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IDLES announce ‘epic’ homecoming shows in stunning location
Bristol’s favourite sons, as they’re fondly known, will be back on hometurf in 2025 – with shows that could well go down in the city’s history.
IDLES have chosen their hometown for their only UK dates of next year, shunning local venues and arenas in favour of an outdoor location with peak atmosphere.
Queen Square will host the two gigs, taking place in August and each featuring a unique bill. Promoters Communion ONE told Bristol24/7 the band are curating a “fully IDLES-endorsed stellar lineup of very special guests” – yet to be announced – to create “the ultimate Bristol block party” for 14,000 lucky fans each night.
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Vocalist Joe Talbot is not shy about his affection for Bristol: “We are coming home,” he said. “We’re putting on a couple of parties in Queen Square with music we love for the people we love. All is love.”
IDLES crashed onto Bristol’s underground in 2009 with their unapologetically hard-hitting brand of punk born of pent-up political frustration, a feeling many could relate to at that time and in the years following.
Five albums – including two number one records – later, they are recognised as globally influential. The band headlined Glastonbury’s Other Stage this summer, have just returned from a US tour and will take in Australia, New Zealand and Japan next year.
But despite international acclaim they refuse to forget the city that’s the foundation of their success, with the Queen Square shows following their War Child benefit in August this year at Bristol’s O2 Academy.
“We’re helping the artist paint their picture,” said Communion ONE’s Dan Ealam.
“They’ve chosen the space and are 100 per cent involved in booking the rest of the lineups, nothing will be booked without their agreement. That’s the great thing about a band like IDLES, they totally know what they’re into.
“They’ve had such an epic year – they’ve become such an important band worldwide. So when they come back and play hometown shows, it’s a really big thing for the band. They’ll have a hand in everything.
“We want to make it a celebration of not just IDLES but Bristol as well. We’ll make sure we’ve got Bristol breweries involved, the best local street food – certainly the band’s pushed us on that as well, that’s all really important to the guys. It’s going to be epic.”
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It will the first time in over 20 years that Queen Square has hosted a largescale live music event, since Massive Attack played there in 2003. The Arcadia Spectacular was the last major event to take place on the Square, in 2015.
The gigs take place on August 1 and 2, 2025. Tickets go on sale at 10am on Friday, November 8 at idles.seetickets.com/tour/idles
Main image: IDLES
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