In Photos: Simple Things 2025

Bristol’s dependably boundary-pushing all-day festival returned this month with an extensive programme co-curated by Crack Magazine, Team Love and the Bristol Beacon.

Last weekend, Simple Things’ 11th edition delivered a venue-hopping line-up that stitched together scenes from the city and beyond, spanning a wide spectrum of electronic, alternative and experimental sounds.

At the heart of the festival, Bristol Beacon’s main venue, Beacon Hall, hosted experimental folk from Richard Dawson, ambient modular jazz from very special guest Nala Sinephro, electronic world-builder Clark, and a powerhouse closing show from The Bug featuring guest MCs Flowdan, Warrior Queen, Manga Saint Hilaire and Logan & Magugu.

Elsewhere in the Beacon, Bridgehouse marked a decade of Kampala-based label Nyege Nyege Tapes with a blistering showcase from PÖ, Sisso & Maiko and DJ Travella, while Lantern Hall welcomed performances from the likes of These New Puritans, Jadu Heart, Blackhaine and Upchuck. Bristol label and party-starters Psychotherapy Sessions took over the Cellars for an unrelenting run of DJ sets from k means b2b fig, Observer, ALYA L, aya and Joker.

This year, Bristol’s Megascreen joined the festival’s venue list, hosting Bicep-scored A/V film TAKKUUK as well as performances by Sculpture, BABii and Iglooghost. Other venues like Rough Trade, The Sportsman, Zed Alley, The Lanes and Strange Brew hosted a range of performances throughout the day and night, with highlights from Jawnino, KeiyaA, Léa Sen, Smerz, Year of the Rabbit, HAAL, jb glazer and Danalogue. 

The festival closed out at Strange Brew with afterparty sets from Laurel Halo, Caragh and Hodge. 

Relive some of the festival’s highlights in our photo gallery below.