Forwards Bristol 2026 @ Clifton Downs

Performers

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  Little Simz

  Little Simz is a boundary-breaking musician and cultural curator, recognised as one of the UK’s most captivating and visionary artists. A multi-award winner - collecting Brit Awards, MOBOs, and an Ivor Novello - across mixtapes, EPs, and five critically acclaimed albums, Simz’ music documents her story, her journey, her becoming - and in turn, her generation. 2021’s Mercury Music Prize–winning record Sometimes I Might Be Introvert catapulted Simz into the top five of the UK Official Albums Chart, followed by 2022’s surprise release NO THANK YOU, a record at once deeply honest and utterly propulsive. In 2023, she continued to carve her own lane as an acclaimed actor, returning in the final series of the Netflix drama Top Boy. Little Simz’s 2024 performance on Glastonbury’s Pyramid Stage further defined her reputation as an inimitable live performer and one of the most celebrated British artists. The Southbank Centre recently announced Little Simz as the curator of the 30th edition of its iconic contemporary London music festival, Meltdown. Joining a list of previous curators that includes some of the world’s most famous artists, Simz will curate a boundary-breaking lineup for the 11-day festival, from June 12th-22nd. Little Simz’ sixth album, Lotus, set for release on June 6th. The singles, “Flood,” featuring Obongjayar and Moonchild Sanelly and 'Free' are out now.
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  Dijon

  RA: Resident Advisor

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  Amyl & The Sniffers

  Since forming in Melbourne’s sticky pub-rock scene in 2016, Amyl and the Sniffers have become masters of balancing power and playfulness. With two critically acclaimed albums under their belt - 2019’s self-titled debut and 2021’s visceral ‘Comfort To Me’ - vocalist Amy Taylor, guitarist Declan Mehrtens, bassist Gus Romer and drummer Bryce Wilson have achieved something unique and remarkable. Since the release of Comfort to Me, the band has seen their horizons broaden exponentially in every way. And it’s this attitude - bigger, brighter, smarter, sharper - that’s fuelling their third album, ‘Cartoon Darkness’. Recorded with producer Nick Launay at Foo Fighters’ 606 Studios in Los Angeles, on the same desk that captured Nirvana’s Nevermind and Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours, the latest Amyl offering is full of surprises. Musically, Mehrtens, Romer and Wilson have written The Sniffers’ most diverse album yet. It stretches from classic punk to the glammy strut of recent single ‘U Should Not Be Doing That’ to the stormy balladry of ‘Big Dreams’ and beyond. "Cartoon Darkness is driving head first into the unknown, into this looming sketch of the future that feels terrible, but doesn’t even exist yet. A childlike darkness," says Amy Taylor. "I don’t want to meet the devil half-way and mourn what we have right now. The future is cartoon, the prescription is dark, but it's novelty. It's just a joke. It's fun."
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  Viagra Boys

  Street blues

  Contact: info@year0001.com

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  Princess Nokia
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  Oklou
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  Jean Dawson
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  anaiis

  RA: Resident Advisor

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  Jim Legxacy
• Gena
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  Itch
• the Itch (UK)