The iconic Bristol festival’s first day set the weekend up for success.

Last weekend marked the start of festival season across the UK, with Bristol seeing thousands of music-lovers headed towards the lush grounds of Ashton Court for Love Saves the Day.

Upon entering the arena we were greeted by vibrant colours, loud sound systems and enthusiastic people immediately plastered a fat grin on our faces. Drawing in local Bristolians as well as crowds from across the country, it was clear that everyone shared the same goal: to enjoy unforgettable electronic music.

With great accessibility, Love Saves the Day was easy to navigate, regardless of your sense of direction or how many drinks you’ve had! Optional app Woov provided festival goers with a map, set times, and notifications to ensure nobody missed their must-see acts.

Love Saves the Day’s atmosphere was nothing short of eclectic, with bars equipped with a variety of alcoholic and soft beverages, a well organised queuing system, and minimal wait time. There was also the option to take in the scenery, do some people watching and ogle over people’s fantastic festival fits. We opted for wasting no time and getting stuck into the music across various stages. The Transmission stage was more compact, bringing an intimacy to the crowd reminiscent of a free party. Meanwhile The Big Top Tent boasted a Tardis glory, shielding you from the summer sun, altering your perception of time — rave mode activated. From the attention to detail across each stage, it was apparent that local, independent production company Team Love’s hard work had paid off.

The route to The Twisted Theatre provided an immersive experience, with unforgettable actors spraying attendees with water before leading them through secret tunnels to Love Save the Day’s very own ball pit! This experience was only enhanced by the soundtrack provided by Bristol-based DJ’s Xalia and Cliffy who owned the stage, going back-to-back with clean transitions and universally loved remixed tunes that had everyone grooving.

No matter which stage we found ourselves at, Love Saves the Day was pumping with a wholeheartedly Bristol authenticity. The varied age demographic, considerate crowd, and overall positive vibes all combined to create a strong sense of unity and shared love for good music. The sound systems were booming, with heavy bass you could feel in your chest making it hard to wipe the smile off your face. Throughout the day banging tunes were provided by an impressive line-up.

Our highlights included Oppidan, Girls Don’t Sync, and CASISDEAD. With a range of acts, attendees were sure to find their next favourite artist.

The night closed with headliners Rudimental and CamelPhat dominating the heart-shaped Love Saves Stage. Rudimental brought the energy, energising the crowd with tracks from Home, their renowned 2013 album. Waiting All Night had hands in the air and the crowd shouting along, sure to have sore throats the next day. The music was only enhanced by a stage ignited with pyrotechnics, strobe lights and fog machines, all adding to the hype of the crowd. CamelPhat’s set exceeded expectations with tunes that forbade attendees from standing still: proof that streaming music is nowhere near as euphoric as experiencing it live. The set came to a close with a heavy downpour of rain. The combination of great music, happy people, and an energetic stage presence made this weather a welcome addition to the ambience, rather than an inconvenience.

It’s safe to say that Love did in fact Save The Day for its twelfth year running, expanding upon its well-deserved legacy.

Clear your calendars for May 24th and 25th 2025, so you’re ready to grab your tickets here and enjoy Bristol’s party of the year!