Headlined by Manchester rock band Maruja, Irish pop punks SPRINTS and Russian protest band Pussy Riot, who performed their mesmerising new production Riot Days, which documents their journey as a group and hopes for Russia's future.
THURSDAY 4 JUNE
The first full day of music was kicked off by Dead Air and was followed by powerful sets from YARD and Soapbox, both of whom had travelled from Dublin and Glasgow specifically to perform at Bulletproof Festival.
The next band to take to the Music For The Many main stage was CQ Wrestling, who had previously headlined our Grassroots For Gaza fundraiser at the Shacklewell Arms. They delivered a stunning set and brought the venue to maximum excitement before the evening's headliner.
Following quick speeches from the festival organiser Samuel Sweek and the Filton 25's Jordan Devlin, Peace & Justice Project founder Jeremy Corbyn delivered a rousing speech on the importance of grassroots music venues to our communities, as well as demanding government action to end its complicity in Israel's genocide in Gaza.
Maruja took to the stage to close the first day of the festival with a spellbinding performance of tracks from their critically-acclaimed debut album Pain To Power, demonstrating incredible levels of musicianship throughout their hour long set.
FRIDAY 5 JUNE
The second day of Bulletproof kicked off with an energetic set from Ellis-D, who crossed numerous genres in a short but well-received set. This was followed by blistering sets from paradise fell. and Alien Chicks, whose blend of punk beats and carefully-crafted choreography made for one of the most enjoyable sets of the festival.
Soon after, CLT DRP took to the stage for an excellent set of dance-tinged rock that created a phenomenal atmosphere inside the venue.
Just a matter of hours before they took to the stage, Westside Cowboy were announced as a secret set on the festival's main stage at EartH. Since winning the Glastonbury Emerging Talent Competition last year, their rise as a band has been stratospheric. From playing every corner of the globe to joining some of the biggest bands in the world on tour, Westside Cowboy's addition to the set will be a highlight of the Music For The Many campaign for many years to come.
The second day headliner SPRINTS came on to the stage to a venue in fever pitch and performed a blistering set of instantly recognisable pop punk anthems, with singer Karla Chubb's stage presence leaving the Bulletproof Festival crowd in awe.
SATURDAY 6 JUNE
The final day of Bulletproof kicked off with a stunning performance of shoegaze brilliance from Hongza, who also took part in the Music For The Many campaign's A Summer To Save Music. This was followed by sets from English Teacher touring member Blossom Caldarone and glam rockers Jools, both of which were incredibly well-received despite their stark contrast in styles. It is this kind of musicianship that captures the essence of Bulletproof Festival and the shared love and appreciation for all live music as just one of the many reasons grassroots music venues must be protected.
Up next were King No-One, who were a later addition to the line-up who were able to captivate the audience with their catchy riffs and electric stage presence, with frontman Zach at one point performing on top of the venue bar.
Before the night's headline act took to the stage, SNAYX played one of their trademark high energy sets. Currently on tour with Don Broco across Europe, the band have already developed a loyal following in the UK and are set to continue building their base and keep going from strength to strength.
Closing the inaugural Bulletproof Festival was Pussy Riot, who performed their new Riot Days production with mesmerising vigour.
Bulletproof Festival was born from the Music For The Many campaign to protect grassroots music venues. It's aim was to bring people out into the community to experience live music and was a resounding success. It has also delivered many memorable moments in the fight to ensure the survival and long-term sustainability of independent venues and creative spaces.
We would like to thank everyone who made this event possible, from the artists on the bill to the technicians who worked tirelessly on the production aspects of Bulletproof Festival. Here's to next year and many more excellent shows!
