What's On / Bristol Gigs

Bristol Gigs

— All Bristol's Live Music

Buy tickets for Bristol's best gigs and live music.

Live music gig with great Bristol bands.

Bristol’s best gigs

Every week, the Headfirst editors trawl through all of the live music listings on the website and pick the best gigs for you to go to. Our event selections range from classical music concerts at St George’s Hall to smaller, local musician’s gigs at The Canteen or the Exchange.

Check out this week’s Bristol gig selections over on the Headfirst Facebook page and don’t forget to like us for ticket alerts and announcements about interesting bands coming to Bristol.

All tickets for this concert were sold through Headfirst Ticket Shop.

Tickets for Bristol gigs

In 2016, Headfirst Bristol launched an online ticket shop for live music events. Inspired by local cooperatives and community interest companies like the Bristol Cable and The Island, Headfirst provides an ethical and respectful place to buy tickets for gigs in Bristol. Our booking fees are low (usually 50p per ticket) and we strive to help support independent live music events as much as large concerts at venues like Bristol Beacon or Marble Factory.

Upcoming gigs in Bristol

Fri 15th March
Bull at Strange Brew
— Strange Brew

Bull in Bristol Tickets

Wed 24th April
Timber Timbre at Strange Brew
Sat 23rd March
Ritual Union at Various

Live music venues in Bristol

Bristol’s gig venues play an essential and often overlooked role in the city’s music scene. A spectrum of venues provides a ladder for new bands and musical talent to ascend. DIY spaces like Dareshack and Strangebrew provide a testbed for the screaming synthesisers and the guitars that will undoubtedly become part of Bristol’s future. Check out Headfirst’s Bristol venues page to discover which kind of performances and concerts you can expect from each gig venue.

First live gig for one of Bristol's best guitarists.

Our editor's top live music recommendation

Ever heard 'Ukrainian Ethno Chaos'? Then you haven't lived. Dakhabrakha's otherworldly, experimental, folk-imbued incantations, can unlock primordial feels. Drawing on a wealth of vibrant inspirations (whilst being firmly rooted in their Ukranian heritage), every time they play Bristol it sells out in iconic fashion. DAKHABRAKHA at The Lanes.

Sell out warning! Midwest emo acolytes rejoice - Foxing hit Bristol on an anniversary megatour celebrating 10 years since genre-defying debut album The Albatross. Post-rock and melodic indie tenderly intertwined FFO: TWIABP, American Football, Algernon Cadwallader, Tigers Jaw. Foxing at Exchange.

PWYC! The halls are decked, the gay apparel is donned, and the indie punks of Exchange are fully defrosted and ready to shred a Christmas classic so hard you can never hear it the same way again. This is an absolutely stacked bill of Spesh Sub bands to round off the year with - New Jersey indie-power-pop from Long Neck and returning post-punk favourites Witching Waves are big highlights. Specialist Subject Records End of Year Party at Exchange.

Cult live afro-house dance sensations Afriquoi charmed the world with their fusion of Gambian kora, Congolese guitar, Mandinka percussion and infectious electronics. 100% essential and uplifting experience for all human souls into Francis Bebey, Ata Kak / Awesome Tapes From Africa, UK Funky, The Busy Twist, Onipa, K.O.G. Afriquoi + Bungzo at The Trinity Centre.

Recommended Gigs

Sun 17th December
Murmuration Choir Sound Bath Concert at The Trinity Centre
Sat 13th April
Jaguar Sun + Junior at Dareshack
Wed 15th May
Francis of Delirium at The Louisiana
Wed 6th December
ALL VINYL ALTERNATIVE XMAS PARTY at Rough Trade Bristol
Mon 26th February
FRANKIE ROSE + SRSQ at Dareshack
Sat 3rd February
CHEMTRAILS at Rough Trade Bristol
— Rough Trade Bristol

CHEMTRAILS in Bristol Tickets

Fri 29th March
Smoove & Turrell at Strange Brew
Thu 11th April
Omni at Strange Brew
— Strange Brew

Omni in Bristol Tickets

Sun 24th March
DJ Shadow at Central Warehouse
— Central Warehouse

DJ Shadow in Bristol Tickets

Gigs in Bristol today

Most of Headfirst’s visitors come to discover new bands and live music in Bristol. We’re proud to be Bristol’s most complete gig listings resource, complete with a full breakdown of gigs in Bristol today and tour dates for the next six months. A sterling selection of open mic nights (particularly along Gloucester Road), provide ample midweek entertainment for would-be talent scouts.

Sell out warning - buy tickets while you can!

Sell out warning! Brutal introspective post-thrash, post-death, tech-metal frankenstein phoenix sculpted from the ashes of beloved blackened-sludgers Hang the Bastard. Essential knotty Bloodstock angst FFO: Mastodon, Opeth, Conjurer, Alcest, Gojira. Urne at Exchange.

Freewheeling cultureclash orchestra traversing free jazz, post-punk highlife and minimalist classical with transcendental results. Think Sonic Youth + Glen Branca’s downtown NY guitar ensemble covering Fela Kuti and you’re not even close (maybe Sons of Kemet raiding the Philip Glass’ songbook is closer…but you’ll have to see for yourself). Orchestre Tout Puissant Marcel Duchamp at The Jam Jar.

Rapper announces our new Bristol gig guide on the microphone!
Sell out warning! The hottest thing in metalcore since Code Orange first raised its ugly head. Southern Lord and Ghostmane both what Jesus Piece to destroy the youth of America, NOW! Jesus Piece at Exchange.

Dizzying ciphers and flows wrapped in breazy jazz dreams, low-slung rnb and inventive electro boom bap, Nappy Nina infiltrates your hazy mindspace from an inner universe made of clouds. Best Bristol rap booking in ages! Damn essential FFO: B. Cool-Aid, keiyaA, Quelle Chris, H31R, MIKE, Moor Mother & billy woods. NAPPY NINA + COLD LIGHT COLLECTIVE at Crofters Rights.


Local bands and musicians

Local musicians are the lifeblood and new energy that constantly rejuvenates Bristol’s venues and performance spaces. Graduates from Bristol University’s Music course and BIMM provide regular injections of talent ranging from electronic music producers to classically trained pianists and orchestral musicians. Some of Bristol’s most successful bands are the first to point out that their inspiration comes from other local bands and gigs they’ve attended; with this in mind Headfirst is careful to include as much local talent as possible in it’s gig guide.

In addition to attending gigs you can also support Bristol’s musicians by buying their records from independent stores like Idle Hands Records, Shall Not Fade and Christmas Steps Records.