Nala Sinephro, The Bug, Warrior Queen and more set to take centre stage at Simple Things festival

Bristol’s favourite independent multi-venue music festival, Simple Things, has just confirmed the final names for its 2025 edition, and it’s looking like one of the strongest line-ups its ever put together.

Bringing 12 hours of live music on Saturday 8th November, with standalone gigs throughout the week, this year marks the festival’s 11th edition.  More than 50 live acts are set to perform across venues including Bristol Beacon, Strange Brew, and Thekla.

Previously, the Simple Things festival has hosted some iconic artists in Bristol such as Skepta and JME, Holly Herndon, Savages, Death Grips, Nicolas Jaar, Fontaines D.C., Ben UFO, Objekt, and Helena Hauff.

Credit: Simple Things

New additions include:

Nala Sinephro, whose 2024 album Endlessness has earned her serious acclaim, will perform at Bristol Beacon Hall with her unique mix of jazz and modular synths.

The Bug, AKA Kevin Martin, has been a frequent guest at Simple Things and will be closing Beacon Hall. The Bug returns with a full MC line-up: Flowdan, Warrior Queen, Manga Saint Hilare, Logan, and Magugu – expect volume as this will be one of electronic music’s heaviest shows!

Longtime Warp Records mainstay Clark joins the bill, as does Blackhaine, bringing his intense blend of industrial noise, spoken word, and physical performance.

There’s also new-gen vocalists like KeiyaA, surrealist pop from Jadu Heart, a DJ set from aya, and Scottish post-punks VLURE.

Other additions span from rising experimental acts (Rachika Nayar, Fatboi Sharif, Niontay) to leftfield selections like Japanese psych group TEKE::TEKE and Bristol favourites Run Logan Run.

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These names join an already heavy first announcement featuring Dry Cleaning, Factory Floor, Iglooghost, These New Puritans, and Tunde Adebimpe, among others.

Simple Things isn’t just about the Saturday. Leading into the main day, there’s a run of must-see standalone headline shows, including:

• Moin + Special guests – Nov 4th, Beacon Hall

• John Maus + Special guests – Nov 5th, Beacon Hall

• Autechre – Nov 6th, Prospect

• Daniel Avery (Live) + Very special guests– Nov 7th, Beacon Hall

• Joep Beving (Solipsism 10th anniversary tour)– Nov 9th, Lantern

Afterparties?

Of course! Specially selected night-time events are coming and will be announced later this summer. If past years are anything to go by, expect warehouse locations, surprise sets, and very little sleep.

Daytime and nighttime tickets are on sale now for all events via Simple Thing’s official site. Tickets will be exchanged for a wristband that grants access to all venues within the programme.

Whether you’re into jazz, club, noise, pop, or something in between, this is one of the most consistently interesting contemporary music festivals Bristol has to offer.

Featured image via Simple Things