Whats on: Gigs and Live Music in Bristol

Sheelanagig

Sheelanagig

My aim is to get all of Bristol's quality live music listed on one page. And while it sounds like a simple task, creating a whats on guide for ALL Bristol's gigs is pretty tough! One of the great things about live music in Bristol is it can be found where you least expect it.

Making a gig guide for Bristol's regular music venues would be easy. Making a gig guide for ALL of Bristol's gigs is a whole different story... A punk band on Turbo Island? An all girl accappella group playing to a crammed upstairs at the Miners Arms? Opera in a freshly closed-down Wetherspoons? All of these music events have happened - recently. Innovative and unusual gigs must be happening all the time, but all too often they are discovered well after the event actually occurred.

New years eve in Bristol can also provide some true one-off gigs in unusual venues.

The whats on listings to the left reflect all the Bristol gigs on Headfirst. On our homepage keep an eye on the pink events, (green = gigs, blue = clubnights, pink = other), these are unusual or special events including street festivals, ourdoor gigs and bands in Bristol's parks or the harbourside.

Live music in Bristol tonight:

Acoustic Music Live @ The Imp

Live music session from 3/4 acts form 4pm



Brass Junkies @ The Canteen

The Brass Junkies are a dynamic 8 piece brass ban


Just the first three events for are shown above, full listings for are to the left.

Whenever my dad comes to Bristol, he's always shocked that there's so much great music that's free. I've made a special category on Headfirst for free gigs in Bristol, while there's always a margin for error I'm keen for it to be the most reliable resource for free live music in Bristol.


Bristol Live Music

SATURDAY 18TH MAY
Acoustic Music Live @ The Imp, Bristol

Live music session from 3/4 acts form 4pm

Brass Junkies @ The Canteen, Bristol

The Brass Junkies are a dynamic 8 piece brass ban

Cantina Collective @ Plantation, Bristol

Live funk, soul, ska & blues

Free Live Music @ The Chelsea Inn, Bristol

Live Alternative Rock: The Veneer

Fromage En Feu @ Rise Record Store, Bristol

FeF Playing&Selling their new album in Rise

Kookamunga @ The Golden Lion, Bristol

Live 10-piece Funk and Soul

Music Fights Cancer Presents: @ The Thunderbolt

Off The Wall + Leigh Ayres + Brave The Fall

Royal Canoe @ Start The Bus, Bristol

+ Support (presented by Loose Lip)

Spiers And Boden @ Colston Hall, Bristol

Bellowhead frontmen Spiers & Boden

The Rosellys + Support (usa) @ Kingsdown Wine Vaults

British Americana With Support Rachel Laven (usa)

Vinyl Session Ft Queen Bee @ The Farm Pub

DJ's Queen Bee & Finesse on the decks

Yes Rebels @ Birdcage, Bristol

Headline gig from Bristols garage rock quartet

SUNDAY 19TH MAY
Aytch & Co @ The Canteen, Bristol

To describe their music as original doesn't say t

Crack. How To Dress Well Live @ Thekla

Crack Magazine presents...

DJ Big Chief Weird Bird @ Mr Wolfs, Bristol

Heads down, no nonsense, mindless boogie

Drift - The Pjp Band - Kez @ The Mothers Ruin

With Harry George Johns *Free entry*

Rachel Laven (usa) 5pm @ The Eldon House

Rachel Laven (usa) & Blind River Scare

MONDAY 20TH MAY
Brooke Sharkey @ The Canteen, Bristol

Writer of willowy delicacy, singer of effortless

Open Mic Night @ The Golden Lion, Bristol

Hosted by Lewis Creaven, all styles welcome!

Senses Fail @ Thekla, Bristol

Senses Fail / Marmozets / Handguns

Tony Joe Bucklash @ The Bristol Fringe

Improvising international supergroup

Tony-joe Bucklash @ Bristol Fringe, Bristol

Intercontinental improvising quartet

TUESDAY 21ST MAY
Pub Quiz @ The Brass Pig, Bristol

Original qs, great prizes

The Summer Set @ Thekla, Bristol

The Summer Set / Action Item / Natives / Rumours

Woody Pines @ The Canteen, Bristol

He cut his teeth busking the streets of New orlea

WEDNESDAY 22ND MAY
Gary Wilson @ Start The Bus, Bristol

+ Support (presented by NN2S)

Guy Pratt-the Sideman @ The Thunderbolt

Toured with Pink Floyd, David Gilmour,Bryan Ferry

Nuala Honan Album Launch @ Fiddlers, Bristol

Nuala Honan Album Launch + Rozi Plain

Open Mic @ Leftbank, Bristol

Every Week..forever!

