News / Bristol Harbour Festival
Bristol Harbour Festival announces brand-new acts and performance stages
As Bristol approaches the height of summer, the Bristol Harbour Festival has announced an array of acts and activities as part of its line-up of maritime magic.
With new performance areas, stages, the return of the hugely popular dance tent and a new-for-2024 Bristol Rising Stage, this year’s event is set to bring the very best to Bristol’s floating harbour.
On the water, guests can expect fan favourites as well as brand-new additions. The former fireboat, the Pyronaut, will officially open the festival on the evening of Friday, July 19, with a performance guaranteed to make a splash and cool down the crowds.
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My Future My Choice will also return, hosting the festival’s signature cardboard boat race, which sees groups, pairs and solo sailors battle it out in not-so-waterproof vessels to make it across the finish line. Entry is free but donations are welcome for the education charity.
As the latest addition to the 2024 iteration of the festival, visitors to the harbourside can also expect to see dragon boat racing, steamboat processions and a special flotilla to close the show on Sunday, July 21, with a parade of sails along the water.
The four-piece indie rock band Lakedown will feature at the Bristol Harbour Festival
For 2024, the festival has teamed up with the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) as its official charity partner. The RNLI team will be running lifeguard demonstrations as well as collecting donations to support the charity throughout the weekend.
Championing the best of Bristol and emerging talent, Queen Square will welcome two performance areas to its spacious green space.
Councillor Tony Dyer, Leader of Bristol City Council, said: “The programme for the 2024 Bristol Harbour Festival is truly a fantastic showcase of our city’s heritage, culture and talent. From showcasing the best home-grown talent to the awe-inspiring entertainment that you’ll find on the water, which we are thrilled to see return, it’s going to be a brilliant three days. Partnering with the Royal National Lifeboat Institution is a great opportunity for us to not only witness its nautical talents but also promote safety in and around the water, which is really important for us as a harbour city.”
As well as the Bristol Rising stage, programmed by Access Creative College alongside dBs Institute, Bristolians will also be entertained by local dance troupes and organisations at the dance tent, which has been produced by Trinity Community Arts in partnership with Movema.
Bringing dance of all genres, mediums and ages to Queen Square, the dance tent will also see a queer DJ night takeover the space on Saturday 20, with local LGBTQ+ collective, Booty Bass, taking over the decks with their signature sound of tracks to make audiences sweat.”
Bristol rising stage in association with Access Creative College and dBs Institute, this year’s event is set to bring the very best to Bristol’s floating harbour
Providing back-to-back live entertainment, the Bristol Rising stage will see an eclectic range of musical performances from students at Access Creative College and dBs Institute as well as other various Bristol-based musicians.
Charlie Grier, Outreach & Events Officer at Access Creative College Bristol, said: “We’re so buzzed to be a part of the Bristol Harbour Festival once again to programme and curate the Bristol Rising stage in Queen Square. It’s a phenomenal event, and being able to give our students such a huge platform to showcase their talent is just brilliant. At Access Creative College, supporting youth talent on their creative and professional journeys is exactly what we’re about – and when the entire Bristol community comes out to support them – it’s such a great feeling.”
From Bristol-based singer Marns bringing soulful sounds, to four-piece band Lakedown’s indie rock, the line-up will shine a light on Bristol’s up-and-coming talents.
Also making a splash (pun intended) will be our On The Water spectacle, which will see dragon boat racing and steamboat processions take to the harbour ? and not forgetting some hot new additions to our Harbour View programme, including @evalazarus!
See you there ? pic.twitter.com/FcZExPJpkN
— Bristol Harbour Fest (@BristolHarbFest) May 29, 2024
Hot off the back of a successful Love Saves The Day set, Bristol vocalist and multi-genre artist Eva Lazarus will be completing Saturday’s main stage line-up. She will be performing alongside Bristol-based hip-hop artist Nat Oaks and the emerging American indie band Langkamer.
Celebrations for the 2024 Bristol Harbour Festival will extend into the wider city centre, as artists, musicians and performers will showcase their talent across food and retail venues, widening the programme beyond the main footprint of the festival.
The emerging American indie band Langkamer will grace the Bristol Harbour Festival 2024
Bristol Harbour Festival is delivered by Bristol City Council, Proud Events and Swans Events in partnership with Bristol City Centre Business Improvement District (BID) and Redcliffe & Temple BID.
The four-year partnership has allowed the festival to extend beyond its usual core activities.
Vicky Lee, Director of Bristol City Centre BID, said: “The BIDs’ partnership with the festival is one we are both significantly invested in. Local businesses have an opportunity to really engage with the activities over the weekend and the introduction of the Fringe Programme really supports that. We’re very much looking forward to welcoming visitors into the city centre and can’t wait for the entertainment to trickle out into the city’s businesses and late-night venues, to further widen the festival’s footprint. The Fringe programme is going to be a stand-out addition to the already incredible event.”
All photos: Bristol Harbour Festival
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