Forwards Festival

Having been launched in 20222, Forwards is now a staple of the Bristol festival calendar and despite the looming threat of thunderstorms earlier in the day, the skies cleared, and the Sunday delivered a memorable experience that perfectly encapsulated the spirit of one of the UK’s most vibrant cities.

Headlining the festival, LCD Soundsystem brought their signature blend of dance-punk to a captivated audience. As ever, James Murphy and his gang of expert musicians proved to be masterful in live performance, with the show filled with the innovation and precision that has made them icons over the past two decades. Opening with progressive Krautrock banger ‘You Wanted a Hit’, the band continued at a pace with higher tempos tracks ‘Tribulations’ and ‘Tonite’ getting hips shaking.

Playing for over 90 minutes, highlights included the evergreen ‘Dance Yrself Clean’, as its euphoric drop combined perfectly with Murphy’s raw vocals. Tracks like ‘Someone Great’ and ‘All My Friends’, meanwhile, resonated deeply with the crowd with the former extra special for the group as they dedicated it a close friend who had recently passed way. The synergy between the band and the audience was palpable, as Murphy’s charismatic stage presence kept everyone hooked from start to finish for what was an emotionally-charges show for the New Yorkers.

Earlier in the day, Yard Act took to the stage and brought their unique vibe to the festival. Known for their sharp, socially conscious lyrics and post-punk sound, the band delivered a set that was both witty and electrifying, with the Leeds group now notably drifting towards a more LCD-esque dance-led sound in comparison to their earlier material.

Frontman James Smith commanded the stage with his sarcastic wit and charismatic delivery, engaging the crowd with tracks like ‘The Overload’, ‘Dead Horse’, and ‘Dream Job’ with the now regular backing singers and sax/keyboardist all fitting in seamlessly and bringing a whole new dimension to the Yard Act live experience. Set closer ‘Trenchcoat Museum’, meanwhile, gained one of the biggest crowd reactions of the day and is a song that truly stands out, solidifying it as one of the best live compositions out there. The song’s driving rhythm and biting synths turned the audience into a sea of bouncing heads and shaking hips. The band have seemingly managed to evolve the live incarnation of it with every show they play and have perfected it for what was there penultimate festival of the summer and their last UK show.

Underworld, meanwhile, closed out the other main stage with a set that demonstrated their position as dance music pioneers. The duo, known for their innovative approach, didn’t disappoint as they led the Westcountry crowd through a journey of pulsating beats and hypnotic rhythms.