Love Saves The Day returns to Bristol this weekend on 23rd and 24th May with a lineup that continues to balance major electronic acts alongside the local and emerging artists shaping the city’s underground scene.
Alongside the festival’s larger names, this year’s programme also spotlights a newer generation of artists moving across hardgroove, amapiano, garage, bass music and rap, reflecting the breadth of sounds currently feeding into UK club culture. From Bristol-based selectors to genre-blurring producers, here are some of the emerging acts worth catching across the weekend.
Rowana
Rowana is rapidly cementing her place within Bristol’s evolving hardgroove and nu-trance pool of talent. Her high-octane sets are defined by a dynamic fusion of techno textures, hypnotic melodies, and intricate soundscapes. Heavily influenced by the raw, energetic spirit of her roots on the Scottish rave scene, her production and selection style is anchored by punching 4×4 kicks that keep dance floors locked in.
Her fast-rising profile is backed by standout appearances at institution venues like Motion and Lakota, where she has shared lineups with heavyweights such as Marlon Hoffstadt, Malugi, Kettama, DJ Heartstring, and t e s t p r e s s. This weekend, she brings her blistering progression of electronic sub-genres to the festival terrain.
Catch Rowana on the new Minus 196 Sounds stage at 2 PM on Saturday.
Douvelle19
Khiah Lou
Khiah Lou is a vital fixture in Bristol's underground, operating as a dedicated DJ focused primarily on amapiano. Her deep affinity for the South African sound shines through in every selection, with sets heavily leaning towards tracks that showcase the genre’s signature thumping log-drum basslines.
Her performances are masterclasses in balance, flawlessly weaving soulful piano melodies together with percussion-heavy rhythms. Her authentic curation has made her a highly sought-after name across the city’s club circuit, leading to packed appearances at local staples like The Love Inn, Lakota, Lost Horizon, and Death Disco. This weekend, she brings those warm, polyrhythmic grooves to a unique festival setting.
Catch Khiah Lou in the Ball Pool at 2 PM on Sunday.
Step Twice
Step Twice are deeply embedded within the fabric of Bristol’s underground rave and bass culture. As a collective, their reputation is built on throwing essential events with lineups strictly centered around the heavy syncopations of garage, jungle, breaks, and bass-focused club music.
They represent the tireless, community-driven DIY ethos that keeps the city's nightlife cutting-edge. Their inclusion on the lineup highlights a commitment to showcasing the promoters and crews currently shaping local dance floors from the ground up. This set positions them perfectly alongside the festival’s most exciting, club-focused emerging electronic bookings.
Catch Step Twice on the Minus 196 Sounds stage at 4 PM on Saturday.
Badliana
Badliana stands at the forefront of a fresh wave of UK talent blending rap cadence, internet culture, and alternative electronic soundscapes. Her rapidly growing presence across underground lineups speaks volumes, perfectly capturing the blurred boundaries between contemporary rap and progressive club music defined by a younger generation of clubgoers.
Her inclusion on the main stage highlights her rapid ascent from underground curiosity to a major voice to watch. Expect a charismatic, genre-defying performance that reflects the raw, hybrid energy of modern British youth culture.
Catch Badliana on the Love Saves stage at 5:50 PM on Saturday.
Addi P
Jabani
Jabani brings a distinctly melodic and vocal-led dynamic to the festival lineup, balancing contemporary UK alternative music with cutting-edge electronic influences. His craft focuses on soulful, emotive songwriting and fluid vocal lines, offering a refreshing contrast to the weekend's heavier, instrumental club bookings while maintaining a distinctly modern British edge.
His performance bridges the gap between traditional live musicianship and modern electronic production, proving that underground music can be as emotionally resonant as it is danceable. He is a must-watch for fans of progressive, alternative sounds.
Catch Jabani on the Love Saves stage at 3 PM on Sunday.
From the hard-hitting techno of the Minus 196 Sounds stage to the forward-thinking rap tearing up the main stage, this year’s local and emerging programming proves that Bristol’s underground identity remains the lifeblood of Love Saves the Day. By giving platforms to the promoters, DJs, and vocalists who keep the city’s club doors open all year round, the festival does more than just book big names; it holds up a mirror to the local rave communities, driving UK dance music forward. Stepping away from the main headliners to catch these afternoon sets isn't just about discovering your next favourite artist; it is a vital celebration of the homegrown creativity that keeps Bristol one of the most sonically exciting cities in the world.
For the last remaining tickets, head to lovesavestheday.org
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