By Aaron Franks, First Year, Spanish and Portuguese
‘It’s a bit like Avengers Assemble’ says Tommy Pollock. He and co-founder Toby Ingham Thomas have assembled a top-end mix of classic 90s and 2000s dance acts and the latest house DJs for Lost Track of Time’s (LTT) first festival. They’ve spent more than they ever have on their artists – £43,000.
The headliners will be Groove Armada, who return to Bristol following September’s sold out show at the Prospect Building. The legendary duo, now in their 50s, remain remarkably relevant and are a perfect fit with LTT’s disco and house identity.
Dan Shake brings buckets of energy, blending lively house drops with funk and disco elements, while Dutch duo Dam Swindle debut for LTT off the back of a prolific 2025 that saw them release an acclaimed album and EP.
And while underrepresentation of female and non-binary artists continues to trouble a male-dominated industry, LTT believe their latest lineup is ‘very strong’ in this regard. It includes a near 50 per cent split of female to male DJs.
Talented local DJs include SWU FM resident Milly On Air, bass-forward Azumei and LTT regular Thea.
Toby appears most excited for the unusually connected duo of Demi Riquísimo and Lulah Francs. The newlyweds will perform back-to-back and provide trippy house music, acid synths and deep basslines.
But for Pollock and Ingham Thomas, this event means more than just bringing in the most sought-after names. Ross From Friends played at their first headline show at Motion over two years ago. Crazy P, who have ‘always been at the core of LTT musically’, also return after their November performance at the wonderfully intimate Loko Klub. The festival is a careful selection of the duo’s favourite artists to have played under LTT’s banner.
Toby hopes that the gloom and rain of most days in Bristol at present will fall away for a sunny main stage draped with silver decor in an open courtyard. Designed by the team behind The Underground, the location appears almost as exciting as the lineup.
Huge ‘gritty’ and ‘industrial’ warehouses with 360-degree stages will be contrasted by a maze of smaller rooms, one of which is to offer music from live bands.
Indeed, the pair were keen to emphasise the unorthodoxy of Sawmills: ‘it’s pushing the limits of how you can experience dance music’. So the space will allow its 3000 attendees to have respite from some of the more unforgiving large warehouse raves.
Ingham Thomas believes that disco house was more prevalent and its artists were easier to book in Bristol before Covid. This year’s Love Saves the Day is packed with bass-heavy genres like UK garage and jungle, demonstrating that LTT are, to some extent, filling a niche.
Disha Angadi
Unfortunately, Sawmills is only a temporary addition to Bristol’s music scene, since it will soon make way for luxury flats. These can be tough times to be a promoter, with venues becoming harder to come by and ravers becoming more selective of the events they choose.
For reasons good and sad, this may be one of the standout moments in Bristol’s festival calendar.
Featured image: Eddy HubbleWill you be at the Lost Track of Time day festival this summer?
