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Folk Nights & Acoustic Music in Bristol
— 119 upcoming gigsBristol'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.
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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 Start The Bus 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: The Leftbank, 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.
For off-centre Twee and Anti-Folk, be sure to check out what's on at the Louisiana and check the Start The Bus 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: The Leftbank, 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.
We're currently updating this content, expect up-to-date info soon.
Buy tickets for folk & acoustic events in Bristol
The rest of our folk & acoustic listings are in the column to the left.
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Bristol's Trending Live Music Venues
Exchange The Louisiana Start The Bus The Trinity Centre The Marble Factory
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The Gallimaufry
Seedling Sessions
Sounds of Harlowe & MYLA
St Barts
Northern Harmony Workshop
A singing workshop featuring songs from South Africa and American shape-note songs.
Cafe Kino
SN#15: Kelora / Glows
Medieval futurist, nu-celtic folk.
Kingsdown Vaults
Effra at The Kingsdown Vaults
Playing music from their latest album, Below Ground, captures the unseen subterranean world beneath our feet
St Bart's
Northern Harmony Concert
A concert by Northern Harmony featuring songs from harmony traditions including South African, Balkan, Corsican and Americana
El Rincon
Natalie Whiteland
Fantastically-talented young singer-harpist-songwriter
Mr Wolfs
SongSmith Xtra @Mr Wolf's
SongSmith Xtra @Mr Wolf's ft DanceGuru / Rosina Keri/ Bashema / Katy Hurt
the lansdown
Circe's Diner/Andrea Hernandez/Larkham and Hall
The Happening at the Lansdown presents acclaimed songwriters
The Golden Lion
Duncan Disorderly & the Scallywag Party Warmup
In the spirit of merriment and mayhem, tomfoolery and togetherness we present the Scallywag Party 2019 festival warm up night.
Crofters Rights
Breakfast Presents: Rebecka Reinhard EP Launch
An evening of indie folk, indie pop, pop, indie and folk.
Bath Chapel Arts
Faeland + Sealionwoman
"Faeland: You're guaranteed songwriting at its most appealing and enchanting" Bristol Live Magazine 2018
The Spin Bar
Platform 1 / Rebecca Shelley
Folk & roots trio / Multi-instrumentalist songwriter
The Canteen
The Hot House Four
Since swapping the television for a piano, The Hot House Four progressed from jamming in the lounge to a band in a matter of months.
The Three Tuns
Irish Folk Night with Gypsy Kiss
Weekly folk session, traditional Irish Night
The Gallimaufry
Open Mic w/ Mike Dennis
The stage is yours
The Wardrobe Theatre
The Rheingans Sisters
Winners of the 2016 BBC Radio 2 Folk Award for Best Original Track, The Rheingans Sisters make playful, powerful and richly connecting music
The Canteen
Hands of the Heron
This will be their first gig of 2019, so come and help us welcome Beth and Bec from their travels, back to the cold, grey bosom of Bristol.
The Wardrobe Theatre
The Rheingans Sisters
Ear Trumpet Folk Club: Regular intimate, sit-down gigs with some of the greatest musicians from around the globe.
The Canteen
Hnads of the Heron
Hands of the Heron have been performing for more than two years as a female-led songwriters collective.
Saint Stephen's Church
Sam Brookes + Murmuration Choir
Legendary British Folk Artist, in Collaboration with Bristol's Contemporary Music Choir
The Loco Klub
The People's Front Room Take Over at The Loco Klub
Live music, spoken word and DJs kicking off festival season for 2019
The Golden Lion
Binbag Wisdom + Guests
Monthly Newborn Sessions gig
The Golden Lion
Newborn Sessions | Binbag Wisdom + Guests
Anarcho jazz infused melodic hiphop
El Rincon
MISFIT PEARL & THE ODD FELLOWS
3-part harmony Americana trio
Kingsdown Vaults
MEDICINE CREEK
Foot stomping old time string band from Bristol.
Exchange
Fishstock 2019
DIY punk all dayer
Crofters Rights
Sugar Candy Mountain
Californian bubble-pop Sugar Candy Mountain back to Bristol at The Lanes!
The Tobacco Factory
Medicine Creek
Old Time Country and Folk
The Spin Bar
Furlined
Stripped-down Americana quartet with a topping of 80s pop - superb
The Hare on the Hill
Sunday Service at the Hare: Cooper and Toller
Traditional English folk duo
The Canteen
Claire Ji and Band
Accompanied by a band, this event is perfect Sunday evening entertainment!
The Gallimaufry
Open Mic w/ Mike Dennis
The stage is yours
Unitarian Hall, BS2 8PE
Lavinia Blackwall, Snails, Mike and Solveig
Wondrous folk-pop triple bill
Hy-Brasil Music Club
High Climbers 'Faire-Part' Album Launch
Gorgeous, wild and warm - hailing the glorious return of Mike Robertson, High Climbers are releasing their album debut 'Faire-Part'.
Cafe Kino
Pumice | Rosena | Tom Bugs
Eccentric songcraft and noises, built around a rare appearance from New Zealand's very own Pumice.
