHIVE
Love Saves the Day – (Est. 2012) Flagship dance festival at Ashton Court. 🌍 60,000+ attendees, 10+ stages, 300+ artists. Fact: Has moved 3 times due to rapid growth. Past headliners: Fatboy Slim, Chase & Status, Little Simz, Andy C, Disclosure, Shy FX.
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02FESTIVAL ARCHIVE
Forwards Festival – (Est. 2022) Future-facing two-day festival on Clifton Downs. 🌍 20,000+ attendees, 2 main stages. Fact: Combines global headliners with “Forwards Thinking” talks. Past headliners: Aphex Twin, Erykah Badu, Little Simz, Raye, Primal Scream.
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03FESTIVAL ARCHIVE
Bristol Sounds – (Est. 2016) Summer gig series on the Harbourside Amphitheatre. 🎶 20,000+ total attendees, 5,000 per night. Fact: One of the UK’s most scenic festival backdrops. Past headliners: Elbow, Bonobo, Paolo Nutini, Noel Gallagher, Bloc Party.
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04FESTIVAL ARCHIVE
St Paul’s Carnival – (Est. 1968) Legendary celebration of Caribbean culture in the heart of St Paul’s. 🎭 100,000+ attendees, 20+ sound systems, live stages. Fact: A cornerstone of Bristol’s cultural identity. Past headliners: UB40, Aswad, Tanya Stephens, Laid Blak, Tricky.
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05FESTIVAL ARCHIVE
Bristol Pride Festival – (Est. 2010) Colourful city-wide celebration of LGBTQ+ pride and music. 🌈 40,000+ attendees for parade & main stage. Fact: Among the UK’s biggest free Pride events. Past headliners: Carly Rae Jepsen, Melanie C, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Sink the Pink DJs.
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06FESTIVAL ARCHIVE
Simple Things Festival – (Est. 2011) Cutting-edge multi-venue festival of experimental sounds. 🔊 10,000+ attendees, 50+ acts. Fact: Fuses avant-garde with Bristol’s bass culture. Past performers: Jon Hopkins, Caribou, Skepta, Floating Points, The Horrors.
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07FESTIVAL ARCHIVE
Outer Town Festival – (Est. 2022) DIY multi-venue takeover in Old Market. 🎤 60+ bands, 9 stages, 2,000+ fans. Fact: Entirely grassroots, with Bristol’s DIY spirit at its core. Past performers: Local indie, punk, alt and DIY acts.
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08FESTIVAL ARCHIVE
Dot to Dot Festival – (Est. 2005) One-day multi-venue showcase of new talent across 15+ Bristol stages. 🎸 20,000+ attendees, 150+ artists. Fact: Launchpad for global stars. Past performers: The xx, Ed Sheeran, Florence + The Machine, IDLES, Sam Fender.
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09FESTIVAL ARCHIVE
Valley Fest – (Est. 2014) Family-friendly festival by Chew Valley Lake, 30 mins from Bristol. 🌿 10,000+ attendees, 4 main stages. Fact: Known as “the best-tasting music festival” thanks to its foodie farm roots. Past headliners: Bastille, Travis, Clean Bandit, Sophie Ellis-Bextor.
Festival information ↗