Bristol has long celebrated its festival heritage, hosting regular events like Love Saves The Day, Dot to Dot, Simple Things, and Bristol Sounds, alongside the newer FORWARDS Festival at Clifton Downs.
Next month, a significant addition will join the lineup with the highly anticipated return of local favorites IDLES, who will headline the historic Queen Square for two nights—promising to be some of the largest outdoor events the city has hosted in over twenty years.
For event organizers Daniel Ealam and Scott O’Neill, the duo behind Communion ONE, who are coordinating the entire event, this is more than just another entry on Bristol’s festival schedule. It symbolizes the realization of a long-held dream finally taking form in the city.
“We’ve been wanting to do Queen Square for a long time,” Ealam comments. “The story of that Massive Attack concert remains a big tale even after 22 years. It’s a significant deal, and there hasn’t been anything of this magnitude since then. It has always been our goal. Scott, in particular, has been persistent with the council to bring something to life there.”
“It’s been a long time coming,” O’Neill mentions. “Dan and I have each been promoting shows in Bristol for a minimum of 15 years—hosting numerous events at Thekla—and the square has been in our thoughts ever since we started promoting here.”
After managing Massive Attack’s successful two-night trial at the now-closed Filton Airfield in 2019, which served as a pilot for a long-proposed arena in the city, Queen Square became a key target for the duo.
“I believe the Massive Attack gig really set a precedent for the excellent organization we provided,” O’Neill elaborates. “Some thought it would be impossible to pull off that concert in such an isolated location without any infrastructure, but I think we did a fantastic job.”
Founded just over a year ago from the merger of FKP Scorpio UK and Communion Presents, Communion ONE signifies a new chapter for the team, while still prioritizing artist and fan-centered values. Their artist lineup is diverse, featuring names such as Wunderhorse, Noah Kahan, The War on Drugs, Ed Sheeran, and Sam Fender. Their connection with IDLES showcases a strong mutual respect.
“From the block party concept to the selection of every support act by them, their involvement is deep,” Ealam explains. “It’s fantastic to work with artists who are passionate about crafting a truly exceptional event.”
This level of engagement influences every aspect of the show. The chosen support acts include Soft Play, Lambrini Girls, and Julian Casablancas’ experimental group The Voidz, along with rising Bristol stars, vocalist and producer Grove, and the four-piece noise-makers SCALER. Additionally, local food and drink vendors will be integrated into the event, with decisions on details like the DJ platform next to the main stage and the poster design stemming from discussions with the band.
Organizing such an event has certainly not been straightforward. Despite its central location, Queen Square presents a complex logistical challenge. Once marred by a dual carriageway cutting through, it is now a protected heritage site, a public park, and a pedestrian path, featuring an old statue of William III directly in its center.
“I suppose having the front of house desk by the statue feels quite natural,” Ealam reflects. “It definitely gives the site a unique character from that perspective.”
Unlike previous events at the square—such as Massive Attack’s iconic 2003 homecoming and Arcadia’s impressive takeover in 2015—the Communion ONE team has decided to keep the entire event within the square's tree-lined boundaries. This approach aims to keep surrounding roads open, minimizing disruption in an area known for heavy traffic.
“The areas beyond the trees aren’t essential for the event,” O’Neill asserts. “We can execute this in a way that reduces disturbance to neighbors, residents, and businesses while confining our event to the square itself. The tree line begins at the square. We quickly realized we could manage this with less disruption than previous events.”
Despite Bristol's musical prominence, it still lacks a major arena, often forcing artists like IDLES to perform outside its limits. The band's recent Grammy nominations and global headlining tours typically lead to performances at large stadiums. Instead, they have opted for their only UK shows of the year back in their hometown. With a capacity of 14,000 over two nights, this will be one of the largest solo performances by a Bristol band in years.
“IDLES are among the biggest rock bands globally,” Ealam remarks. “They receive Grammy nominations and have number one records. There should be a venue where they can create that significant homecoming moment. We recognized this and proposed the idea based on giving them the welcome they deserve after another remarkable album cycle.”
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With the regular festival favorites such as Love Saves The Day, Dot to Dot, Simple Things, and Bristol Sounds, along with the newer inclusion