Jazz Nights in Bristol
Kevin Figes
There are two distinct sides to Bristol's jazz scene and in the middle a line that's rarely crossed...
Jazz in Bristol's Large Venues
On one side are the (usually larger) international jazz events, typically at venues like Colston Hall and St Georges. These are great venues to see contemporary jazz in Bristol with recent (2009 - 2010) highlights including Portico Quartet, Cinematic Orchestra and the Neil Cowley Trio. Live jazz in these Bristol venues has more of a concert feel, almost always seated and usually around the £15 mark depending on the seats. Bristol is fortunate to be a key stop over in most UK jazz tours and it is always worth keeping an eye on who's playing when and where and get jazz tickets early for decent seats.
Jazz in Bristol's Small Venues
The otherside of Bristol's live jazz scene couldn't be more different. Bristol is home to some awesome jazz musicians, many of international standard playing international gigs. What's great about Bristol is you can often catch these artists while they're at home often for free. Notable examples include Daisy Palmer (drummer - Goldfrapp), James Bateman (sax - Badbone & Co, Ronnie Scotts) and James Morton (sax - Pee Wee Ellis, The Herbaliser). Unlike the large tours at the bigger venues jazz gigs in Bristol pubs are more organic and unpredictable. With so many quality musicians playing in so many different bands or improvising with different artists, live jazz in Bristol is constantly evolving. When looking for whats on jazz in Bristol it's often more important to consider which individual musicians are playing where, rather than browsing by band or headliner. At live music events in Bristol pubs for the best views you'll need to stand but sometimes tables if you're lucky enough to get one..
Where to see live jazz in Bristol
The whats on listings to the left show all upcoming jazz gigs in Bristol but it's still worth mentioning some consistent venues. Always check whats on at the Coronation Tap on Tuesdays and Sundays, (usually jazz or blues, always free). Other key jazz venues in Bristol include the Old Duke (live music every night, always free) and the Grain Barge (gigs every Friday, around £3).
We also have whats on info and listings for gypsy jazz, which we have decided to keep separate.
Jazz Gigs
SongSmith- a selection of bands, folk & acoustic
All the flamenco flavoured jazzy bluesy rocky....
Mr. Wolfs Open Mic- open stage for any musician
With DJ Simon Hyde, Little Eris, TR Clemmett.....
Migrate, Celebrate, Goose Party!
It's a Secret Festival 25th - 27th May 2012
Fight The Bear + CluMsY
Enjoy Jazz with Future Inns Hotel
Broken Beat, Nu-Jazz, Electronica, Beats
Live ambient electronic
Live music, kids zone, great food, market stalls
Migrate, Celebrate, Goose Party!
Mike Willox Quartet
SongSmith- a selection of bands, folk & acoustic
45min Beginners ukulele lesson
The Rara Avis Girls, Elly McCabe, C.S Martinez
Starts @ 9
Mr. Wolfs Open Mic- open stage for any musician
Halfnaked's Summer Party feat. Shapes + more
The Jesse Dansons+benny Sensus+more......
An uplifting jazz quartet
Bristol Bass Presents Cottonmouth!
(Tobacco Factory back yard)
+ Serafina Steer + Skjolbrot + Kahn (DJ)
(Tobacco Factory back yard)
Rob Terry Trio
Lstd Gets Together With Shapes And Half Naked
Masquerade, Cabaret, Music
Chilled beats / 2-4-1 Pizza
SongSmith- a selection of bands, folk & acoustic
A night of poetry and spoken word
Mr. Wolfs Open Mic- open stage for any musician
Joyous roots dance music
Sheelanagig/The Destroyes/Bartoune balkan mashup
A delightful evening, of burlesque & cabaret
Jubilee gala event devised by Gathering Voices
Andy Nowak Quartet
SongSmith- a selection of bands, folk & acoustic
Contrabass Sessions Presents The Damn Busters
Mr. Wolfs Open Mic- open stage for any musician
Featuring Up And Coming New Artists From Bimm
Jazz, Funk, Soul and RnB
Warm Beats, Slomo House, Funk
A night of music, dance & circus
SongSmith- a selection of bands, folk & acoustic
Mr. Wolfs Open Mic- open stage for any musician
Victoria Klewin & the True Tones
SongSmith- a selection of bands, folk & acoustic
Mr. Wolfs Open Mic- open stage for any musician
Funk, Disco, World & Warm beats
Albama 3 Playing At The Uk's Biggest Bbq Festival
A tribute to the worlds best female vocalists
Dusty Jazz, Broken Beat, Funk & Slo-House
SongSmith- a selection of bands, folk & acoustic
SongSmith- a selection of bands, folk & acoustic
Mr. Wolfs Open Mic- open stage for any musician
Mr. Wolfs Open Mic- open stage for any musician
Mr. Wolfs Open Mic- open stage for any musician
Mr. Wolfs Open Mic- open stage for any musician
Mr. Wolfs Open Mic- open stage for any musician
Mr. Wolfs Open Mic- open stage for any musician
Nu-Jazz, Funk & Soul
Far Too Loud, Kanji Kinetic, Olmec,oood + More
The Maddest Festival in the UK just got madder :)
The maddest Fair in the world.... Just got madder
Bristol singers are wanted for Open Mic UK!