Open Mic Night @ Mr Wolfs, Bristol

Free beer for every performer

Stevie-jo Dooley @ The Canteen, Bristol

Though newly arrived in Bath, singing bass player

Under The Stars Acoustic Sessi @ Under The Stars

Rachel Laven (usa), Lewis Creaven (uk)

THURSDAY 23RD MAY
Exposure Open Mic Night @ Do'Lii Caffe' Bar

Music, poetry and comedy. Starts 8.30pm

Iluvlive Bristol @ The Lanes, Bristol

Shystie / J-sol / Buggsy / Mr Flyboi

Kitchenettes @ The Golden Lion, Bristol

Live indie/rock/grunge with special guests

Neon Neon @ Motion, Bristol

Neon Neon and National Theatre Wales

Speakeasy @ Mr Wolfs, Bristol

Live music until 12

The Brackish @ The Canteen, Bristol

Totally intriguing'experimental rock jazz' proje

The Fall @ The Trinity Centre, Bristol

Nnts Presents English Post-punk Veterans

The Fall @ Start The Bus, Bristol

+ Idles + Bobbie Peru (presented By Nn2s)

Wide Eyes Launch Party @ Secret Location

Wide Eyes Launch Party w/ Roska & Girl Unit

FRIDAY 24TH MAY
Bristol Rock Guitar Presents: @ The Thunderbolt

Metalhead + Area 51 + Peruvian Fighting Sheep

Croissant Neuf Summer Party @ The Attic Bar

Zen Hussies/ Cats In The Attic

Orchestra Pirouette @ The Canteen, Bristol

What happens when a whole bunch of circus people

Ruckus Collective @ The Golden Lion, Bristol

With Volatile Compounds. RC:VC Round 2!

Steve Earle & The Dukes @ Colston Hall

Rabble rousing godfather of the alt.country scene

The Dylegans @ The Fire Engine, Bristol

Skiffle, Country, Rockabilly Band

The Tune Factory Featuring @ The Mothers Ruin

The Sneak Eazies -Jasper in The Company Of Others

SATURDAY 25TH MAY
Dot To Dot @ The Birdcage, Bristol

Dot to Dot festival returns..

Dot To Dot Festival 2013 @ Thekla, Plus Many More

Dot to dot festival returns for 2013

Gecko @ Mr Wolfs, Bristol

With DJs'til late

Glambusters @ The Fire Engine, Bristol

70s Glam-Rock Covers Band

The Duval Project @ The Canteen, Bristol

Picking up from his much-missed Backyard project,

Upfest/live Music @ The Old Bookshop, Bristol

Live graffiti, live music, food and drink

SUNDAY 26TH MAY
DJ Big Chief Weird Bird @ Mr Wolfs, Bristol

Heads down, no nonsense, mindless boogie.

Mike Willox Trio @ The Canteen, Bristol

Ubiquitous ivory-tinkler and Magnificent Seven ma

The Magnificent Seven @ The Coronation Tap

@ 9 - Big band Latin sounds!

MONDAY 27TH MAY
Alasdair Roberts @ The Grain Barge, Bristol

+ Olivia Chaney + The Ninetree Stumblers

Canteen Jazz Session - @ The Canteen, Bristol

An open jazz jam session for seasoned players

Open Mic Night @ The Golden Lion, Bristol

Hosted by Lewis Creaven, all styles welcome!

TUESDAY 28TH MAY
Charlie Boyer And The Voyeurs @ Start The Bus

Charlie Boyer and The Voyeurs

Clive Gregson @ The Hen And Chicken, Bristol

Clive Gregson new album & tour visits Bristol

Leo James @ The Canteen, Bristol

As much a guitarist as a singer/songwriter, Leo J

Live In The Lions' Den @ The Golden Lion

Hosted by Nuala with Christine Cooper

Pub Quiz @ The Brass Pig, Bristol

Original qs, great prizes

WEDNESDAY 29TH MAY
Andy Christie Quartet @ The Canteen, Bristol

Welcome return of this jazz pianist, formerly of

Ed Harcourt @ Colston Hall, Bristol

The inimitable Ed Harcourt releases new single

Gideon Conn @ The Thunderbolt, Bristol

Eccentric, eclectic acoustic astonishment!

