ANNOUNCES SECOND WAVE OF ACTS

FEATURING:
SAM AKPRO || OVLOV
GARDEN CENTRE || PEM || MINOR CONFLICT || MM’99

NEW ACTS JOIN A 2024 BILL ALSO INCLUDING: DREAM WIFE || LIZ LAWRENCE || DO NOTHING

WIDOWSPEAK || CHEEKFACE || DAS KOOLIES || THE CLEANERS FROM VENUS || WILLIAM DOYLE  + MANY MORE… 

TICKETS ON SALE NOW HERE

Bristol multi-venue festival - RITUAL UNION - is delighted to reveal the second wave of artists confirmed for its 2024 line-up.

Inviting some of the finest alternative acts from across the land to appear in the city on Saturday 23rd March, a slew of exciting new names have been added to the bill today.

Among those, is the genre-defying Peckham singer-songwriter and producer SAM AKPRO. Currently receiving A-list rotation on BBC 6 Music with his newest masterstroke “Death By Entertainment”, Clash recently praised Akpro’s work as “a subversive fusion of post-rock, jazz, funk, and no-wave… a sound that fuses far-flung influences without limitation he is more than equipped to go the distance”. Major success beckons this year, catch him here while you can.

Plus, as something of an exclusive, Connecticut alt/rock heroes OVLOV will be steering their first ever UK tour into Bristol for this year’s festival. The cult band fronted by guitarist/vocalist/multi-instrumentalist Steve Hartlett first made waves back in 2009 with debut EP ‘Crazy Motorcycle Jump’ before cementing their status with a trio of lauded albums in ‘Am’ (2013), ‘Tru’ (2018), and ‘Buds’ (2021) over the last decade. Bringing their immense catalogue to the live stage this March, this is a must-see.

Bringing you more new names you need in your life in 2024, Ritual Union has also confirmed appearances from GARDEN CENTRE, a band whose oddball brand of pop has already sealed the approval of one Frank Ocean; plus London-via-Warsaw risers MM’99 who will be laying down their hypnotic synth-pop sounds; while Bristol homegrown talent PEM will be transfixing crowds with smoky serenades that blend ethereal arrangements and intricate taletelling.

PLUS, keeping the tempo on turbo-mode into the early hours, the festival has invited MINOR CONFLICT to bring their thing to the official after party. Box of frogs mad, the Squid-affiliated Bristol band create a unique combination of post-punk and post-folk using a harp (yes really), bass, drums, trumpet, synthesiser, and surrealist vocals once described by So Young magazine as “disjointed siren call warbles over two low-pitched notes that sound like some far away car alarm at 3am”. Brace yourself, and go out with a bang at Ritual Union 2024.

With a line-up bristling with breaking acts, exclusive sets, and established live favourites, all hosted within one of the UK’s most vital musical cities; Ritual Union will make its feverishly anticipated return to Bristol this March.

Previously announced acts include co-headliners Dream Wife and Liz Lawrence, alongside prime supporting slots from the likes of Do Nothing, Widowspeak, Cheekface, William Doyle and Das Koolies. Elsewhere, mouthwatering exclusives include a very special opening set from the legendary Martin Newell AKA The Cleaners From Venus, plus a reunion show set for the recently reformed Brooklyn band Cende.

Throughout the day, fans will also be able to navigate their way through a bill packed with the likes of Katie Malco, Mary In The Junkyard, Holiday Ghosts, Japanese Television, The Itch, Chalk, Masca, Welly, The New Eves, Febueder, Ebbb, pencil, Van Houten, Ellur, Amy May Ellis, Half Happy, Callinsick, Slate, Handcuff, Oslo Twins, Mould, Bert Ussher, Eva May, plus returning RU favourites Knives and Maruja.

Local tastemakers Spinny Nights will also return for 2024, delivering a curated platter of avant-garde leaning, genre-blending artists that range across electronic, industrial, slow-core and straight-up pop. First wave names include their latest signing BUFFEE, plus Damefrisør, The New Eves, Pearling, ThisisDA, JÆD, Arcadia Planitia Five-a-Side Football Team and Dead Space Chamber Music. 

Of the forthcoming festival, event organisers Simon Bailey and Richard Walsh say:

“With 1% of One now collaborating with Crosstown Concerts full time, it’s nothing but a pleasure to be bringing Ritual Union back to Bristol. We’re confident this lineup is our best yet — a fusion of our favourite new acts/up-and-coming superstars, a batch of surefire established crowd-pleasers, and some straight-up musical legends. Join us!” 

Participating venues will include familiar Nelson Street favourites, SWX, Rough Trade and Strange Brew, with the exciting addition of The Island joining for the first time this year.

Super Early Bird tickets for the 2024 instalment of the festival sold out in less than two hours, followed by a quickly snapped-up second wave of Early Bird tickets. Third release tickets are on sale now here and are moving fast. 

TICKETS & DETAILS
£17.50 Super Early Bird & £20.00 Early Bird tickets have sold out. 

£25.00 3rd Release tickets are on sale now. 

Please note that the festival is a 14+ event.
Tickets are available here.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

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