FORWARDS 2023 is shaping up to be another strong line-up as the festival confirms its second wave of artists - including two Bristol acts. The forward-thinking music festival will be returning to The Downs this year on September 1 and 2 with Erykah Badu, Aphex Twin, Bonobo, Arlo Parks and Primal Scream already top-billed.
Ezra Collective leads the announcement, a Jazz quintet that has taken the genre to new levels in the UK, earning them a MOBO award last year. They will be joined by Gabriels, a soul band that rose to fame in 2022 and Obongjayar, the stage moniker of spoken word and afrobeat artist, Steven Umoh.
Prima Queen and Marla Kether will be taking over the Information Stage at FORWARDS - a talks and panel stage that also offers intimate performances - on Friday night (September 1). Saloon Dion, Intoku and Next Level Showcase are also confirmed for the same stage on the second night of FORWARDS Festival.
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There is also a string of Bristol artists booked to play including producer and vocalist, Grove, and SCALPING, a four-piece where Metal music meets Techno to produce what NME described as 'rave-ready bangers'.
FORWARDS seeks to challenge what metropolitan festivals can be today, and how they can do good. Launching in 2022, FORWARDS commits to positive change through social initiatives and a powerful platform for discussion, side by side with a strong line-up that celebrates the best of international music.
Later this spring the full Information stage programme will be announced at FORWARDS, with each day unveiling a programme of talks that face pressing cultural issues head-on, with no conversation off-limits.
Day tickets are now available from £60.70, with weekend tickets available from £101.90. Concessions are available for children aged 5-15, local residents and individuals on low income. Like 2022, FORWARDS will offer discounted NHS tickets to those that work there as a small way of saying thanks for all the hard work and dedication.
Gates open 12noon with the last entry to the event at 10pm. Tickets are available now through See Tickets.
FORWARDS Festival heads to The Downs on September 1-2, 2023
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