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Folk Nights & Acoustic Music in Bristol

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Bristol's Folk & Acoustic Scene

Like jazz, folk is an extremely broad genre. From Joan Baez and Joanna Newsom to Bon Iver and the Fleet Foxes to Sheelanegig and Beirut, the folk field is vast. Fortunately when it comes to catering for such a broad spectrum of live music, Bristol excels.

Was folk & acoustic born in the West Country?

With local venues like Bristol Folk House and Bristol University Folk society, folk and acoustic music has a strong foothold in Bristol. The romantic images of a farmer chewing grass sitting on a hay bale is a West Country classic, English folk music has always thrived in the countryside. While Bristol isn’t as rural as its surroundings, music people have always flocked to Bristol from the surrounding areas, bringing the folk sound with them. So while folk music wasn’t born in the west country, it sure does have a home in Bristol.

Folk venues in Bristol
For off-centre Twee and Anti-Folk, be sure to check out what's on at the Louisiana and check the Lost Horizon listings. Cafe Kino and The Arts House both on Stokes Croft also host occasional anti-folk bands and solo musicians.

For less lo-fi and more straight up folk, key venues include: Lost Horizon, The Lansdown in Clifton, The South Bank Centre and The Folk House.

For more feisty folk bands keep an eye on gigs at The Attic and check out our gypsy jazz listings.

The folk big-guns and pop-crossover 'stars' like Noah and The Whale, Seth Lakeman and Mumford and Sons will be found at the biggest Bristol Venues (Colston Hall, o2 Academy and St George's Hall). For these gigs, arrive early as big folk events (at St Georges Hall in particular) can come packaged with some great (and potentially better) support artists.

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Our recent folk & acoustic recommendations

Sell out warning! Early bets on the beatdown of the year, 2:1 on Sunami to pummel all contenders with their no-it’s-not-a-joke-anymore bada$$ bully crossover hxc. You’ve seen the news, so expect a bleeding lip or two (and don’t wear that fresh white tee). Fans of Terror, First Blood God’s Hate etc – you know the drill! Sunami at Shredenhams.

Woi oi! Iconic 'ardkore action incoming from the unrivaled Moving Shadow fold! Reinforced / Altern8 / Shut Up And Dance heads will already have their tickets of course. For everyone else: breakbeat ravestalgia doesn’t come much ruffer than 2 Bad Mice, chopping samples and bombing tha bass like it was the Second Summer of Love all over again. 2 Bad Mice + Friends at The Jam Jar.

Sell out warning! Harakiri are the only band you need on your post-black sky chariot riding mix. Triumphant melody barely disguising soul-wrenching trauma, blistering blast-beats; BM purists beware, this is pure catharsis stitched with post-rock, post-hardcore, grunge and skramz DNA. With Denmark's impossibly mournful Sunken opening things up, ethereal awakenings await disciples of: Alcest, Deafheaven, Drudkh, WitTR. Harakiri for the Sky & Sunken at Strange Brew.

Sell out warning! You’ve never heard pipes like this! Queer futurism from visionary bagpiper Malin Lewis, playing self-made instruments and the world’s first wooden Lindsay Chanter. Malin channels their pipes and drones to form a layered, shifting sonic language that lives between binaries. Malin Lewis at The Jam Jar.

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What our editors say

“Based in a country where “The Killers” came to fruition they capture the sound look and feel of the Vegas quartet performing tracks from Hot Fuss, Sam’s Town, Sawdust and Day & Age, Battleborn and Wonderful Wonderful.”
From: The Fillers – a tribute to The Killers

“The Whiskey Brothers are a UK-based folk-country-rock duo from Derbyshire, England, consisting of actual brothers George and Howard Morritt. Known for their raw, high-energy live shows featuring signature vocal harmonies and a kick drum, they transitioned from viral social media sensations to a highly-touring live”
From: Whiskey Brothers

“Ashley Josephine Cooke is an American country music singer-songwriter from Parkland, Florida signed to Big Loud. She has weathered the storm and is ready to open her heart and shed the armor as she looks to her next chapter, following most recent ace. With new music on the horizon, breakout country sensation has dug deeper than ever to rveeal her strongest, most vulnerable and most honest work yet. + support tba On sale Friday at 10am”
From: Ashley Cooke

“Dust off your boots and saddle up for Life’s a Rodeo, the ultimate country music experience right here in Brighton at Quarters! Join us for a night of toe-tapping tunes, heartfelt ballads, and high-energy hits. So grab your friends, throw on your best cowboy hats and flannel, and join us for Life’s a Rodeo — where Brighton meets Nashville!”
From: A Nashville Country Experience

“His ascent has been gradual and steadfast, guided by experience rather than spectacle. The sound reflects where he comes from: the rich country traditions he was immersed in as a child, blended seamlessly with the indie music he grew up hearing on the radio. The result feels rooted yet restless — aware of its lineage but unafraid to wander.”
From: Caleb Caudle