Festival season has started early for us this year, kicking things off with Ritual Union, a multi-venue festival in the heart of Bristol. Ritual Union is still a fairly new event, 2025 marks only its fourth year, so it might not be on your radar yet, but trust me, it should be. Taking place in early spring, it’s the perfect excuse to shake off the winter cobwebs and dive headfirst into some of the best independent venues Bristol has to offer. And don’t worry about the dreaded multi-venue festival trek, all this year’s venues were less than a five-minute walk from each other, so you could go from one set to the next with minimal faff and maximum music time.
This year’s lineup was stacked with some of the most exciting up-and-coming names in the alternative scene, featuring the likes of Unlucky, Tooth, The Shania Twainsaw Massacre, Punchbag, Fletchr Fletchr, Theatre, TTSFU, Mandrake Handshake, and plenty more. Previous years have boasted acts such as Slate, Mary In The Junkyard, Welly, Ellur, Pencil, Lime Garden, Big Special, Talk Show, and Honeyglaze.
As much as we tried, we couldn’t catch every act this year, but every performance we did see was impressive, ranging from 70s-inspired psychedelic rock to a genre-defying duo dragging Jamie Oliver. Here are some of the sets that stood out the most.
TOOTH
There’s something about Tooth that immediately brought to mind the late 2000s–early 2010s alt-rock/pop-punk scene. They don’t quite fit into the pop-punk label, but if you threw them onto a playlist with Yellowcard and You Me At Six, they wouldn’t sound out of place. Think punchy drums, melodic guitar riffs, and emotionally charged lyrics that don’t feel overly polished. Their music isn’t on Spotify yet, so for now, the only option is to catch them live, which honestly is a great excuse to see them again.
LANGKAMER
The first thing we noticed about Langkamer? Their drummer is also their lead vocalist. If you’ve ever attempted drumming for more than 30 seconds, you’ll understand why this is wildly impressive. Self-described as “heart-on-sleeve slacker rock,” Langkamer blend punk, rock, and country in a way that really shouldn’t work, but absolutely does. A staple of the Bristol music scene, they pulled in a packed crowd of fans singing along to every word. Their raw, unfiltered energy and spontaneous moments kept everyone on their toes, just how a gig should be.
MANDRAKE HANDSHAKE
Mandrake Handshake instantly won me over with their instrument lineup. If you’ve been here before, you’ll know that at The Concert Diaries, we love a band that goes beyond the standard guitars-drums-bass setup. Their psychedelic rock sound was a hypnotic swirl of infectious rhythms and free-flowing melodies, creating an immersive atmosphere that had the crowd completely entranced from start to finish.
GETDOWN SERVICES
Getdown Services were, without a doubt, the biggest surprise of the night. I walked in knowing absolutely nothing about them, and I don’t know what I was expecting, but it definitely wasn’t that. Their set was a chaotic mix of unpredictability, tongue-in-cheek humour, sharp-witted lyricism, and an uncanny ability to get the entire crowd moving. Special shoutout to their songs “Crisps” and “Get Back Jamie,” which had me both dancing and wondering what the hell was going on. Theatrical yet raw, their performance felt like a wild communal celebration where you had no idea what was coming next, but whatever it was, you knew you’d be dancing to it.
GURRIERS
There’s not much to say about Gurriers that we haven’t already said a million times before, they’re a favourite of ours and once again, they proved exactly why. Their set was a masterclass in intensity, with relentless energy, incredible stage presence, and intricate musicianship that had the crowd in a complete frenzy. At this point, we just expect brilliance from them, and they always deliver.
CVC
CVC’s set was pure feel-good energy from start to finish. Blending rock with funk and soul influences, their performance felt both effortless and meticulously crafted. Their harmonies were gorgeous, their rhythms impossible to ignore, and their warm stage presence made the entire crowd feel like part of the experience. They’re the kind of band that just gets how to get a crowd moving, and by the end of their set, everyone was dancing.
With such a stacked lineup and an unbeatable atmosphere, Ritual Union once again proved itself as a must-attend festival for fans of alternative music. If it’s not already on your radar, it should be. See you there next year.