Words and images by Libby Smith
And just like that, Forwards Festival is once again at an end, with another stellar lineup and lots of memories made. I was incredibly grateful to have the opportunity to capture the one and only Erykah Badu, alongside a variety of huge names, as they gathered at the Downs for an evening of magic.
That Friday feeling couldn’t come soon enough, as I made my way through the entrance with ease, thanks to the friendly staff. I was immediately met by music booming from both stages, the smell of some great local food vendors, and lots of happy faces. It took me a minute to get my bearings, but soon enough, I was welcomed into the evening by the soothing sounds of The Ezra Collective on the West Stage.
Although I had missed the beginning of the festival, The Ezra Collective were the perfect introduction to the event, and their incredible ability to fill the air with their jazzy beats truly set the bar high for the rest of the night.
Goldie’s live ensemble was next on the East Stage, and he successfully hyped up the growing crowd. Classic drum and bass and jungle flowed around him from the band. As one of the pioneers of the UK rave scene, seeing those old-school songs performed live in the sunshine was magical. It was easy to feel the music bringing everyone together as the visuals of Goldie in the 90s and 2000s flashed on the stage behind him.
Next was Raye, who was easily my favourite performance of the night. Her warm stage presence and powerful voice, reminiscent of Amy Winehouse, captivated the audience. She bonded with the crowd, shed tears, and played her biggest dance tunes, making it a performance to remember.
As the sun began to set, the sky burst into hues of pink, orange, and purple, creating the perfect background for Bonobo’s chill jazz blended into club genres. Bristol suddenly felt like Ibiza. Thousands of happy people swayed under the beautiful sky, preparing for the main act of the night.
In between eating and wandering around the surprisingly large site, I caught a glimpse of Confidence Man. Their incredible costumes and choreography mixed with their funky acid-house music resulted in something truly weird and wonderful that I’m glad I didn’t miss. Soon enough, everyone was swarming to the West Stage for the biggest performance of the night, Erykah Badu.
I rushed to the West Stage, eager to not miss a single second of the Queen of R&B, but unfortunately was stuck in the pit for over half an hour as Badu’s backing performers tried to keep the vibes high. The audience and staff quickly grew impatient, until suddenly, the legendary singer graced the stage in a beautiful coat and large hat. The impatience dissolved almost immediately, as her voice melted the hearts of everyone there. Her soulful voice hadn’t changed at all, and thousands of guests danced and merged into one like a charmed snake. As if it couldn’t get any better, surprise guest Mos Def then arrived and heightened the vibes alongside Badu.
The eclectic combination of artists and genres, perfect weather, and incredible organization made the first day perhaps more memorable than the year before. Although I wouldn’t be there for the rest of the weekend, I left the Downs with a huge smile, a full belly, and lots of new memories.
Comments