Love Saves the Day returned for another bumper May bank holiday weekend on the 23rd and 24th of May 2025. Since its beginnings in Castle Park in 2012, later moving to Eastville Park, and now settling in Ashton Court, it has remained a cornerstone of Bristol’s live music and festival scene, welcoming 60,000 attendees across the weekend.
With eight stages in place this year—alongside food vendors, secret rooms, and bustling bars—there was plenty to explore. You might wonder why there were eight stages instead of seven this year. That’s because Love Saves the Day introduced Dubtendo, a new addition that has become a well-known name in Bristol for its playful approach to live music and general silliness. More on that later.
Prepared for the day ahead, I arrived at the festival wearing a coat, well aware of last year’s muddy conditions, where grass was scarce. The grey clouds threatened rain, but apart from a brief shower during the evening headliner, the weather held up, leaving dry ground—a welcome change from last year.
The entry process was smooth, and I was through the gates quickly. The first noticeable change was that the Centre Stage had moved—it’s now located closer to the Big Top, which initially threw me off. However, it improves the festival flow by allowing Dubtendo to take the former Centre Stage spot, surrounded by food and drink stalls. It’s a great adjustment that really allows Dubtendo to shine.
Other than that, the layout remained mostly the same.
The weekend featured an incredible line-up of artists that many festival-goers would have strong ties to. Whether it was Nia Archives, Hybrid Minds, Notion, Giggs, Andy C, Bushbaby, or Eats Everything, there was no shortage of heavy-hitting talent.
I kicked things off at the Big Top, where Notion was performing. As one of Bristol’s rising stars, he could probably walk to the festival himself—he lives locally! On Instagram (@notion_dj), he shared that playing Love Saves the Day was a dream come true—and it certainly showed in his performance.
Delivering an off-the-hook set, the Big Top was packed—so much so that people at the back couldn’t even get in. The recently platinum-certified DJ delivered an hour-long set featuring some of his biggest hits, including the crowd favourite The Days, which was played by two other artists in their sets during the day. Goes to show.
Notion has been a fixture in Bristol’s music scene for over a decade, performing sell-out shows alongside the release of his latest album Forwards and single TENTEN—both of which showcase his refined production skills.
Unfortunately, I couldn’t stay long—I was eager to check out Dubtendo, where Oh My Rosh was up next, a big name in Bristol’s UKG, dance, and drum & bass scenes.
Arriving at Dubtendo, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I could hear the madness unfolding before I even got there. The stage’s small, mostly sheltered capacity made for an intimate yet chaotic atmosphere.
It was wildly entertaining—one moment you’d hear serious drum & bass, the next, a Yoshi sound effect or Mario coin bling. Seeing Mario and Luigi dance on stage, followed later by Princess Peach, was pure festival chaos.
The high-energy sets and relentless tempo made Dubtendo a paradise for die-hard fans who didn’t mind getting sweaty while raving at the front. Thanks to its compact layout, it delivered an intense, immersive experience—proving to be a fantastic addition to Love Saves the Day.
Taking a break from Dubtendo, I grabbed jerk chicken and rice. The food vendors were many of the UK classics. The bars also had a solid selection, and I was surprised to see Suntory 196 available, alongside Jubel, Red Bull, Thatchers, 6 O’Clock Gin, and The Cider Box.
Even more impressive—the bar prices! A pint cost just £6.70, which is one of the lowest prices I’ve seen at a festival. Not sure how they managed to keep costs down, but it was definitely appreciated.
Wandering around, I noticed the inflatable church was back, though I didn’t get a chance to go inside. The Twisted Motel also returned, offering a fully interactive experience with actors and a story, though I ran out of time to queue up and figure out its secrets. You’ll have to enquire for a room yourself next year to find out more about that.
For the rest of the evening, I parked myself at the Main Stage, catching Solo Jane, A Little Sound, Hybrid Minds, and finally, Overmono.
Solo Jane started with a short but impactful 10-minute set. Despite being early in her career, she showcased her impressive skill of harmoniously singing over drum and bass, as well as some original material, with angelic tones reminiscent of PinkPantheress. Accompanied by two backup dancers with choreographed moves, it was an exciting performance that hinted at big things for her future.
I last saw A Little Sound at Hospitality on the Harbour, and she once again delivered an incredible set. She’s one of the few artists who can effortlessly switch between DJing and live vocals, moving around the stage while singing over her own beats—a rare skill that elevates her performances. Like Notion, she’s Bristol-based, further cementing her place within Love Saves the Day’s local roots.
Going into Hybrid Minds, I wasn’t sure what to expect. They’re a quintessential name in liquid drum & bass, and they brought serious energy, performing plenty of tracks from their album Tides.
MC Degs led the set, with surprise appearances from Brodie (performing an unreleased track), Songer (helping out with Under the Water), and Grace Grundy (adding her stunning vocals). Songer’s appearance, in particular, had the crowd buzzing.
Finally, we reached the headline act—Overmono. I hadn’t heard much about them before, but I’ve had them on repeat ever since. Their sound is almost indescribable, blending elements of Fred again.. but with more hard-hitting, slap-round-the-face bass.
The entire field came down to witness their set, despite the light rain creeping in. Their slow builds and deep basslines created something almost emotional, paired with flawless audio fidelity.
They performed a fully live set, mixing tracks on the spot to heighten key moments, leading to a peak experience. Midway through, they surprised the crowd with their remix of Turn the Page by The Streets, which felt like an homage to Mike Skinner’s headlining set last year. I was eager to see him walk out on stage, but alas, it would remain a dream.
The visuals were breathtaking, with lasers, flashing lights, and immersive colours syncing perfectly with their sound. The main stage screen also impressed, showing the iconic dogs—an unforgettable touch. A stellar way to close out the night.
Love saved the day again—with much better weather than last year, a new layout that I frankly prefer, and an outstanding selection of artists. This is an unmissable event.
Adam James @Adamjxphoto
Role: Photographer
I'm a semi-professional photographer that loves to capture anything and everything. I'd love to travel with my photography so going on tour has always been on my to-do list.
My first camera was gifted to me as a hand me down from my brother many many years ago and I've only gotten better since and learnt along the way.
Qualification: Self taught photographer/videographer. Didn't go to uni, work full time in telecomms.
Available for: Sport, events, portrait and anything that takes my fancy, other than weddings!
First attended gig: The first gig I attended was a band called Dog Is Dead at the Louisianna in Bristol. It was such a good gig and I recruited some family to take me as I was under 16! This band was my gateway into the Indie Pop Rock genre that I love today.
First gig shot: The first band I took pictures of was, was the first gig I went to alone. None of my friends liked the band, Pinegrove, so I contacted Thekla and asked if I could bring my camera. They let me in and I had my first photo pass! I still have the badge to this day.
Dream gig: Arctic Monkeys in the AM era. Watching Matt Bellamy run down the stage playing plug in baby. Moose Blood on a tour...!
