Upfest street art festival, Bristol (Photo: Paul Box ©)
When: 23rd – 25th July 2016
Where: Bedminster, Bristol
£: Free
What is it?
Europe’s largest free, live street and urban art festival, Upfest, will take place from Saturday 23rd to Monday 25th July 2016.
This year the event is aiming to bring the biggest line up of artists, painting more than 30 venues and outdoor walls, to Bristol.
This year’s Upfest promises the most diverse collection of urban artists in one location. More than 300 artists will be flocking to Bristol from 40 countries. There will be artists from Canada, Australia, Argentina, Israel and Europe; painting to a soundtrack of live funk, soul, reggae and old school hip hop. More than 30 venues and locations across Bedminster in Bristol will be taking part.
Work in progress at Upfest, Bristol
As part of their 45th anniversary celebrations, the team behind Mr Men Little Miss have officially partnered with Upfest. They will be introducing a new member of the Mr Men family; Mr Graff.
Mr Graff has been designed by Bristol’s much loved graffiti artist Cheo, in collaboration with Upfest and Mr Men Little Miss (MMLM), taking inspiration from the festival.
The blue character can be spotted armed with a spray can and donning a baseball cap as he paints the city.
The festival will host some of the world’s most creative artists, with their unique disciplines adorning the walls, and in some cases floors, of south Bristol. The line-up will include 2016 festival artist Gemma Compton, city favourites Inkie, Jody, Cheba and Cheo, and the distinctive Spanish duo Pichi&Avo.
One of the artists, Rob Wass, at Upfest
In addition, the Dutch 3D floor artist Leon Keer, non-conformist urban/stencil artist Fin DAC, and anamorphic graffiti artist Odeith, will be at the festival.
Other artists will include 310squad (Russia), BirdO (Canada), Caiacom (Luxembourg), Chinagirl Tile (Austria), Copyright (UK), Dan Kitchener (UK), Danielle Clough (South Africa), DinDin (Belgium), Diogo Galvao (Brazil), Fake (Netherlands), Fanankapan (UK), Goin (France), Hannah Adamaszek (UK), Key Detail and U-baba (Belarus), Mas972 (Israel), Majilina (Italy), Pulso (Argentina), Rob Wass (UK), Rocket01 (UK), Sallaikonen (Finland), Sarab Jokhadar (Syrian), Sokar Uno (Germany), Spent1 (Greece), Spzero76 (Bristol), TakerOne (Hungary), Tankpetrol (Poland), T.wat (UK), and The Orion (Romania).
Now in its 8th edition, the festival is expected to attract 30,000 visitors and 300 attending artists. Upfest will be raising money for The National Association for Children of Alcoholics (NACOA). The charity offers a confidential phone line for children affected by alcoholism within the family.
More info: www.upfest.co.uk