Simple Things 2026 reveals first names with Squid, Shabaka, and Jeremy Deller as guest curators

Simple Things takes place across Bristol city centre venues on 7 November. This is the first time that the multi-venue event has brought guest curators onboard.

The programming shift adds a new layer to a festival that has spent more than a decade threading experimental and alternative music through Bristol’s venues. Alongside the three curators, the initial line-up pulls together Panda Bear & Sonic Boom, Moor Mother, Nathan Fake, caroline, Chanel Beads, Cloud Nothings, Lord Spikeheart, Mykki Blanco, PVA, Gold Panda, Safety Trance, Water Damage, H31R, KAVARI, Joy Guidry, and MGNA Crrrta, among others.

The festival will once again centre on Bristol Beacon, with additional stages at Strange Brew, Rough Trade, the Sportsmans and, for the first time, Shredenhams - a former Debenhams department store turned skatepark that will host a run of live sets across the day.

Matthew Aitken, programmer at Bristol Beacon, said the curatorial model was designed to bring fresh energy to the 12th edition. “The direction we have taken this year to allow space for some of our favourite artists to curate portions of our line-up is really exciting,” he said. “Simple Things has always been about change and morphing, and this addition will allow fresh musical energy to be a real feature of this year’s edition. As ever, the changing artwork and the addition of Shredenhams as a new venue space allow us a chance to re-imagine elements of the event and keep it exciting.”