Celebrating authentic Bristol talent from Love Saves the Day before summer comes to an end
As we patiently wait for Forwards festival, we celebrate the summer of Bristol’s musical talent as seen at Love Saves
As summer comes to an end, signed off by Forwards festival, memories of the forsaken walls of the ASS return. As we prepare to put down the Aperol spritz and leave behind sunbathing on the downs, we look back on a summer of Bristol talent from LSTD 2024.
On the first, slightly less soggy, day of Love Saves, we spoke to music and art collective Club Siren after killing their set on the Teachings in Dub stage with “vibes and a fan” in clutch. Tiff, Mars and Emmy thrived in the boundary-less environment of Love Saves the Day. “Nationwide, people come down, enjoy the same space and form a community. It’s nice to share an experience with so many walks of life.
“It’s raining and people are still raving.”
The Bristol-based group felt grateful they get to represent queer and marginalised musicians. Representation which, in the Bristol music scene and nationwide, “is really fucking needed.” The sizeable city of Bristol has been said to lack adequate spaces for its queer community, especially with nightlife. However, the future looks hopeful.
Before the first day came to a close we got to catch Groove Armada before their closing set on the central stage, their third year at Love Saves. We spoke to them about their love of Bristol and what it means to perform at its largest festival.
Though Somerset-based, Groove Armada see Bristol as “a home away from home.” They revel in the beauty of Bristol sharing many of “the values of the city” with its “openness and kindness.”
Andy, who cameoed in the recent series of Clarksons Farm, described Bristol as a “really vibey, culturally rich urban centre” which pulls them back to perform sets time and time again.
The second day of the festival allowed us to meet with North-London born, Bristol-based artist AÆE. After his set, we caught him to chat about his experience performing in Bristol and expanding his artistry during his first festival of the season.
Despite the outpour of torrential rain, AÆE’s set still amassed a dedicated crowd as he decided to always “experience what the crowd is like” basing his setlist upon their energy.
The London-born DJ began his career in Brighton, but after growing up with a music scene that felt “stagnant”, AÆE was drawn to Bristol to experience its rising bass music and Garage scene.
Sick of club-goers who only care about their favourite track, AÆE has experimented with Baile Funk, Samba and Bass music this summer as he took over the Babylon Uprising tent of Glastonbury. Going on to perform at his own festival, “Madruga”, AÆE is always taking leaps in his career as both a producer and an architect of festivals.
Until the new university year begins, tune into his radio show on SWU FM and listen to his track “Pull it.”
Come September you can catch him at The Love Inn on the 19th and Lost Horizon on the 27th.
Whilst the sun peeked out occasionally, Ashton Court remained engulfed by episodes of rain and mud lakes. Despite this, talking with Oh My Rosh maintained the weekend’s festivities.
The Nepalese, Welsh and currently Bristol-based producer and DJ returned for his fourth stint at Love Saves, merging DnB, Jungle and odes of disco in his single “Odyssey”.
After his set, Rosh detailed how the pinnacle of the festival, and even the art of DJing itself, is “being with all my mates”.
Playing at this festival a multitude of times has enabled Rosh to enjoy Love Saves to the fullest. He explains “Most of the artists are my friends and I love doing it’.
The crowd of the DJ’s set being “quite local” many of which his friends, adds to his passion for the festival and his dedication to return each year.
Oh My Rosh concludes his summer season with Dubtendo and Wall of Bass on 14th September at the Malcom X Centre whilst scheduling multiple events across the city. You can catch him at Cirque Du Soul on 15th September, FAAB on 19th September or The Blast on 25th October.
Whilst Love Saves may have concluded, these Bristol DJs aren’t going anywhere.
New and returning students have a stacked term ahead of us. Be on the lookout for more unreal sets from true, raw Bristol talent.
Featured image via: Moon Immisch,