The Trinity Centre
The Liminal Tour - Sound Healing & Album Launch
An evening of hypnotic and transformational sound
The Three Tuns
Brandon Hill Beer Festival
Beer Festival with Live Music and Late Licenses
The Three Tuns
Brandon Hill Beer Festival
Beer Festival with Live Music and Late Licenses
The Cube
Alex Rex/ The Silver Field
Double Bill of Incredible Music
Jam Jar
The John Martyn Project
Featuring Blythe Pepino, Kit Hawes, Pete Josef and Sam Brookes - This is a special project where four artists come together to celebrate the
Colston Hall
Colston Hall Record Fair
Record & CD Fair
Bristol Folk House
The Urban Folk Quartet at Bristol Folk House
The Urban Folk Quartet at Bristol Folk House Sat. 6 April
The Space, Keynsham
Ellie Ford, Night House & Rosina Keri
Ellie Ford, Night House & Rosina Keri
The Three Tuns
FFTP live at The Three Tuns
Anarchist Folk and a Beer Festival
The Three Tuns
Brandon Hill Beer Festival
Beer Festival with Live Music and Late Licenses
The Oxford
Dusk Brothers at The Oxford, Totterdown
Dark Swamp Blues/Alt Country on Self-Built Instruments
The Wardrobe Theatre
MARSHES (featuring Beth Porter) plus STANLÆY
Marshes is the new incarnation of Beth Porter and the Availables. Stanlæy (Bethany Stenning) is primarily an artist, singer and multi-instru
The Spin Bar
Pasha Finn / Kitwhistle
Two highly melodic and creative folk/blues artists
The Cube
Sarah Angliss presents Air Loom + Thomas Stone
Composer and performer Sarah Angliss presents her new album Air Loom
The Three Tuns
Brandon Hill Beer Festival
Beer Festival with Live Music and Late Licenses
The Golden Lion
Open Mic Showcase
A showcase of open mic talent
The Gallimaufry
Open Mic w/ Mike Dennis
The stage is yours
The Canteen
Lewis Clark
Worldly sounds from one of Bristol's finest.
Crofters Rights
Jack Hues & The Quartet feat. Syd Arthur
RMT Music & Funnel Live present one of three exclusive UK performances of 'Jack Hues & The Quartet feat. Syd Arthur'
The Louisiana
Into The Woods
Upbeat, melodic folk
Bristol Folk House
Molly Tuttle
The first ever woman to win International Bluegrass Association’s Guitar Player of the Year
The Spin Bar
Soup review / Ichabod Wolf
Witty folk-pop duo from Sheffield / Pop-poet with a fine baritone
The Canteen
Chorlton Country Club
Have a swinging Sunday down at The Canteen!
The Gallimaufry
Open Mic w/ Mike Dennis
The stage is yours
O2 Academy
Bear's Den
O2 Academy Bristol
The Gallimaufry
Seedling Sessions w/ Stanlaey & LYLE!
Freaky folk & heartfelt sounds
Crofters Rights
Nathan Ball
NNTs Presents.. Nathan Ball + Support
Crofters Rights
Black Water County at The Crofters Rights, Bristol
Fuelled By Cider's favourite folk-punkers
Jam Jar
Solana - Dila V & The Oddbeats - The Jam Jar
After a warm welcome back in 2018, The Jam Jar's proud to opens its doors for another season of independent live music with a global twist!
The Gallimaufry
Open Mic w/ Mike Dennis
The stage is yours
The Wardrobe Theatre
Moore Moss Rutter
The distinct pulse, energy and group-intuition of trad-music haunts their playing as they continue to push the creative boundaries for Engli
The Canteen
Albert Jones Band + support from REN
Indie Folk, Dreamy Pop, Country and Blues.
The Cube
David Thomas Broughton plus support
Otley's finest returns to Bristol
SWX
Showhawk Duo live at SWX
Welcome to the Acoustic Rave - Chapter 2
The Old Market Assembly
John Fairhurst
London-based John Fairhurst makes heavy blues for heavy times.
The Golden Lion
Newborn Sessions | Babar Luck + Clayton Blizzard
Part punk rocker, part folk singer, part reggae mc
Bristol Folk House
William Tyler
The finest guitarist in Nashville comes to Bristol
Elmer's Arms
HCM// Freschard (& Stanley Brinks)
Here Comes Midnight present a Freschard show with Stanley Brink (aka Andre Herman Dune) on lead!
