FAST FORWARD: new Bristol festival plans to make a difference

Founded by AEG Presents and events production company Team Love, FORWARDS is set to become an all-inclusive, environmentally conscious festival

More than 60,000 attendees are expected at what is being described as the “largest inner-city festival to be held in Bristol”. And with acts like Jamie XX and The Chemical Brothers topping the bill, you can see why.

Team Love plans to use FORWARDS’ first year to establish a three-year sustainability strategy. The aim is to make the reduction of carbon emissions a joint contribution between the attendees and the festival itself, all while supporting and collaborating with local businesses.

Tom Paine, founder of Team Love, told the BBC that “It’s important that our events invite debate, and challenge the audience to do more to make the world a better place, as well as being a place to come together, dance and make memories.” Sold.

FORWARDS isn’t alone, either. There are many events and festivals doing great things with eyes on a better future. Norwich’s Wild Paths Festival, founded and directed by Ben Street, is a fine example.

Wild Paths Festival, in partnership with the ethical apparel brand No Encore, is described as a “New breed of music festival” and was the first to launch an up-cycled merchandise collection back in 2021, all from second hand and vintage garments. Now, that’s thrifty.

It doesn’t stop there. Wild Paths, like many others right now, works with a number of charitable bodies, like Ecolibrium, CanO and Frank Water, helping to tackle the challenging climate issues we are all facing. Bravo.

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