Barbra and I would like to thank Fandiem for giving us the trip of a lifetime! Through the MAPS donation drawing, we won an incredible experience: traveling to Bristol to meet one of our favorite bands, IDLES, and seeing them perform in their hometown. - Don from Savoy, IL

The Trip to Bristol

We arrived in Bristol on Friday, August 1st, and checked into the Clayton Hotel. The hotel was modern, comfortable, and perfectly located—just a short 10-minute walk to Queens Square Park where the festival was held. Bristol itself is such an interesting city, full of history and culture. One of the highlights of exploring was seeing artwork by the legendary street artist Banksy, who calls Bristol home. The weather couldn’t have been better—warm, sunny days with hardly any rain (a rare treat for England!).

Thanks to Fandiem’s flexibility, our travel schedule was adjusted for convenience, which made the trip even smoother.

Backstage Access & Incredible Music

On Friday, we coordinated with IDLES’ management team and received full-access wristbands, which let us enter the festival through the production gate behind the stage. From there, we could move between the side stage and the main crowd to enjoy every performance. Watching IDLES put on a powerful hometown show was surreal.

The next day, things got even more exciting. We were given all-access badges that let us into the green room, management offices, and side stage area. At 6 PM on Saturday, August 2nd, we met the band.

Meeting IDLES

Meeting IDLES was everything we hoped for and more. The entire band was kind, welcoming, and genuine. Joe Talbot (lead singer) greeted us warmly and even grabbed me a drink from their fridge. We spent about 20 minutes with the full band, sharing stories about our families, their music, and even our favorite songs to play and perform.

I had brought vinyl records from my own band as gifts, which they were excited to receive. Jon Beavis (drummer) and I talked shop about the difference between small club shows and big festivals. Mark Bowen (guitar/keys) shared stories about his life before the band (he was once a dentist!) while holding his daughter on his shoulders. Lee Kiernan (guitar) told us how his on-stage energy comes from letting go of all worries and immersing himself fully in the music.

We felt like we weren’t just meeting our heroes—we were connecting with them.

Behind the Scenes & Side Stage Magic

The rest of Saturday was filled with unforgettable moments. Watching all the bands from the side stage gave us a unique view of the massive crowd and the energy of the crew, family, and friends who joined backstage.

IDLES are known for their powerful live shows, and their Saturday set was no exception. Seeing it both from the pit and from side stage gave us two completely different (but equally thrilling) perspectives.

After the set, we congratulated the band, hugged Lee and Jon, and mingled with crew and friends backstage. Conversations flowed into local culture—we even got invited to a Sunday Roast at a pub with a three-year waitlist! The meal was incredible and another highlight of the trip.

Afterparty at Electric Bristol

The night didn’t end with the show. Thanks to IDLES’ manager, we were added to the guest list for the afterparty at Electric Bristol. We danced the night away and even saw Joe and Dev (bass) take turns DJing—a perfect cap to an unforgettable weekend.

Memories to Last Forever

We left Bristol with IDLES posters, shirts, a setlist, and countless memories that will stay with us forever. To top it off, we’ll be reconnecting with the band in the U.S. during their upcoming tour, where we’ll receive a guitar as part of our prize.

This entire experience reminded us why we support Fandiem campaigns: not only do they create life-changing fan moments, but they also raise money for causes that matter. We were proud to donate to support Palestine through MAPS, and even more inspired to see artists like IDLES using their platform for good.

Thank you again to Fandiem, IDLES, and their amazing management team for making this dream come true.

👉 See everything Don won HERE!