Bristol has an incredibly varied music scene, astounding music venues and hosts some of the most amazing music festivals you will experience all year, with both indoor and outdoor events.
Live bands and gig nights in Bristol
You'll find a host of venues in Bristol featuring gigs from familiar faces, covers bands, local musicians and open mic nights.
Bristol’s biggest concert venue, Bristol Beacon has recently undergone an impressive refurbishment and is now open and hosting an array of events from famous touring bands and artists, classical orchestral music shows, jazz, comedy, club nights and everything in between.
Located on Frogmore Street, close to Bristol Beacon, the O2 Academy hosts a great programme of live music and DJs throughout the year.
Bristol also has a number of legendary venues where you can find great music throughout the week. Centrally look out for The Exchange, Trinity Centre, The Fleece, Rough Trade, Strange Brew, Thekla and The Louisiana. Outside the city centre, head to The Gallimaufry or The Golden Lion on Gloucester Road, The Canteen on Stokes Croft, The Prospect Building in St Phillips or Fiddlers in Bedminster.
For gigs and club night listings try 365Bristol.com and headfirstbristol.
Classical, Opera and Folk Music
Bristol's world-class music venues attract some of the biggest stars in the business. If you enjoy classical music then St George's Bristol has what has been described as Europe's best acoustics. They offer an eclectic programme throughout the year, including spring's Festival of Voice.
Bristol Cathedral, St Mary Redcliffe Church, the Lord Mayor's Chapel and many more of the city's churches host a diverse programme of recitals.
The Bristol Hippodrome hosts opera and ballet seasons during the year.
Treat the music lover in your life to a Love Bristol Gift Card, which can be used to purchase tickets at St Georges Bristol, Bristol Beacon and Bristol Hippodrome. as well as a multitude of other entertainment venues, bars, restaurants and shops.
Jazz and Blues
Bristol International Jazz and Blues Festival welcomes artists from across the world every spring with an incredible programme of events.
Bristol is also home to the world famous Old Duke pub in King Street, with traditional, New Orleans-inspired jazz every night of the week.
Nightclubs and Club Nights
Bristol has a reputation for having some of the best nightclubs in the UK with Motion, Lost Horizon, Lakota, The Prospect Building, Basement 45 and Cosies to name just a few. For more inspiration on how to spend a big night in Bristol, head to our Bristol nightclubs page.
Head to The Fleece for Propaganda, an Indie and Alternative party every Saturday from 11pm-4am. An undeniable institution of modern British club culture featuring a mind-blowing mix from Arctic Monkeys to The Vaccines, Paramore to The Killers, Bring Me The Horizon to Sam Fender, The 1975 to Wunderhorse and much more.
Bristol Music Scene
Bristol has inspired decades of musicians, artists and bands and has an incredibly rich and wonderfully diverse music scene.
Some of our most famous musical exports include; Massive Attack, George Ezra, Portishead, IDLES, Laid Blak and Roni Size. However, what sets Bristol's music culture above and beyond is our wealth of underground and emerging talent. Bristol has iconic past and present music venues too and has been instrumental in a plethora of different music scenes including reggae, jazz, grime, drum & bass and dubstep.
We have used Spotify to put together a Bristol Music Playlist for you. Listen at home or download them and listen while you’re here. This will be your perfect Bristol soundtrack. You might discover something new or listen to some old favourites again.
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