Dot to Dot Bristol 2025 Review

Dot to Dot 2025 was a festival of musical and cultural exploration. A one day event with over
150 acts across 18 stages, it invited you to carve your own journey across Bristol. From a
bowling alley to a boat, pubs to a 1,600 capacity venue. Bands, solo acts, and DJs. Landmarks
and side streets. Disco, punk, prog, acoustic… If you like adventure, this one was for you.

Ferocity and Harmony
With so many acts in a single day, you certainly got your money’s worth at Dot to Dot. In fact,
some of the venues were free entry. Spanning the genres, there was music for all tastes across
the rock and pop spectrum. My highlight was Pack of Animals, a raw and powerful post-punk
meld of synth, grunge, industrial and Madchester attitude, searing guitars and screaming vocals,
charismatic members with an absolute showman upfront. The venue, Mr Wolfs, a late-night
music haunt, was full, the small stage hardly able to contain the animals. I’d highly recommend
going to one of the bands’ gigs and following them online.

Furthering the theatrics was Mother Vulture, charging and rolling around on stage beneath the
Electric’s flashing lights, belting their riff-laden high octane alt-rock. The dockside displayed the
unorthodox prog rock chaos of Oreglo, tuba, electric guitar, vocals, drums and keys, flipping
from smooth jazz to raucous punk energy.

At the Louisiana, Shadow Stevie delivered a harmonic two-piece acoustic set as bands played
upstairs in the venue’s unique carpet floor live room. On a street stage between a kebab shop
and Mr Wolfs, Sonda played an infusion of R&B, funk and disco.
Stepping into The Shakespeare, a quaint English pub, you could find an afternoon of acoustic
acts such as Max Sloan and Lara Rose. Amongst brass tables and dark wood, walls adorned
with beer mats, pie and mash and fish and chips, this was the place to enjoy intimate sets from
Bristol’s upcoming singer-songwriters. Speaking of the festival, Lara said, “Everyone was very
supportive and nice,” which echoed my experience of respectful and participating crowds,
helpful and professional staff. The atmosphere was great all round.

Boats, Bowling and Barbeque
Twisting through Old City streets and navigating the harbourside, one moment you could be
moshing between the bowling alley and pool tables of the Lanes, the next you could be within
the cargo hold of Thekla, an old German trading ship, a dark and curious labyrinth moored in
Bristol’s floating harbour. Then you’re off to the Fleece, the Electric, Rough Trade, or the O2
Academy. So many venues to discover. The acts mostly performed in 30 minute slots, with
some longer headline and DJ sets. The soundchecks between acts allowed you to make your
way to the next venue, grab a drink, catch your breath, or fill it with cigarette smoke.
Each venue brought its own charm, operating as they usually would. They had their regular food
and drink offerings and the layouts remained broadly the same, allowing newcomers to
experience the venues as they typically are. This was a great way to showcase them, big and
small, quirky and classic.

In fact, Dot to Dot was a showcase of the city itself. Gig-hopping across Bristol, you couldn’t
help but pass through some of its local landmarks: King’s Street, Castle Park, the harbourside…
In the warren of St Nicholas Markets, there were craft shops, book stores, and eateries, fresh
pasta, falafel and American barbeque. The whole city is quickly and easily navigable by
pavement, bus, taxi, e-scooter and rental bicycle. There’s car parks, major rail links, and a
variety of places to book for overnight stays.

I Would Recommend
With so much music spread out across the day, you couldn’t feel short-changed. You may only
have felt short of a teleporter to fit it all in. Get yourself a Dot to Dot 2026 ticket and have a good
time–this festival is a great way to discover the Bristol scene. Where else could you be on a
boat for one gig, then a bowling alley for the next? As a packed one day event in a
well-connected city, Dot to Dot Bristol 2025 was a musical adventure without the camping. That
is, of course, if you weren’t staying at the caravan campsite on Baltic Wharf.