The 12th edition of the multi-venue Bristol festival returns on Saturday, 7 November, introducing guest curators for the first time.
Simple Things has announced the first wave of artists for its 2026 edition, alongside a new guest curator programme that will see four figures from across music and culture each take the reins of a section of the festival.
Composer and multi-instrumentalist Shabaka, West Country legends Squid, and Turner Prize-winning artist Jeremy Deller have been announced as the first three curators. Each will shape their own strand of the programme, bringing a distinct perspective to a line-up that spans dance music, indie, rap, rock, noise and experimental performance. A fourth name, along with the full curator programmes, will be announced at a later date.
Now in its 12th edition, Simple Things is once again curated, produced and hosted by the teams behind Crack Magazine, Bristol Beacon and Team Love, with a continued focus on discovery and showcasing the best in contemporary music culture.
Among the newly announced acts, Sonic Boom and Animal Collective co-founder Panda Bear will bring their forthcoming new collaborative project to Bristol, while Moor Mother joins the line-up with her boundary-pushing blend of spoken word, industrial noise and free jazz. Kenyan artist Lord Spikeheart – an artist renowned for the intensity of his live performances – will also appear, delivering his ferocious fusion of industrial sounds, extreme metal and East African rhythmic influences.
Elsewhere, Nathan Fake and Gold Panda offer two distinct perspectives on electronic music, while Chilean producer Safety Trance’s live audiovisual show dives into abrasive club territory, drawing from reggaetón, hardcore and beyond.
There’s a strong showing from artists working across guitar music and experimental pop, with London collective caroline and New York artist Chanel Beads, whose new album Your Day Will Come is set for release this year, standing out as two highlights on the bill.
Mykki Blanco, PVA, Fine, Loukeman, My New Band Believe, SILVERWINGKILLER and MGNA Crrrta are also among the names announced today.
The festival will take over venues, pubs and clubs across Bristol, with this year’s edition unfolding across Bristol Beacon, Strange Brew, Rough Trade, Sportsmans and more. Alongside its returning venues, Simple Things will also expand into a new location this year: Shredenhams, a former Debenhams department store that has since been reworked into a skatepark and events space.
“Simple Things has always been about change and morphing, and this addition will allow fresh musical energy to be a real feature of this year’s edition,” Matthew Aitken, Programmer at Bristol Beacon, said. “As ever, the changing artwork and the addition of Shredenhams as a new venue space allow us a chance to re-imagine elements of the event and keep it exciting.”
More artists and full venue details are still to be announced. Look back at last year’s edition here and get tickets for 2026 now.
