Supergrass ignite Bristol Sounds 2025 with energy, nostalgia, and pure joy
Supergrass returned to Bristol last night to open Bristol Sounds 2025 with a set that celebrated 30 years of I Should Coco in style. The band powered through the entire album from start to finish, reminding everyone why these songs still connect so strongly today. Having seen them earlier in the tour in Cardiff, I wondered if the magic would translate to the harbourside — and in fact, the outdoor setting made it even better. The open air, the waterfront backdrop, and thousands of voices singing together gave the night an extra sense of occasion.
The band strode on to the strains of Blockbuster before tearing into I’d Like To Know, Caught By The Fuzz, and Mansize Rooster. By the time Alright rang out, with the whole crowd singing along, the atmosphere was electric. The mix of generations — 40 and 50-somethings reliving their youth, younger fans discovering the thrill of these songs live — mirrored what I saw in Cardiff, but Bristol brought its own magic. There was something about the setting, the Harbourside’s open air, and the thousands gathered under grey but mercifully dry skies that made it feel communal, defiant, and celebratory.
Gaz Coombes, fresh from his daughter’s wedding the day before, was in great voice and great spirits, sharing stories and throwing himself into every note. The band’s chemistry — Gaz, Danny Goffey, Mick Quinn, and Rob Coombes – felt as tight and joyful as ever. After the full album, the hits kept coming: Richard III, Moving, Grace, and an encore of Sun Hits The Sky and Pumping On Your Stereo that had the entire Amphitheatre bouncing.
Earlier, Sports Team delivered a typically chaotic, high-energy set, setting the tone perfectly for the night. A storming start to the festival – Bristol couldn’t have asked for more.
Bristol Sounds continues with a packed week of live music:
- Thursday 26 June – Kaiser Chiefs plus Lime Garden & Morgan Harper Jones
- Friday 27 June – Texas plus Turin Brakes
- Saturday 28 June – The Fratellis plus Cast, Sleeper, Goldie Lookin Chain, & Stereo MCs
- Sunday 29 June – Olly Murs plus Lucy Spraggan and Billy Lockett
