Queen Square
Worldly beats and edible treats in Bristol’s gorgeous Georgian square
For full programme information, see left column.
The magnificent Queen Square is one of the festival’s most popular spaces, and home to its biggest music stage, programmed by the Colston Hall.
With a bigger bar that will include benches and picnic rugs, and a wealth of food and drink on offer from the continental food market, it’s a fantastic place to hear some world-class music and soak up the festival ambience. This year, for the first time, Queen Square will host the festival’s opening Friday night concert, kicking the Bristol Harbour Festival off with a bang.
The Square will also play host to the Bulmers Summerside Stage, where the Bulmers Band will be performing short acoustic sets between acts from the main stage.
Friday’s opening night line-up will feature the fantastic St Pauls/St George’s Reggae Orchestra, a unique 30-strong big band with jazz, rock and classical musicians, and local legend DJ Derek, playing his lively reggae beats.
The weekend’s fantastic line-up will include:
Raja Kawa Brass Band - Indian themes meet New Orleans hot jazz in a Rajasthani feast for the eyes and ears
Ska Cubano - 13-piece big band blending Caribbean and Cuban grooves with hot jazz
Moscow Drug Club - suave vocals and fearsome violin lead cabaret-swing from a cool, dark place
Dennis Rollins - probably the country’s finest, funkiest and every which way rootsiest trombone superstar
Biram Seck - remarkable Senegalese singer-songwriter and his band
Sheelanagig - Bristol’s favourite Balkan knees-up party frenzy
And, of course, the Continental Market, one of the festival’s longest-standing attractions, will once again be in Queen Square offering an array of food, drink, crafts and products. The full line-up will be announced 5 July on the Bristol Harbour Festival website.