For a festival that has given us the likes of Fontaines D.C., Billy NoMates, Getdown Services, Gurriers, Self Esteem and more over previous years, Ritual Union has once again smashed it out of the park with a stellar first wave that includes bands like Maruja, Morn and The Scuttlers - taking place Saturday 20 March 2027 in Bristol
One of the early year highlights of the calendar year for me in the festival circuit has always been Ritual Union, Bristol’s acclaimed multi-venue festival that has been running for several years at this point and has now returned with its latest edition of established names and talent. Leading the charge of the first wave is Maruja, the dazzling post-punk/jazz outfit that released one of the best records of 2025, ‘Pain to Power’ - and are the band of the moment, bringing West Midlands firestarters Gans with their effortlessly catchy ‘I Think I Like You’ in tow.
Also present are bands like Humane, Irish upstarts Brooki - already tipped to headline 02 Forum Kentish Town along with the next wave of Irish talent, multi-faceted Man/Woman/Chainsaw Windmill-circuit inspired 1000 Rabbits, Welsh icons The Family Battenberg and post-punk legends Morn, local noise rock heroes The Scuttlers - with Spanish Horses joining them following the success of single ‘Hey Man (Hey Man!)’ and a steady word of mouth that has built praise over the course of a lengthy touring schedule.
Long Distance Runner are a shoegaze band that has quickly come out of the gates firing and are established to be direct successors to the likes of Mogwai and Explosions in the Sky, and the buzzy etheral techno trance of Lifepath99 shows that they’re one of the best bands in the scene. Truthpaste’s art rock is eclectic and varied and just purely delightful whimsy, so the chance to see them again is always welcomed as track ‘Friendship is the Truth’ goes down a storm.
Audiences also get the chance to check out talented bands like August, Blue Bendy, Enemies ETC - described as sad dance music for girls and bois., London-based Celtic jangle boyband The Tubs, Welsh singer songerwriter and multi-instrumentalist Tesni, beauty-in-the-shadow finder and embracer of paganistic traditions Toria Woof, underground electronic icons Studio20, “channel-surf rock” adopters Irish five piece Maicin, emo hardcore Pushbike, Bristol DIY outfit Shrink and Dying 4.
Early birds are currently sold out and the festival takes place across multiple venues such as Strange Brew, Electric Bristol and Rough Trade.