Bristol Light Festival will return once again from Friday 31 January to Sunday 9 February*, with ten installations brightening up the city at a traditionally dark time of the year.
As well as revealing all of this year’s artwork locations, the final installation has been announced today as drum and bass (DnB) themed audio-visual piece Anthems: Volume One.
Anthems: Volume One by Marcus Lyall and RUN Collective
Anthems: Volume One is an immersive laser installation celebrating Bristol’s epic Drum & Bass legacy, created by artist Marcus Lyall, with a soundtrack compiled by Bristol DnB Collective, RUN. The installation fuses choreographed laser animation and a high-quality sound system to create a synaesthetic experience that brings some of Bristol's best loved sounds to life. Taking over an empty shop near Cabot Circus, Anthems: Volume One is designed to be a thrilling but accessible experience, bringing together music and art lovers alike.
Marcus Lyall is an internationally renowned artist who creates large-scale light installations and has worked on live shows for Metallica, The Rolling Stones and the Chemical Brothers. His work finds the sweet spot of sound and visuals, creating immersive environments that elevate the listening experience of music.
Marcus Lyall, artist, said: “Bristol has played a key part in drum and bass since the very start of the genre. RUN Collective have put together an epic soundtrack that takes you on a journey from the early roots to the present day. My part has been to amplify the energy of the music using light and movement, and represent the emotions that this music holds for so many people.The music will be played at a ‘listening bar’ volume level rather than nightclub levels, so the craft of the music can really be appreciated. It’s an accessible experience for those who wouldn’t necessarily go to a rave but still want to feel the vibes.”
All installation locations
Bristol Light Festival’s digital programme is now available to view at: https://issuu.com/bristolcitycentrebid/docs/blf2025_programme_digital
The festival has today announced the locations of each artwork installation. The festival will cover much of the city centre, with artworks located in the Harbourside, Broadmead, College Green, St Mary Redcliffe Gardens and beyond…
Ramandu’s Table by Bruce Munro Studio - City Hall, College Green
College Green will become home to a flock of bright and beautiful flamingos, delighting visitors with a whimsical display of nature's most flamboyant creatures.
Somnius by Illumaphonium - Lloyds Amphitheatre
Shrouding the Amphitheatre in a cosmic blend of light and sound, Somnius will respond to the audience’s every move immersing crowds in a playful environment that puts them in control of their experience.
C-Scales by Bruce Munro Studio - Castle Bridge
Those crossing Castle Bridge during the festival will be painted in reflections of shimmering light as they admire the suspended facade of more than 1800 CDs and DVDs, inspired by the waters of Sydney Harbour.
Swing Song by Bristol Light Festival - Queen Square
Back for another year of musical delights, Swing Song will once again be found in Queen Square. Due to popular demand Bristol Light Festival organisers have introduced a fast track ticket for one set of swings at this year's event. More information around this, including how to book, will be shared on Bristol Light Festival’s social media channels.
Our Beating Heart by Studio Vertigo - St Stephen's Church Gardens
Lighting up the gardens of St Stephens Church will be Our Beating Heart, an enormous heart-shaped disco ball that will bring people together in its display of shared love.
Tetra by Ottomata - The Podium, Broadmead
At Broadmead, visitors to the festival will find Tetra, a tactile installation that needs to be engaged with to truly be felt and understood, taking inspiration from the many forces of nature.
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Parallels by Architecture Social Club - Temple Church
Temple Church will be illuminated into a world of lasers and mirrors, where moving footage of natural phenomena like flora and the cosmos will transform into floating abstractions of light with Parallels.
The Whilers by Air Giants - St Mary Redcliffe Gardens
The world premiere of The Whilers can be found in St Mary Redcliffe Gardens, where otherworldly creatures will be waiting to greet visitors as they interact with each other in an awe-inspiring experience.
Anthems: Volume One by Marcus Lyall with music from RUN Collective - Quakers Friars, Cabot Circus
Bringing the history of drum and bass to the centre of Bristol, Anthems: Volume One is inspired by the historic connection between the city and DnB music and can be found at Quakers Friars.
David Wait, Operations Manager at Cabot Circus, said: "We’re thrilled to collaborate with our city’s creative community to transform spaces like Cabot Circus into true destinations, offering a diverse mix of entertainment, leisure, social, and cultural experiences beyond shopping. As a partner and host for the Bristol Light Festival’s return, we’re excited to bring another stunning installation to Cabot Circus, brightening up winter nights and adding to this fantastic event that’s become a favorite in Bristol’s calendar."
Bristol is Always a Good Idea by Real Hackney Dave - Queen Square
Bristol Light Festival’s information hut will be bolder and brighter than ever as this year it will play host to last year’s festival favourite Bristol is Always a Good Idea. The installation, which has been situated at various locations throughout the city since summer, will return to the festival for a ten day run before continuing on its tour of Bristol.
