Bristol doesn’t have a concert stadium – the YTL Arena won’t open until 2025, maybe 2026 – but that won’t stop the city from throwing some huge concerts in 2024. With Bristol Sounds on the Harbourside and BS3 at Ashton Gate, then there are festivals like Love Saves the Day, Forwards and Simple Things at Ashton Court, Clifton Downs and the Bristol Beacon. So does the city need one more in Queen Square?
Bristol City Council has given the go-ahead to a brand new concert series in Queen Square this summer. Event promoters, FKP Scorpio, applied to hold events with a capacity of 15,000 people in the Georgian square last year, which will take place from August 9 to 11. This is despite raised concerns from residents and businesses, who fear the event will bring unruly noise and disruption to the area.
Queen Square isn’t the most obvious choice for music events in Bristol, but it’s not unheard of either. Bristol Harbour Festival runs yearly music events at the 400-year-old park, while the likes of Massive Attack played in 2003 and (the fire-breathing spider) Arcadia took place there in 2015. So far no acts have been confirmed for this three-day event.
“Great news that a licence has been granted for an annual live music event in Queen Square for up to 15,000 people,” said Marvin Rees, Mayor of Bristol. “This is another big win for Bristol’s music sector.” FKP Scorpio is no stranger to throwing huge concerts, with previous events at Wembley Stadium and city centre locations in Cardiff, Nottingham and Swansea. Bristol City Council still need to reach an agreement with FKP Scorpio on noise levels, however, which is required before the events can go ahead.
It will be open from 5pm to midnight on Friday, 2pm to midnight on Saturday and 2pm until 11.45pm on Sunday. Gigs will end an hour before close, while alcohol sales will end 75 minutes before. A phone number and email will be on public display throughout the events for residents to contact with any complaints.