Faithless are coming to Bristol this summer to celebrate 30 years of their debut album, ‘Reverence.’ With the Lloyd’s Amphitheatre on the scenic Bristol Harbourside as a backdrop, the Siren Bristol summer series show will commemorate the release their 1996 era-defining album.
Taking place on the spectacular waterfront, Faithless’ show on the evening of Friday 24th July will be the first in a series of iconic anniversaries. On Saturday 25th July, HOSPITAL30 On The Harbour will celebrate 30 years of one of the most renowned labels in UK dance music, Hospital Records.
Siren Bristol and Faithless’ full post announcing the show is below.
‘Reverence’ shaped the electronic music scene immediately with the runaway success of ‘Insomnia.’ A track featuring lyrics about the narrator’s struggle with insomnia, Nexus.Radio says this ‘strike[s] a chord with clubgoers.’ Relatability was not the only key to the song’s success. Electronic Groove calls the track ‘one of the most recognizable pieces of electronic music ever created’ noting its ‘enthralling build up, Sister Bliss’ sharp synth lines, and Maxi Jazz’s unmistakable spoken-word delivery’ as elements which have allowed it to stand the test of time. The song reached 27 on the UK Singles Chart and Number 1 on the UK Dance Chart. Rereleased in 1996, it peaked at number 3 on the UK Singles Chart. ‘Insomnia’ achieved popularity worldwide, entering the Top 10 on charts in Austria, Denmark, Flanders, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, and Sweden.
In 2015, Swedish DJ Avicii remixed the song, calling the version ‘Insomnia 2.0 (Avicii Remix).’ This was done as part of ‘Faithless 2.0,’ a reimagining of their catalog that included contributions from electronic greats such as Tiësto, Armin van Buuren and Claptone. Sister Bliss told DJ Mag of the Avicii remix, ‘it connected with a whole new fanbase that weren’t even born when we started.’
The band continued their success into the streaming era. After a seven-year recording hiatus, ‘All Blessed’ was released in 2020. Xs Noize called it a ‘powerful beacon of light in electronica.’ The album peaked at number 6 on the UK Albums Chart.
Over their career, Faithless has achieved 10 UK Top 10 singles, six Top 5 albums (three at Number 1) and global sales exceeding 20 million albums, as well as garnering close to one billion streams. The list of Faithless’ accolades are more than warranting of a glorious celebration on the Bristol Harbourside. But the band seeks to also bring a deeper meaning to their new era of live performing.
After the tragic passing of legend Maxi Jazz in 2022, Sister Bliss and Rollo are returning to performance with the aim to create a show that both celebrates the genre Faithless was instrumental in creating as well as being a remembrance of Maxi himself. To do this, the band as enlisted Jvan Morandi (Jean-Michel Jarre), acclaimed show designer, as well as a close cohort of collaborators. Together, they will create a show described as punky, funky, uplifting and emotionally charged. And on the 30th anniversary of the band, they want to bring fans back to the energy of their very beginnings.
At the open-air show this July, Faithless will be supported by Bristol-based group, Kosheen, who are celebrating 25 years of their influential label, Resist. Also on the line-up is fellow Bristol-based DJ, Milly on Air. It will be her debut on her hometown’s beautiful Habourside, and is sure to represent the bright future of the genre of which Faithless has been a bellwether.
Faithless’ show will join the vibrant platform of Siren Bristol. Its 2026 series also features the return of The Maccabees on 23rd July, a show which has already 80% sold out. The Faithless anniversary show will be a cornerstone of the summer calendar in one of the UK’s most music-rich cities.
Tickets and further information can be found at www.sirenbristol.com / www.undivide.co.uk
