As Bristol sails into the summer season, Bristol Harbour Festival (19 – 21st July) has announced a boat load more entertainment and talent as part of its line-up of maritime-magic. With new performance areas, stages, the return of the hugely popular Dance Tent and a new-for-2024 Bristol Rising Stage in association with Access Creative College, this year’s event is set to bring the very best to Bristol’s floating harbour. 

On the Water, guests can expect fan-favourites as well as brand new additions. Former fireboat, The Pyronaut, will officially open the festival on the evening of Friday 19th July, with a performance guaranteed to make a splash and cool down the crowds. My Future My Choice will also return, hosting the festival’s signature cardboard boat race, which sees groups, pairs and solo-sailors battle it out in not-so-waterproof vessels to make it across the finish line. New-for-2024, visitors to the harbourside can also expect to see Dragon Boat Racing, steamboat processions and a very special flotilla to close the show on Sunday 21st July, with a dazzling parade of sail along the water.

Providing back to back live entertainment, the new-for-2024 Bristol Rising Stage will see an eclectic range of musical performances from students at Access Creative College as well as other artists that applied through the festival’s expression of interest form. From Bristol-based singer Marns bringing soulful sounds, to four-piece band LAKEDOWN’s indie rock, the line-up will introduce a varied sound to the festival while shining a light on Bristol’s up and coming talents. 

Completing Saturday’s main stage line-up and hot off the back of a successful Love Saves The Day set, Bristol vocalist and multi-genre artist Eva Lazarus has officially been announced for Greenpeace’s line-up at Harbour View at the Amphitheatre, alongside Bristol-based hip hop artist Nat Oaks and the emerging American indie band Langkamer.