Festival to host talks on race and climate change

Festival director, Tom Paine, said the information stage is a "platform for conversation"

A two-day festival in Bristol is hoping to open up conversations around issues such as youth exploitation and climate change, alongside its music offering.

Forwards Festival will take place on The Downs from 31 August - 1 September, with LCD Soundsystem, Loyle Carner and Jessie Ware among the performers.

In partnership with Channel 4, the festival will also host the 'Information Stage', with ten talks scheduled across the weekend, including Brian Eno in conversation with Mikaela Loach on race in the climate crisis.

Tom Paine, festival director, said: "For us, Forwards is more than a music festival; it's a platform for conversation and action on critical issues like gender, race and the climate crisis."

The festival has played host to a number of artists, including Little Simz in 2022

"The Information Stage is a massive part of the festival and what we believe in, and with it we aim to educate and empower our audience by bringing diverse voices together, fostering change through unity," he added.

Other talks include 'how to craft influence through storytelling' with Youtuber Mariam Musa, presenter Tolly T and creative equity coordinator at Channel 4 Stacey Olika and British actor and rapper Bashy on youth exploitation.

There will also be a talk on gender roles, which will be hosted by drag artist and Bristol poet Fluxx Wyldly and will include TV personality Ginny Lemon, artist and writer Travis Alabanza and drag queen Victoria Stone.

Alongside the information stage, the festival will showcase local talent such as Cousin Kula

Also on the bill are campaigners Venetia La Manna and Grace Blakely, the political campaign group Led by Donkeys and founder of Climate in Colour, Joycelyn Longdon.

Rapper and zoologist Louis VI, wildlife TV presenter and co-founder of Flock Together Nadeem Perera, Ian-Solomon Kawall from May Garden Projects will also make appearances.

The festival will also showcase Big Team's Next Level Artist Development Programme, a project specially designed to help support aspiring artists, which will include local talent, including Cousin Kula, Lice and Kwazi.