Dot to Dot Festival always lands during the spring bank holiday weekend — a time when it feels like every UK city has a festival on. But for those in the know, Dot to Dot is where the real magic happens. It’s a full day dedicated to discovering the best new indie, punk, and alternative artists, with venues scattered across the city centre. You’re running between rooms, catching glimpses of future greatness, and constantly battling the schedule to fit in as much as possible.
This year, we managed to catch some incredible acts, even if we couldn’t be everywhere at once. Here’s how our day went down in Bristol.
Girlband!
Our first stop was Thekla, Bristol’s iconic boat venue — and also where we picked up our wristbands. Perfectly convenient, since our first two acts of the day were playing there. We arrived partway through Girlband!’s set, and the room was absolutely packed — the boat was bursting at the seams. We hovered toward the back, but even from there, the energy was impossible to miss.
Girlband! are a three-piece from Nottingham, blending punk and rock with a healthy dose of pop sensibility. There’s a rawness to their sound, but it’s paired with sharp hooks that make the songs instantly stick. A clear highlight was Thelma and Louise — gritty, catchy, and full of attitude. They closed with Not Like the Rest, their most well-known track, which got a big reaction from the crowd.
They’re definitely a band on the rise, and after this glimpse, we’re keen to catch a full set as soon as we can.
Cardinals
Next up at Thekla were Cardinals, one of our absolute favourite bands — so naturally, we made a beeline for the front. This five-piece from Cork have a sound that sits somewhere between shoegaze and post-punk, but what sets them apart is something totally unexpected: the accordion. And let us be very clear, we LOVE the accordion. It’s not just a quirky touch; it adds a sweeping, emotional layer that gives their songs this haunting, almost folk-like weight. It’s the kind of detail that completely shifts the atmosphere, and it gives Cardinals a sonic identity all their own.
They played just two of their released tracks, Roseland and If I Could Make You Care , which sounded massive live. We were really hoping for Unreal, but they leaned into newer material instead, and honestly, we’re not mad about it. Big Empty Heart in particular was a standout — aching, slow-building, and utterly beautiful. It’s the kind of song that makes you stop in your tracks.
Cardinals feel like they’re on the edge of something big, and this set only confirmed it. We’ll be talking about them for a long time — and shouting about that accordion to anyone who’ll listen.
Ain’t
After Thekla, we made our way over to The Louisiana to catch Ain’t — and let’s be clear, don’t mistake them for anything other than a full-blown rock band. No fluff, no gimmicks, just intense, emotionally charged noise.
They’re a five-piece with a sound that’s heavy and atmospheric, but still completely raw. Baker’s vocals were a real standout — shifting between this deadpan, almost zoned-out drawl and sudden, aggressive bursts that felt like they came from deep under the surface. You never quite knew when the next eruption was coming, which kept the whole room on edge in the best way.
The band as a whole sounded massive. Their set moved between slow, searing build-ups and moments that felt borderline chaotic, with textures that bordered on industrial but always had something melodic underneath. They’ve only released three tracks, and played Teething and Pirouette during the set. The rest was unreleased, but it all hit. We’re really into what they’re doing, and can’t wait to hear what comes next.
Adore
After The Louisiana, we made our way to the O2 Academy for Adore, the Irish garage punk trio we’ve been listening to for a while but hadn’t seen live — until now. We already knew we liked them, but seeing them in person confirmed just how locked-in they are as a band.
They came out swinging. Their set was sharp, aggressive, and full of momentum, with that perfect balance between rawness and control. There’s something about their sound that feels immediate — scrappy and defiant, but also really tight. They play like they’ve got something to prove, but with the confidence of a band that knows they’re onto something.
We were especially buzzing to hear Show Me Your Teeth, their latest single, which landed like a punch to the chest in the best way. It’s always satisfying when a song you’ve had on repeat actually hits harder live. The rest of the set moved fast, but never felt rushed. Each track tore through with conviction, and they kept the energy high from start to finish.
Basht.
To close out the night, we headed to Electric Bristol for Basht., a band we’ve seen a few times before and always come away impressed. They’re one of the most exciting young rock bands to emerge recently, and this set just confirmed it again.
Their sound is big and emotional, with a gritty edge that works especially well live. They played a mix of older tracks and new material from their latest EP, Bitter and Twisted, which came out earlier this month. You could tell how much their sound has evolved. The newer songs felt tighter and more focused, but still packed with the same urgency and heart that drew us to them in the first place.
One of the best parts of the set was the crowd. You could see how many die-hard fans they’ve already built. The front rows were full of people singing along to every word, dancing, jumping, completely locked into it. That energy fed right back into the band, and you could feel the connection between them and the audience throughout the whole set.
Basht. are only getting better, and if they keep playing shows like this, it won’t be long before they’re on much bigger stages.
So Many Bands, So Little Time
Like every year at Dot to Dot, there were some tough clashes. We didn’t manage to catch everyone we’d hoped to — Honeyglaze, Sprints, TTSSFU, Keo, and Fatdog were all on our list. It’s always a bit gutting when you have to make those choices, but that’s part of what makes the festival exciting. There’s just so much happening at once. You always leave wishing you could have been in three places at the same time.
But what we did see was incredible. The mix of venues, the running around the city, the sense that any tiny stage could host your next favourite band — that’s what Dot to Dot does best. It’s a reminder of how exciting new music can be when you hear it live, loud, and right before it breaks.
If you like the sound of any of the bands we saw, you’re in luck — we actually interviewed some of them. Keep an eye on our TikTok and Instagram for those chats, coming soon.
We’ll definitely be back next year, with even more running shoes and even less hope of seeing it all. Wouldn’t have it any other way.