Open Mic @ Leftbank, Bristol

Every Week..forever!

Open Mic Night @ Mr Wolfs, Bristol

Free beer for every performer

THURSDAY 30TH MAY
Exposure Open Mic Night @ Do'Lii Caffe' Bar

Music, poetry and comedy. Starts 8.30pm

Jungle Spirit @ The Thunderbolt, Bristol

Aztecs + Inner Jungle + First Class Thugs + more

Khantara @ The Canteen, Bristol

Far from tying him down, multi-instrumentalist An

Nicolson Heal @ Mr Wolfs, Bristol

These Colours and Shanade

Tyga Live @ Bristol O2 Academy, Bristol

Rack City rapper hits Bristol

FRIDAY 31ST MAY
Claire Martin @ Colston Hall, Bristol

Jazz vocalist with the Montpellier Cello Quartet

Dirty Old Town @ Mr Wolfs, Bristol

Live music and DJs all night

George Mabuza Group @ The Canteen, Bristol

This superstar combo of Bristolian jazzers is an

Jerry Afaird's Ep Launch"the @ The Birdcage

Jerry afraid/microdeform/lonely tourist

Mika Vainio (pan Sonic) ++ @ Arnolfini, Bristol

Mika Vainio with Sensate Focus and Bee Mask

Nancy + Kira + Nicole @ The Thunderbolt

A night of Electro and Acoustic pop

Private Dicks @ The Golden Lion, Bristol

Live Punk from the Bristol legends.

The Tune Factory @ The Mothers Ruin, Bristol

Free entry, cheap drinks and open till 2am

SATURDAY 1ST JUNE
Eliza Carthy And Jim Moray @ Colston Hall

Eliza & Jim will play career-spanning Best Of set

Fasta Benj @ The Oxford, Totterdown., Bristol

Fasta Benj, Live 7 piece Gypsy ska bonkers

Redhouse @ The Fire Engine, Bristol

Rockabilly/Country'Covers' Band

SUNDAY 2ND JUNE
Cocos Lovers Gold Or Dust Tour @ The Louisiana

Cocos Lovers & Will Varley & The Minke Whales

Elvis Costello @ Colston Hall, Bristol

The event's songs are decided by spin of a wheel

MONDAY 3RD JUNE
Lee Nelson @ Colston Hall, Bristol

Lee Nelson brings a brand new stand-up show

TUESDAY 4TH JUNE
Afrika Bambaataa @ Start The Bus, Bristol

Legendary Hip Hop and Electro Pioneer.

WEDNESDAY 5TH JUNE
Open Mic @ Leftbank, Bristol

Every Week..forever!

Reginald D Hunter @ Colston Hall, Bristol

American stand-up comedian

THURSDAY 6TH JUNE
Dodgy '3 X 1' Acoustic Tour @ The Thunderbolt

Dodgy embark on a short Acoustic Tour in 2013

Project Zulu @ Colston Hall, Bristol

Singing, drumming & dancing South African kids

FRIDAY 7TH JUNE
Gadjo @ The Attic Bar, Bristol

Gadjo/Ushti Baba/DJ George Smerin

SATURDAY 8TH JUNE
Geno Washington @ The Thunderbolt, Bristol

Geno Washington & The Yo Yo Band

SUNDAY 9TH JUNE
MONDAY 10TH JUNE
Canteen Jazz Session - @ The Canteen, Bristol

An open jazz jam session for seasoned players

Hip Hop Shakespeare @ Thekla, Bristol

Richard II Live tour: Featuring Bashy & Akala

WEDNESDAY 12TH JUNE
Armchair Committee - Whitemoor @ Stag And Hounds

With Hitchcock Blonde and Drunken Butterfly

Joe Satrani @ Colston Hall, Bristol

One of rocks most respected & celebrated guitaris

Open Mic @ Leftbank, Bristol

Every Week..forever!

