To provide you with the best experience on this website, cookies are used. By using the site it's assumed that you're happy with our use of cookies. However, you can change your cookie settings at any time. More info on cookies.
Allow cookies

Music and nightlife

Bristol is home to an impressive mix of musical talent and attracts a great number of well-known musicians from outside the area. From major stadium concerts, rock bands and jazz nights, to classical performances, solo singers and acoustic entertainment, Bristol has a huge number of live music venues each boasting an exciting line-up of forthcoming events to entertain you during your time in the city.

As for the nightlife, Bristol is famed for its energy and atmosphere, a beacon for revellers travelling from across the region. Packed with great theatres, concert venues, cinemas, clubs and pubs, the city has an unrivalled buzz throughout the year.

And we're not just saying the Bristol is a great night out - we can even prove it... Bristol City Centre has been awarded, for two years running, the prestigious national Purple Flag as a well-managed and vibrant place to visit and enjoy.

Live music and nightlife venues

Arnolfini

Arnolfini

As well as being one of Europe's top contemporary art galleries, the Arnolfini also puts on an eclectic and diverse range of live music

Victoria Rooms

Victoria Rooms

University of Bristol's Department of Music and a grand concert hall, with many classical events held throughout the year

The Tobacco Factory Theatre

The Tobacco Factory Theatre

A popular theatre and café bar in Bedminster, with a programme of touring and in-house productions, childrens' and music events

Colston Hall Bristol

Colston Hall Bristol

Enjoy concerts and entertainment by major pop, rock, classical, leftfield and stand up comedy artists in this magnificent concert hall

St George's Bristol

St George's Bristol

One of the country's finest music venues, offering the best in classical, chamber, world, folk, blues and jazz

Live music and nightlife events

This Month

Americana / Bluegrass: The Kennedys and The Carrivick Sisters at St George's Bristol

Americana / Bluegrass: The Kennedys and The Carrivick Sisters at St George's Bristol

A red-hot double-bill of country-rock and bluegrass from The Kennedys and The Carrivick Sisters

Music: Steve Earle and The Dukes at Colston Hall

Music: Steve Earle and The Dukes at Colston Hall

Openings

Date

24th May 2013-24th May 2013

Grammy-Award winning, Steve Earle and his talented band put on an extensive live show filled with old favourites and...

Bristol VegFest 2013

Bristol VegFest 2013

Openings

Bristol VegFest 2013

24th May 2013-26th May 2013

VegfestUK Bristol will be celebrating its tenth birthday in style in 2013 with a 3 day festival in central Bristol.

Love Saves The Day Festival

Love Saves The Day Festival

Openings

Festival Date

25th May 2013-25th May 2013

A great one day festival right here in the heart of Bristol….

Love Saves Sunday Festival

Love Saves Sunday Festival

Openings

Date

26th May 2013-26th May 2013

Brand new sunday music festival, Love Saves Sunday arrives, due to the huge popularity of its Saturday sister festival, Love...

Sodbury Jazz Festival

Sodbury Jazz Festival

Openings

Date

31st May 2013-2nd Jun 2013

Populare Jazz Festival In Chipping Sodbury

Classical: Elias String Quartet at St George's Bristol

Classical: Elias String Quartet at St George's Bristol

Openings

Date

31st May 2013-31st May 2013

The Elias String Quartet continue their landmark journey through Beethoven’s String Quartets with three more from the...

Next Month

Sodbury Jazz Festival

Sodbury Jazz Festival

Openings

Date

31st May 2013-2nd Jun 2013

Populare Jazz Festival In Chipping Sodbury

Music: Elvis Costello at Colston Hall

Music: Elvis Costello at Colston Hall

Openings

Date

2nd Jun 2013-2nd Jun 2013

Following his sell out tour last year, Elvis Costello will bring the Spectacular Spinning Songbook back to Colston Hall...

Music: Project Zulu at Colston Hall

Music: Project Zulu at Colston Hall

Openings

Date

6th Jun 2013-6th Jun 2013

Project Zulu area an extraordinary, award-winning ensemble of singing, drumming and dancing children from Sithobelumthetho...

