In Bristol, for the future, TeamLove and AEG Presents bring you FORWARDS; a new inner city music festival drawing the biggest names in international music to Clifton Downs this September. More than a music concert, FORWARDS looks to challenge what metropolitan festivals can be today, and how they can do good, from the inside out.

The 2-day festival will harness the power of live events to bring people together for incredible music moments and positive change; through social initiatives and a space for discussion and debate.

FORWARDS looks to start the next chapter for inner city music festivals.

We’re proud to be unveiling a new festival for a new era of festivals, in the best city in the world, our hometown of Bristol. Now, more than ever, it’s important that our events invite debate and challenge the audience to do more to make the world a better place, as well as being a place to come together, dance, and make memories. Alongside one of the most exciting lineups we have ever brought to Bristol, we’re creating an area called ‘The Information’, to provide a space for urgent conversations from some of our favourite activist and political voices. We’re partnering with CICs to nurture new talent, provide community catering at the heart of the festival and give back to our communities through the festival ecosystem.

Tom Paine, co-founder of Team Love

Headlined by the most iconic names in worldwide electronic music, THE CHEMICAL BROTHERS, and prolific remix artist and producer JAMIE XX, FORWARDS drops a first look at its inaugural music programme today.

THE CHEMICAL BROTHERS bring their globally renowned, gloriously psychedelic live show to the West Country for a special one-off performance on Sunday at FORWARDS. For three decades, Tom Rowlands and Ed Simons have with redefined the very idea of live electronic music by creating a genuinely immersive gig experience – a show that sets hallucinogenic visuals to some of the biggest anthems in dance music including Hey Boy Hey Girl, Galvanize, Got To Keep On, Block Rockin’ Beats and many more. An unmissable gig by one of the most pioneering and in-demand festival headline acts in the world.

We are very excited about the launch of FORWARDS with Jamie xx and The Chemical Brothers who headline a really fantastic two days of music and culture, marking the next chapter in the growth of AEG’s festival division. We are really delighted that this next journey starts in Bristol, a historic city with an important culture and music heritage and spirit. FORWARDS begins a new relationship with our partners TEAM LOVE, who we have respected from afar for many years and who epitomise all that this great city stands for in live music and culture. Their vision anchors FORWARDS to the heartbeat of this great city and all it has to offer.

Jim King, CEO, European Festivals, AEG Presents