THURSDAY 13TH JUNE
Sandi Thom @ Colston Hall, Bristol

Scottish singer-songwriter & multi-instrumentalis

FRIDAY 14TH JUNE
Rhyme & Reason Presents @ Motion, Bristol

Krs-one // Pete Rock // Immortal Technique

SATURDAY 15TH JUNE
Last Night Of The Proms @ St George's Bristol

Bristol Concert Orchestra presents a Last Night o

Viva Vivaldi! @ Bristol Cathedral, Bristol

A feast of Vivaldi with the famous Gloria, a tend

SUNDAY 16TH JUNE
WEDNESDAY 19TH JUNE
Open Mic @ Leftbank, Bristol

Every Week..forever!

THURSDAY 20TH JUNE
FRIDAY 21ST JUNE
Doctor Teeth @ Fire Engine, Redfield, Bristol

Quirky rock/punk/pop/indie covers

Doctor Teeth Live! @ Fire Engine, Redfield

Excellent pub rock/punk/pop etc

SUNDAY 23RD JUNE
MONDAY 24TH JUNE
Canteen Jazz Session - @ The Canteen, Bristol

An open jazz jam session for seasoned players

Vintage Trouble @ The Trinity Centre, Bristol

The Fleece presents rock and soul troubadours

TUESDAY 25TH JUNE
WEDNESDAY 26TH JUNE
Open Mic @ Leftbank, Bristol

Every Week..forever!

THURSDAY 27TH JUNE
FRIDAY 28TH JUNE
Bristol Band Jama Playing Live @ The Birdcage, 28 Clare St

Lively upbeat Latin/Funk/Afro dance music.

Rumour Mill @ Thekla, Bristol

Rumour Mill / Failure To Follow / Exm

SUNDAY 30TH JUNE
WEDNESDAY 3RD JULY
Open Mic @ Leftbank, Bristol

Every Week..forever!

THURSDAY 4TH JULY
Snarky Puppy @ Colston Hall, Bristol

30 Strong band from Texas

SATURDAY 6TH JULY
Stan Webb s Chicken Shack @ The Thunderbolt

High in the top ten of British Blues Guitarists.

SUNDAY 7TH JULY
MONDAY 8TH JULY
Canteen Jazz Session - @ The Canteen, Bristol

An open jazz jam session for seasoned players

TUESDAY 9TH JULY
The New Medicants @ Colston Hall, Bristol

Ft. Norman Blake & Joe Pernice

WEDNESDAY 10TH JULY
Open Mic @ Leftbank, Bristol

Every Week..forever!

FRIDAY 12TH JULY
Catgroove Xl @ The Lanes, Bristol

Ft. Electric Swing Circus & Dutty Moonshine

SUNDAY 14TH JULY
TUESDAY 16TH JULY
The Black Seeds @ Thekla, Bristol

The Black Seeds / Babyhead DJs

WEDNESDAY 17TH JULY
Open Mic @ Leftbank, Bristol

Every Week..forever!

THURSDAY 18TH JULY
Edward Sharpe And The Magnetic @ The Trinity Centre

Sjm Concerts Presents La 11-piece Psych-hearted S

SUNDAY 21ST JULY
MONDAY 22ND JULY
Canteen Jazz Session - @ The Canteen, Bristol

An open jazz jam session for seasoned players

TUESDAY 23RD JULY
Ash Grunwald @ Thekla, Bristol

Ash Grunwald / Polly Money

WEDNESDAY 24TH JULY
Mais Um! @ Colston Hall, Bristol

Ft. Gabby Amarantros, Lucas Santtana and Graveola

Open Mic @ Leftbank, Bristol

Every Week..forever!

FRIDAY 26TH JULY
Miles Hunt & Erica Nockalls @ The Thunderbolt

5 top 20 albums, played to hundreds of thousands!

SUNDAY 28TH JULY
TUESDAY 30TH JULY
The Spooky Men's Chorale @ Colston Hall

New South Wales Vocal Baffoons

WEDNESDAY 31ST JULY
Open Mic @ Leftbank, Bristol

Every Week..forever!

SATURDAY 3RD AUGUST
John Coghlans (status Quo) @ The Thunderbolt

Founder member and drummer with Status Quo

SATURDAY 24TH AUGUST
The Vibrators @ The Thunderbolt, Bristol

More than just a ramalama 3 chord thrash



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