The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain at St George's Bristol

The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain at St George's Bristol

Openings

Date

6th Jun 2013-6th Jun 2013

The all-singing, all-strumming ensemble return to St George's

Music: Friday Night Live with John Cooper Clarke at Colston Hall

Music: Friday Night Live with John Cooper Clarke at Colston Hall

Openings

Date

7th Jun 2013-7th Jun 2013

John Cooper Clarke, the undisputed poet laureate of punk, performs his trademark satirical verse. With special guests: Simon...

Let's Rock Bristol 2013

Let's Rock Bristol 2013

Openings

Date

8th Jun 2013-8th Jun 2013

A family-friendly music festival with legends from the 80s at Blaise Castle Estate.

Classical: Bristol Metropolitan Orchestra at St George's Bristol

Classical: Bristol Metropolitan Orchestra at St George's Bristol

Openings

Date

8th Jun 2013-8th Jun 2013

An evening of stunning European classical music with Bristol Metropolitan Orchestra

Classical: Stringfever at St George's Bristol

Classical: Stringfever at St George's Bristol

Openings

Date

9th Jun 2013-9th Jun 2013

With electric instruments and live beat-boxing, the worlds first genetically modified string quartet entertain crowds at St...

Comedy: Sandi Thom at Colston Hall

Comedy: Sandi Thom at Colston Hall

Openings

Date

13th Jun 2013-13th Jun 2013

Sandi Thom is touring with the release of her superb new album, Flesh and Blood

Mike Oldfield's Tubular Bells For Two at St George's Bristol

Mike Oldfield's Tubular Bells For Two at St George's Bristol

Openings

Date

13th Jun 2013-13th Jun 2013

Daniel Holdsworth and Aidan Roberts recreate the sound of prog rock's 1973 masterpiece with just four hands, four feet, and...

Classical: Opera Project La Traviata at St George's Bristol

Classical: Opera Project La Traviata at St George's Bristol

Openings

Date

14th Jun 2013-14th Jun 2013

La Traviata, a powerful story of love and honour.

Concert: Viva Vivaldi! Bristol Choral Society at Bristol Cathedral

Concert: Viva Vivaldi! Bristol Choral Society at Bristol Cathedral

Openings

Concert date

15th Jun 2013-15th Jun 2013

Bristol's renowned choir presents a feast of Vivaldi in the glorious setting of Bristol Cathedral

Classical:Bristol Concert Orchestra Last Night of the Proms at St George's Bristol

Classical:Bristol Concert Orchestra Last Night of the Proms at St George's Bristol

Openings

Date

15th Jun 2013-15th Jun 2013

Union flags at the ready - this summer concert is a Last Night of The Proms affair!

Concert: Blondie at Westonbirt Arboretum

Concert: Blondie at Westonbirt Arboretum

Openings

Concert date

21st Jun 2013-21st Jun 2013

Blondie in concert at Westonbirt Arboretum in June 2013

Concert: The Wurzels at The Grand Pier

Concert: The Wurzels at The Grand Pier

Openings

Date

21st Jun 2013-21st Jun 2013

Due to popular demand, West-Country favourite, The Wurzels are back on the Grand Pier this June.

Concert: Paloma Faith at Westonbirt Arboretum

Concert: Paloma Faith at Westonbirt Arboretum

Openings

Concert Date

22nd Jun 2013-22nd Jun 2013

Paloma Faith in concert at Westonbirt Arboretum in June 2013. Tickets on Sale Friday 18th January 2013

WOMAD at Bristol Zoo Gardens

WOMAD at Bristol Zoo Gardens

Openings

Date

22nd Jun 2013-22nd Jun 2013

Bristol Zoo Gardens teams up with the WOMAD festival for a unique concert this summer

Concert: Bristol Bach Choir at St Mary Redcliffe

Concert: Bristol Bach Choir at St Mary Redcliffe

Openings

Concert

22nd Jun 2013-22nd Jun 2013

Bristol Bach Choir present choral gems ancient and modern.

The Clifton International Festival of Music at Clifton Cathedral

The Clifton International Festival of Music at Clifton Cathedral

Openings

Date

22nd Jun 2013-30th Jun 2013

The inaugural Clifton International Festival of Music, the home of Bristol’s most exciting classical music event of the...

