Look out for a special Upfest Bus driving around Bristol

Look out for a special Upfest Bus driving around Bristol

Posted on: 01 May 2024

UPFEST PRESENTS have partnered with First Bus to produce a custom design for one of their double decker buses, painted by legendary local street artist Cheo.

 

Inspired by the diversity of Bristol and the West of England (or at least, the parts that First Bus covers), Cheo’s design makes the most of his instantly recognisable cartoon style, which can be found across every nook and cranny of Bristol, revitalising the older biomethane-powered bus with a lease of new life.

 

The collaboration celebrates First Bus’ role as UPFEST PRESENTS’ official “sustainable transport partner” – a role that will see the event’s 200 artists given free bus travel to explore the city to their heart’s content during the 17-day street art festival. Not content to stop there, Upfest have also partnered with their neighbours at Bristol Beer Factory to produce a limited-edition beer for the festival: a "Euro Lager" called Brush Up.

 

 

“We’re so grateful to First Bus for sponsoring the event this year and giving the artists bus passes for when they’re painting in Bedminster.”, Stephen Hayles, co-founder of Upfest, said. “It’s important to us that we put on the best event that we possibly can, and First Bus, along with Arts Council England and the community donations, has allowed us to do that.”

 

Officially beginning service from Monday 13 May, the “UP First” bus will be in service for the rest of the year, leaving a legacy long beyond the event’s 17-day cultural programme; with this innovative mobile artwork bringing street art wherever it goes, even to communities that usually don’t get quite as much paint on their walls. Residents are also encouraged to use the hashtag “#UPFIRST” to share their pictures of the bus.

 

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“Through his design, Cheo has really captured the essence of Upfest while also helping us to reflect the diverse area we serve in the West of England, from the busy cityscape of Bristol to the rolling hills of the Mendip countryside and the famous coastline of Weston-super-Mare.” said Sarah Wallbridge, Senior Marketing Manager for First Bus Wales and West. “This is the first time we’ve worked in collaboration with a street artist, and it has been amazing to watch Cheo at work with his spray cans.”

 

As mentioned, the bus will come into service Monday 13 May, travelling out of the city toward Yate & Thornbury. For more information on Upfest, head to their website, or to keep up with the latest, follow them on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.

 

 

The bus will come into service on Monday 13 May and will travel out of the city towards Yate and Thornbury. For more information on UPFEST PRESENTS, head to the website. To keep up to date with the latest news, follow Upfest on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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Patrick Bate

Patrick is a filmmaker with so much Bristol in his blood the white blood cells are graffiti'd. Educated at the Northern Film School in Leeds, he’s returned home to be a Videographer and Reviewer for 365Bristol and BARBI. When he’s not messing about with cameras, he enjoys playing guitar, spending far too much time on tabletop RPGs, and being an awful snob about cider. Have a look at his work here, or get in touch at patrickb@365bristol.com.