Katherine Jewkes, Creative Director of Bristol Light Festival, said: “Bristol Light Festival is all about bringing people together to experience installations in their own way. Pieces like Anthems: Volume One are a real testament to how light installations can pay tribute to the history and culture of the city and connect with the interests of those within it. We hope that our fifth edition will bring more people to Bristol to see what the city can offer when it comes to a truly unique artistic landscape.”
Fringe Events
For the fifth edition of Bristol Light Festival, there will be several Fringe events happening across the city to allow visitors to amplify their experience in unique ways.
Lunchtime talk: Crafting the Zero Moment - Friday 31st January, 1 - 2pm, Pervasive Media Studio
In this talk, the co-founders of experiential design studio and creators of this year’s installation Tetra will share their approach to crafting personally reflective interactive installations.
John Sebastian Light Ship’s 140th Anniversary - Friday 31st January - Sunday 9th February, Bathurst Basin
The historic John Sebastian Light Ship will turn 140 years old in 2025. To mark this anniversary, Cabot Cruising Club have designed a beautiful light display to show the ship off for the duration of Bristol Light Festival.
Saturday Art Club - Saturday 1st February, 10:30 - 11:30am at Bristol Loaf
Perfect for children aged 4-11, this fun-filled workshop invites young people to come along and let their creativity shine.
Photography Walk - Monday 3rd February and Wednesday 5th February, 5:30 - 7pm
Award-winning photographer Adrian Wyatt will be guiding budding photographers around the installations, offering guidance on how to capture the best shots of the installations.
Walking Tours - Monday 3rd, Tuesday 4th, Wednesday 5th and Thursday 6th February, 5:30 - 7pm
An opportunity for festival-goers to orientate themselves within the locations and to learn about the installations. Participants can choose between the ‘waterfront’ or ‘central routes, or join an accessible tour.
Official Silent Disco Tour - Wednesday 5th February, 5.30 - 6.30pm, Starting at Bristol Cathedral
On this one hour tour, visitors are invited to boogie their way between art installations accompanied by hit tunes from across the decades. High tech headphones mean that users will be able to hear both the music and their tour guide as they make their way around some of the festival’s highlights.
Neon Kids Rave - Thursday 6th February, 4 - 7pm, Bambalan
The whole family is invited to brighten up February with a non-stop rave party including bright colours and plenty of opportunities to boogie.
Lights Under the Sea - Saturday 8th February, 10am - 7pm, Bristol Aquarium
To celebrate Bristol Light Festival, the Aquarium will be open later on this date, so visitors can experience the aquarium after dark with its botanical house magically lit with colourful lights. Special UV animal crafts will be available throughout the day, free of charge with an aquarium ticket.
Left Handed Giant x Bristol Light Festival
For the 2025 event, Left Handed Giant has once again created the event’s official beer. This year’s ‘Shining Stars’ is a bright and balanced pale ale, full of citrusy grapefruit and juicy tropical character, from a blend of citra, motueka and el dorado. While visitors check out C-Scales at Castle Bridge, they can grab a can of Shining Stars from Left Handed Giant Brewpub to enjoy the full Bristol Light Festival experience. Shining Stars will also be available at Small Bar, Glassboat and the Royal Navy Volunteer.
Festival Hub - Queen Square
Bristol Light Festival’s hub can be found at Queen Square. The perfect place for visitors to meet, regroup and rest, the hub will host the merchandise where they’ll be selling branded beanies, tote bags, light up umbrellas and prints throughout the duration of the festival. The hub will also have the information hut, seating, and a food market, as well as being the site of two of the festival’s installations - Swing Song and Bristol is Always a Good Idea.
Partnerships
Bristol Light Festival was founded by Bristol City Centre Business Improvement District (BID) and is presented in partnership with Redcliffe & Temple BID. The festival’s Artwork Partners are Broadmead BID and Cabot Circus. Visit Bristol, Visit West's consumer channel for Bristol, is this year's media partner. The festival is curated by Katherine Jewkes, Creative Director.
Vivienne Kennedy, Director of Broadmead BID, said: “Bristol Light Festival is so transformative of our city and it’s always wonderful to see what new work will light up different spaces. This year in particular, Broadmead will be looking spectacular with an immersive installation that we hope encourages people to come and explore Bristol and the amazing venues within it.”
Staying in Bristol
For those looking for somewhere to stay in Bristol City Centre during the festival, a list of offers and discounts for some of the best hotels in the area can be found at bristollightfestival.com/accommodation. The festival recommends booking early to avoid disappointment.
Travel
Bristol Light Festival recommends travelling as sustainably as possible. Visitors are encouraged to walk or cycle to the festival where possible, or to utilise the many train and bus options available to the city centre. More information about getting to the festival can be found here: bristollightfestival.com/getting-here/
All information about the festival can be found at bristollightfestival.com
For more information about all events, and to book, visit bristollightfestival.com/events
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