The Bristol Suspensions is UoB’s A-Cappella mixed, auditioned, competitive group going on their 12th generation. Throughout their existence, The Bristol Suspensions have become a hit with audiences across the country, and are known for their unique arrangements, stunning vocals and high-energy performances. The group sings a variety of genres, from pop to jazz to techno – you name it, they’ve sung it!

Debuting over a decade ago, the group has released multiple albums over the years. The album Red Hot was released in 2021 and was nominated for 10 CARAs (Contemporary A Cappella Recording Awards) and won four, including ‘Best Mixed Voices Collegiate Album’. In August 2025 they released their newest album Rewind, showcasing their wide range of songs from the last 2 generations.

Suspensions perform at various gigs and competitions, including Best of South West (BOSW), LUKAS, ICCA, OAC and many more. The group has a glorious history, being crowned champions on multiple occasions: Voice Festival University in 2016, Irish International A Cappella Festival in 2019, and Solevoci International A Cappella Contest Champions in 2024. Being a regular contestant in the ICCAs, the group was UK champions in 2021 and received awards for Outstanding Arrangement, Choreography and Vocal Percussion. Following the win, they secured interviews on local TV stations as well as an appearance on ITV’s This Morning. In 2025, the group won the ICCA UK semifinals as well as being awarded the best arrangement with Recordplayer by AJR and Daisy the Great and the best soloist with Vampire by Olivia Rodrigo.

Suspensions also busk on the streets of Bristol every fortnight and perform in the Edinburgh Fringe Festival every August. The group has achieved massive success in their Fringe performances, having sold out in both 2022 and 2023, and being awarded Best A-Cappella Show at the Fringe in 2025, accompanied by 5 Voice of the Fringe nominations. In 2024, the group performed at Latitude music festival where Caity Baser, Duran Duran and Keane also performed. In the last few years the group has performed at Winestock, Bristol’s end of year ball and the University’s biggest social event of the year.

As a competitive and auditioned group, Suspensions is always looking for strong singers of all voice parts, including beatboxers. If you're interested in joining, please follow @UoBAcapplla or @Bristolsuspensions for more information regarding their auditions. Note that the ability to read music is not a requirement for joining the group (although recommended). So don't hesitate to sign up!

Please note that being a member of a competitive group is a big commitment – there are rehearsals, weekend trips, video shoots, and studio recordings. Members are expected to learn music outside of rehearsals. That being said, it is an incredibly fun and rewarding experience to have, and an amazing way to enhance your time at university.

Also, check out the group's Spotify here and Apple Music here!