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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

Halima’s honeyed Afro-pop and slinking R&B heads up the Bass Candy launch: a new night dedicated to live vocalists and global club sounds. The first instalment takes place in the intimate surrounds of a 17th-century church nestled in Bedmo, with further live sets from PRVNA on the hypnotic Afro-house and Badliana’s bassy trap-pop. Hot new destination FFO: Kelela, SZA, Cleo Sol. Halima, PRVNA, Badliana at St Dunstan's House.

Sell out warning (second show added)! Gorgeous suites for flute, cello and voice from the Japanese school of celestial folk classical. Torso meld jazz, post-rock and hushed chamber minimalism into a towering romance FFO: Arthur Russell, JOW, Penguin Cafe Orchestra, Midori Takada, Visible Cloaks unplugged. Torso at IC Visual Lab.

Sell out warning! Gorgeous suites for flute, cello and voice from the Japanese school of celestial folk classical. Torso meld jazz, post-rock and hushed chamber minimalism into a towering romance FFO: Arthur Russell, JOW, Penguin Cafe Orchestra, Midori Takada, Visible Cloaks unplugged. Torso at IC Visual Lab.

Sell out warning! On-U Sound’s AHC return to Bristol for a full-throttle blowout at Trinity, delivering thunderous dub rhythms, bonkers polyrhythmic percussion and soaring melodic chants - all riddled with post-punk attitude and dizzying psychedelic catharsis. AFRICAN HEAD CHARGE PLUS GUESTS at The Trinity Centre.

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What our editors say

“In January and February, they embarked on their first US tour in 11 years. March and April saw a tour in Western Japan. In August, they toured the Czech Republic and Germany, marking their inaugural European tour. In September, they played two shows in Taiwan, their first time performing in another Asian country besides Japan.”
From: Sunflowers + Green Milk From The Planet Orange

“Over the past few years, the collective has been popping up at free parties, festivals, and street performances across the country bringing their mobile sound-systems and wild energy to every corner of the UK. Now, they’re hitting live venues to bring their unique rock/rave fusion show to a city near you!”
From: New Age Collective Winter Solstice

“Bringing a new splash of spirit to old time genres, four-piece band Moonshine Malarkey raise the roof with raucous drinking songs and tell lyrical tales of monkeys, mermaids and moonshine. Expect a signature blend of footstompin’ country, swing, folk, calypso and boozy blues, with fiery violin solos, high energy drums and smooth lead vocals joined by soulful harmonies.”
From: Moonshine Malarkey

“Head down to The Canteen for a raucous night of croonin’, swoonin’ and good-time grooves. Bristol’s own Swamp Puppies roll in with their swamp-soaked blend of country, blues and rock ’n’ roll, guaranteed to have the whole room stompin’ along.”
From: Swamp Puppies

“In the late 1960s he was a regular performer at the legendary Bristol Troubadour and founder of the Folk Blues Bristol & West club. He was heavily influenced by old country blues players before taking a left-swerve in the early ’70s with a trio of songwriter/ guitarist albums for the pioneering and now highly collectable Clifton-based independent label Village Thing.”
From: Ian A. Anderson & Friends