The Gallimaufry
Open Mic w/ Mike Dennis
The stage is yours
The Station
Flook
FLOOK - The flutes of Brian Finnegan and Sarah Allen, the guitar of Ed Boyd and the bodhran of John Joe Kelly weave and spin traditionally r
The Station
Martin & Eliza Carthy
English folk song legends
The Mothers Ruin
Phil Cooper / LG Breton
Vice Versa Tour
Fiddlers
Grant Lee Phillips + Josh Rouse
Touring together for the first time, the acclaimed singer/songwriters are touring in support of their newest albums
The Spin Bar
Mattia Caroli and I Fiori del Male
Italian cinematic folk-indie quintet - superb laid back & melodic acoustic pop
The Gallimaufry
Open Mic w/ Mike Dennis
The stage is yours
Crofters Rights
Hand Habits
Meg Duffy brings sophomore record 'placeholder' to Bristol on 7th May
Salt Cafe
Tom Brosseau / Kristin McClement
Highly acclaimed North Dakotan musical storyteller
Cafe Kino
Frances Pylons (EP Launch)
Frances Pylons EP Launch with special guests
Hy Brasil Music Club
Pearl Charles
FREE! Lana Del Ray-esque alt-country
O2 Academy
Better Oblivion Community Center
Conor Oberst & Phoebe Bridgers
The Gallimaufry
Open Mic w/ Mike Dennis
The stage is yours
The Forge
Sam Brookes at The Forge
Sam Brookes is reminiscent of Tim Buckley as he glides between the lower and upper registers of his four-octave range. His pure voice, evoc
Bristol Folk House
Kettle Of Fish with special guests
Bristol’s own a cappella combo, Kettle Of Fish, return for their Spring spectacular! They will be joined on stage by some very special gues
The Wardrobe Theatre
Martin Simpson
Universally acclaimed as one of the finest ever acoustic and slide guitar players, and a fine banjo-picker to boot, his solo shows bear witn
The Lanes
Kikagaku Moyo 幾何学模様 - The Lanes May 20th
Stolen Body Records/Astral Festival and The Grey Area are delighted to finally work together to bring you the amazing Kikagaku Moyo / 幾何学模様
The Gallimaufry
Open Mic w/ Mike Dennis
The stage is yours
The Gallimaufry
Seedling Sessions w/ Ceitidh Mac & Joe Element
Cellist & singer / hang drum music
Crofters Rights
BLG Promotions Present: Brushy One String
BLG Promotions Present: Brushy One String with Dubi Dolczek supporting
The Cube
20 Guilders, Stereocilia, Rotten Bliss
an evening of Psych drone and ambient bliss
Bristol Folk House
Eamon O'Leary and Jefferson Hamer (The Murphy Beds
Eamon O’Leary and Jefferson Hamer (aka The Murphy Beds) present traditional and original folk songs with close harmonies and deft instrument
The Gallimaufry
Open Mic w/ Mike Dennis
The stage is yours
Crofters Rights
TRUDY AND THE ROMANCE
Gravy Train presents... Trudy and the Romance + guests
Hy Brasil Music Club
Chris Cohen
Captured Tracks signed, Los Angeles based ex-Deerhoof member
O2 Academy
Maren Morris: Girl the World Tour 2019
O2 Academy Bristol
Fiddlers
Shakey Graves
Sublime, spooky, radical dreampop...
Bristol Folk House
Dan Walsh trio
Award winning banjo maestro Dan Walsh combines 'virtuoso playing and winning songwriting' (MORNING STAR). After a successful first tour last
O2 Academy
Cash
O2 Academy Bristol
Colston Hall
Colston Hall Record Fair
Record & CD Fair
Old Down County Park
RMHBFest
Charity festival to help raise funds for families in need.
The Cube
Curtis Eller's American Circus
Curtis Eller and his band The American Circus return with their dynamic & highly physical stage performance.
The Wardrobe Theatre
Edgelarks at The Wardrobe Theatre
Edgelarks fly in on the tailwind of BBC award winning duo Phillip Henry and Hannah Martin. The pair's new project takes the roots of their p
The Wardrobe Theatre
Nick Hart - Sings Nine English Folk Songs - Album
Nick Hart is a folk singer deeply rooted in the English tradition. Raised in a family of morris dancers, Nick played instrumental music for
TBA
Spice Girls: Sleaze Up Your Life
Sleazy Sessions is here with the ULTIMATE Spice Girls tribute night.
The Eldon House
Dusk Brothers at The Eldon House Street Party
All day mini music festival in the street outside the Eldon House
Cafe Kino
IN HAZE: DON JUAN + PUNCH ON + BEHEADING & RATBAGS
In Haze 1 @ Cafe Kino
The Lanes
BLG Presents Elf Power + Support
BLG Promotions are proud to present Elf Power
East Street (Outdoors - Next to Miss Millies)
Dusk Brothers @ East Street Summer Fayre
Swamp Blues/Alt Country on Self-Built Instruments
Secret Somerset Location
Fanny's Meadow
Independent original live music festival, family and dog friendly!
Bristol Folk House
Old Man Luedecke
Old Man Luedecke is the recording and performing name of multiple award-winning, Canadian roots singer-songwriter Christopher Luedecke.
Colston Hall
Colston Hall Record Fair
Record & CD Fair
O2 Academy
Jason & The Scorchers/Dan Baird & Homemade Sin +..
O2 Academy Bristol
Bristol Folk House
Rory McLeod
Rhythmic storyteller, multi-instrumentalist,…telling unpalatable truths about broken hearts…social injustice
Bristol Folk House
Naomi Bedford and Paul Simmonds
Naomi Bedford and Paul Simmonds Singing It All Back Home: Appalachian Songs of English and Scottish Origin
Colston Hall
Colston Hall Record Fair
Record & CD Fair