IDLES return to their hometown for a historic two-night Block Party, transforming Bristol’s Queen Square into a riotous celebration.
This August, Bristol’s Queen Square will erupt with the ferocious energy of IDLES’ long-awaited homecoming—a two-night Block Party that’s not just a gig, but a statement. After more than two decades without a major live music event in the historic square, IDLES are throwing open the gates for a weekend of celebration, community, and catharsis on August 1st and 2nd.
These will be the band’s only UK headline shows in 2025, and they’ve ensured the occasion feels every bit as momentous as it sounds. With hand-picked line-ups curated “for the people we love,” as frontman Joe Talbot puts it, the weekend promises to be an emotionally-charged explosion of sound and solidarity.
Friday: Fury and Frenzy
Friday’s line-up pulls no punches. Headlining are SOFT PLAY—the Brighton-based duo formerly known as Slaves—whose raw, two-man punk onslaught has been revitalised with HEAVY JELLY, their first album in five years. It’s a record that hit hard and fast, reaffirming their place as one of the UK’s most ferocious live acts.
Joining them are Lambrini Girls, an unapologetically loud and politically charged trio who’ve been making waves across the punk scene and beyond. Championed by icons like Iggy Pop and Kathleen Hanna, they crashed into the mainstream with their debut album Who Let The Dogs Out, and their live show is pure riot grrrl mayhem.
Opening the day is a different kind of intensity altogether: SICARIA, the dubstep disruptor shaking up dancefloors with a brutal and bass-heavy sound. Her set will bring a dark, sweat-drenched energy to kick off the Block Party’s first chapter.
Saturday: Eclectic Chaos and Local Pride
Saturday takes a turn into the unpredictable. Leading the charge are The Voidz, Julian Casablancas’ avant-garde side project. Their third album Like All Before You dropped last year to critical acclaim, praised for its fearless experimentation and refusal to be pinned down. In a festival setting, they’re unmissable—strange, swaggering, and completely captivating.
Elsewhere, Spain’s garage-rock duo Hinds will bring their sun-soaked, scuzzy anthems to Queen Square, radiating fun and fuzzy riffs in equal measure. Local legend Grove—a Bristol-based, Black + Queer artist whose anarchic electronica has lit up the likes of Boiler Room—adds something uniquely homegrown and politically charged to the mix.
Rounding out the line-up is Tash LC, the Club Yeke founder and NTS Radio regular whose global club blends and high-energy DJ sets are the perfect soundtrack to a summer evening among friends, strangers, and fellow fanatics.
More Than a Gig
But the Block Party isn’t just about who’s on stage. This is a full-scale celebration of Bristol’s creative soul. Local DJs will spin across both days, while food and drink from some of the city’s best-loved independents will keep the crowd fuelled and fired up. Expect an atmosphere more like a festival than a show—a communal experience steeped in love, noise, and collective release.
For IDLES, it’s the next powerful chapter in the TANGK era. The record, released early 2024, became their second UK #1 and garnered international acclaim, including three Grammy nominations. They’ve headlined major UK festivals, stunned crowds at Glastonbury, and played to tens of thousands across Europe and the US. Yet despite all the global success, this return to Bristol feels like the real victory lap.
This summer, IDLES won’t just be performing—they’ll be reclaiming a piece of Bristol’s musical history. With Queen Square hosting its first major gigs in over 20 years, the Block Party stands to be one of the most vital, visceral events of the year. Two days. One city. No holding back.