Music: The Moody Blues at the Bristol Hippodrome

Music: The Moody Blues at the Bristol Hippodrome

Openings

Concert Date

23rd Jun 2013-23rd Jun 2013

The Moody Blues come to Bristol as part of their new UK tour for 2013.

July

Concert: The Three Degrees at The Grand Pier

Concert: The Three Degrees at The Grand Pier

Openings

Date

5th Jul 2013-5th Jul 2013

The Three Degrees will return to Weston-super-Mare to perfrom at The Grand Pier as part of their 50th anniversary tour.

St Paul's Afrikan Caribbean Carnival

St Paul's Afrikan Caribbean Carnival

Openings

Carnival Date

6th Jul 2013-6th Jul 2013

This much-loved community carnival promises more music, dance and colourful costumes than ever before.

Classical: BSO Classical Extravaganza at Colston Hall

Classical: BSO Classical Extravaganza at Colston Hall

Openings

Date

12th Jul 2013-12th Jul 2013

Enjoy an extravagant night out as Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra perform a selection of the best ever classical music!

Bristol Pride Day Festival 2013

Bristol Pride Day Festival 2013

Openings

Pride Day

13th Jul 2013-13th Jul 2013

A celebration of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community in Bristol.

Concert: Amici at Tyntesfield

Concert: Amici at Tyntesfield

Openings

Date

13th Jul 2013-13th Jul 2013

An a capella choir, Amici, will perform in the chapel at National trust property, Tyntesfield.

Goldney Gala – a secret city festival in aid of Sue Ryder Care

Goldney Gala – a secret city festival in aid of Sue Ryder Care

Openings

Date

13th Jul 2013-13th Jul 2013

The magical Goldney Hall is home to one of the oldest quartz grottos in the UK and is only open to the public once a year....

Concert: Jessie J at Westonbirt Arboretum

Concert: Jessie J at Westonbirt Arboretum

Openings

Concert Date

19th Jul 2013-19th Jul 2013

Jessie J plus special guests in concert at Westonbirt Arboretum in June 2013.

Concert: Paul Weller at Westonbirt Arboretum

Concert: Paul Weller at Westonbirt Arboretum

Openings

Concert date

20th Jul 2013-20th Jul 2013

Paul Weller in concert at Westonbirt Arboretum in July 2013

Concert: Jools Holland and his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra at Westonbirt Arboretum

Concert: Jools Holland and his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra at Westonbirt Arboretum

Openings

Concert

21st Jul 2013-21st Jul 2013

Jools Holland and his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra in concert at Westonbirt Arboretum in July 2013.

Concert: The Drifters at the Bristol Hippodrome

Concert: The Drifters at the Bristol Hippodrome

Openings

Date

24th Jul 2013-24th Jul 2013

The Drifters are back on the road in the UK performing both the classic hits from the last six decades and their superb new...

Bristol Harbour Festival

Bristol Harbour Festival

Openings

Date

26th Jul 2013-28th Jul 2013

Bristol's liveliest and largest Harbourside event

August

Treefest Festival at Westonbirt Arboretum

Treefest Festival at Westonbirt Arboretum

Openings

Treefest

24th Aug 2013-26th Aug 2013

Westonbirt's signature summer event with music, crafts and lots of trees!

September

Brisfest 2013

Brisfest 2013

Openings

Festival Dates

21st Sep 2013-22nd Sep 2013

A celebration of Bristol culture, inspiring passion and creativity. A music and arts festival showcasing South West talent...

October

Bristol Day of the Dead Halloween Festival

Bristol Day of the Dead Halloween Festival

Openings

Date

26th Oct 2013-26th Oct 2013

Bristol Day Of The Dead Halloween Festival showcases live bands, dance groups, DJs and all the fun of Halloween but with a...

November

Music: Billy Bragg at Colston Hall

Music: Billy Bragg at Colston Hall

Openings

Date

20th Nov 2013-20th Nov 2013

Billy Bragg is coming to Colston Hall, touring his new Album, Tooth & Nail, his first studio album for over five years

Get connected

Get in touch, follow us, see special offers first and share all that's great about Bristol

Itinerary builder

You can build your own shortlist of things to visit in Bristol by clicking the itinerary button to add an item to your itinerary.