News / charity
Friendly Records announces festival lineup including live exclusive
Friendly Records, the neighbourhood record shop on North Street in Bedminster that celebrates its tenth birthday next year, has announced the lineup for its day festival in aid of War Child.
Tickets for Friendly Festival at Lost and Grounded went on sale on Friday morning, selling 50 in the first four minutes.
The team behind the record shop have put together an eclectic lineup drawing on local connections and relationships they have built up over years of organising charity fundraiser events and releases.
is needed now More than ever
In a major coup, they have secured headliner Sleaford Mods for what will be their only live show of the year.
“They’re really nice guys,” said Tom Friend, who opened the shop with Scott Hendy. “They’ve been turning down lots of stuff but said yes to us which is lovely of them. They’ve historically had a really good relationship with War Child, a charity which at the moment is unfortunately more important than ever.”
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Friendly Records previously released a series of seven inches in aid of the charity that supports children living through conflict. These records included releases from Nottingham’s shouty punk duo as well as PJ Harvey and Hot Chip, and local names Portishead, Idles and Beak>.
They were also behind last year’s Idles War Child fundraiser concert at the O2 and, along with their Give a Shit Christmas events in aid of Feed the Homeless, have raised over £250,000 for charity.
Also appearing at Friendly Festival are local artists Katy J Pearson – called “Bristol’s undisputed indie-pop Queen” – scuzzy rock’n’rollers the 45s and Zalizo.
As well as a shop, Friendly Records is also a label that has put out releases from PJ Harvey, Hot Chip, Beak>, Claude Cooper and more
There will be DJ sets from Heavenly Jukebox, Ishmael Ensemble, Claude Cooper and the Friendly team themselves, and entertainments on offer including a tattoo artist, the Letterpress Collective bike doing live printing, and food stalls.
“We wanted there to be a breadth to it,” said Friend, explaining the reasoning behind the lineup. “There’s something for everyone – we wanted to have a mix.
“We were imagining it as a very small festival – you go into Glastonbury or wherever it might be and there’s lots of different things to go see. We’re trying to do that but under a microscope.
“Hopefully it will feel like you’re not necessarily in St Anne’s in Bristol, you could be in a festival field somewhere. We’re going to dress it up so it feels like that and people can escape for a few hours.”
The independent shop mainly stocks second-hand vinyl, with some new records on sale too, covering a range of genres
With all profits going to WarChild, Friend said the ticket price is great value for money.
“Initially £55 might seem a lot, but considering what you’re going to get to see – a very intimate show of artists that would usually be playing much bigger venues in Bristol. And at the same time you’re helping to raise money for a really worthwhile cause.”
Friendly Festival takes place at Lost and Grounded brewers on May 10. Find out more and buy tickets at headfirstbristol.co.uk/whats-on/lost-and-grounded-brewers/sat-10-may-friendly-festival-2025
All images: Ursula Billington
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