By Benji Chapman, Music Editor
Adjacent to the venues which hosted some of IDLES' first-ever performances, such as Thekla, Queen Square will be filled with a spread of DJs, live performers, and food stalls during Friday the 1st and Saturday the 2nd of August for the band's only UK tour dates in 2025. As the only local opportunity to catch the band this academic year, the performances won't be ones to miss for fans in the UK.
Following an elusive post on their Instagram, the local legends hinted that a return to Bristol might be on the cards in order to bring them closer to their hundredth local performance in the city.
Having kicked off the TANKG tour at the Marble Factory in 2024, the band's recent collaboration with Friendly Records during a fundraiser performance for War Child suggested that the band were keen to honour their home. A planned return is undeniable proof that the band have a soft spot for the city, despite selected claims otherwise in their documentary Don't Go Gentle: A Film About IDLES.
It's undeniable that the music community's spirit here is firm and constantly intersectional in its collaboration with other arts scenes. IDLES may be a band, first and foremost, but they’re also the founders of critical local community projects, mental health advocates, and defiant political activists on a massive scale.
Reflecting this multi-faceted and cooperative approach, the band have worked with independent promoters Communion One and local DJs to offer a two-day festival that presents a repertoire of grassroots culture. Speaking to Epigram, promoters Daniel Ealam and Scott O'Neill said, 'We cannot wait to bring this event to Queen Square.'
'It's a space that's right at the heart of the city, which already brings some unforgettable communal experiences to the community, and partnering with IDLES, a band that embodies the spirit and resilience of Bristol, makes this even more significant for us.'
Planning the festival was also a collaborative endeavour between Bristol City Council among other city stakeholders in order to ensure a consistent strategic vision with the local cultural projects. Despite saturation in the local live music scene, the festival promises big names on the lineup alongside independent artists and businesses.
Hosting previous lineups that boasted acts such as Goldfrapp, The Streets, and Massive Attack in 2003, Queen Square was speculated to be reopening for shows when organisers FKP Scorpio applied to put on events there in December 2023. With a 15,000-person occupancy, the space is more than seven times greater in capacity than the nearby Bristol Beacon.
The announcement comes shortly after the naming of acts such as Kaiser Chiefs and Olly Murs on Bristol Sounds' lineup at the harbourside only a stone's throw away: the summer in Bristol is quickly shaping up to offer an impressive selection of acts at a high level of recognisability.
Tickets for the event will be released on Friday, the 8th of November, at https://idles.seetickets.com/tour/idles, with more information available on Communion One's Instagram and X pages.
Featured Image: Plaster Creative CommunicationsWho are you most excited to see at the festival?
