After brief pre-drinks/pre-falafel at Fauzy’s, we head up to the Downs for my first visit to Forwards Festival, now in its second year. We explore the amenities and take a couple of cheeky photobooth shots before settling on catching the last few songs of Obongjayar’s set on the East Stage, which is where we spend much of the rest of the day. Jockstrap are a little underwhelming, reminding me that actually I didn’t love their album as much as everyone else seemed to, but suitably danceable near the front (too much so from the unbearble gen Z-ers kill me when did I become this person). A delight to finally see Arlo Parks and to get to hear some of my favourites from her debut and reframe some of the newer ones. To the back for Leftfield, taking in one hell of a light show, a set that delights Alasdair. I leave him there for the beginning of Aphex Twin, a 90 minute audiovisual onslaught that shakes you to the core (and made Alasdair need to go and sit down for a bit), still infused with the sense of humour you’d expect in the “best of Bristol” section. We walk away before he gives a thumbs up to the crowd. Ah well.