Reviews / Reviews
Review: Love Saves the Day 2026, day 2 – ‘Suncream and serotonin’
There are very few things in life that I would classify as a miracle, but 30-degree heat and blinding sunshine for the entire weekend of Love Saves the Day would definitely be one of them.
After applying ungodly amounts of suncream and splitting taxis with strangers in true Bristol fashion, we arrived to join the pilgrimage of festival-goers making their way through Ashton Court.
Even before we made it through the festival gates the day quickly became a testament to everything that I love about a Bristol summer: girls swapping fans, outfit compliments flying and sing-alongs breaking out in the slowly moving lines.
The 30,000+ Love Saves revellers were bathed in sunshine all weekend – photo: Alastair Brookes
First on the agenda was Rizzle Kicks: a staple and childhood favourite of mine that, honestly, were topping my personal bill of the day.
Having seen the duo at O2 Academy in November 2025, I knew they would bring it, but there was something unmatched about their Love Saves set.
Rizzle Kicks were a highlight for this reviewer – photo: Luca Rosewell
Playing tracks from their latest album Competition Is For Losers, as well as old favourites from Down With The Trumpets to Mama Do The Hump, every second they were on stage was a pure hit of serotonin.
After a triumphant show in Bristol last year that featured a surprise appearance by Green Party leader Zack Polanski, the duo were on fine form – photo: Luca Rosewell
And, when you think it couldn’t get any better, the pair announced that they would be releasing a brand new album, launching into the first ever live performance of new track Living The Dream.
Riding a wave of popularity, the band announced a new album is coming – photo: Luca Rosewell
With Rizzle Kicks setting the bar for the day very high we then headed to The Big Top, catching the latter half of Run In The Jungle’s set with Jakes.
A tone shift into a heavier, more quintessential jungle, this pyrotechnic-filled set was incredible. Infectious and so boosted that you could feel the bass in your spine, it was a party from start to finish.
Sneaking backstage to crash on a sofa briefly, we caught a snippet of a great set from Woody Cook.
Admittedly, at the time I knew Woody simply as our neighbour from across the street who we shared a cab with, but now piecing together the puzzle that he is in fact the co-founder of Truth Tribe and a fantastic DJ and producer, it makes sense that he knew exactly how to get a crowd moving.
Joy Orbison’s club genre-blending sound filled the daytime – photo: Luca Rosewell
Then, soundtracked by Joy Orbison and SP:MC, we took a quick pit stop for a bite to eat and a water refill – which, I will say, were quite hard to come by considering the heat.
However, the fun didn’t stop for long, as we promptly joined the flock heading back towards the main stage for 4am Kru.
4am Kru are known for their rabble-rousing live jungle sets – photo: Luca Rosewell
Filled with samples and mixes from 90s DnB, this set had all the factors of a classic Love Saves set.
The crowd, however, didn’t seem to match the energy. To my amazement, I found that I could hold a conversation with friends at normal talking volume and that, when we started dancing like idiots, we stuck out like sore thumbs in an otherwise gently bobbing crowd.
Maybe it was the heat, but the crowd weren’t giving the energy back to the duo – photo: Luca Rosewell
As all good journalists do, I then took a break to go on the Ferris wheel (can you blame me?!)
While undoubtedly a gimmick, seeing the festival unfold from the sky was incredibly cool and gave us a great opportunity to scope out where we were headed next.
Who would turn down the chance to see Love Saves from the sky? – photo: Susie Long
Beckoned by the calls of Gwen McCrae remixes echoing from Centre Stage, that became our next port of call. We stayed there as the sun set, with blends of 80s disco and house music filling the air.
All too quickly, it was time to run back to see Sunday’s headliner: Sammy Virji. An unbelievable end to an already unparalleled day, Virji was an unstoppable force on the main stage.
Equipped with dizzying visuals and an ability to capture pure joy in his dance tracks, it was honestly the quickest 90 minutes of my life.
Captivating and approachable, with elements of modern pop and nostalgic traditional garage, he seemed to hypnotise every single person at the festival.
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As always, the curators of Love Saves really brought the heat this year.
A star-studded, truly fantastic lineup that spotlit the breadth and range of both emerging and renowned artists, every corner oozed with talent, community and, most of all, unforgettable music.
Main image: Elliot Hingston
Read next:
- In photos: Love Saves the Day 2026, day 2
- In photos: Love Saves the Day 2026, day 1
- Review: Dot to Dot 2026 – ‘Bristol itself became the headliner’
- Review: Jon Doran & the Northern Assembly, the Folk House – ‘Joyous, delicate, glorious’
- Review: PULSION, St Stephen’s Church – ‘Classical meets creativity’
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