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Free Gigs in Bristol

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Bristol's Free Gigs Scene

Where to find free music in Bristol Free music's pretty easy to find in Bristol. Whilst most gigs outside of the big venues are usually only a few quid, it's always nice to see some bands for free or a couple of pounds in a bucket (if they're good!) For guaranteed free music with your pint, go to a venue which has a free entry policy.

The Old Duke, The Canteen and The Golden Lion (except fridays) should probably be your first port-of-call to check out Coronation Tap are also very reliable and popular for free gigs. Luckily free gigs can happen anywhere, this means you can keep things interesting and not get bored of rotating the same Bristol venues. Free live music can crop up anywhere from the Grain Barge and Lousianna to Colston Hall and even St Georges.

The economy of free gigs. Can it survive Covid?

Good news: gigs in Bristol are more likely to be free than anywhere else! General ticket prices seem to be more common between free and £5; the £20+ bracket is a rare one compared to the capital’s high-end arts and theatre gigs. Bristol’s pandemic response has opened up some extra local music funding. Will free gigs disappear with the added financial pressures of covid? Indoor gigs may soon be possible, but how many of them will remain free and accessible?

Free outdoor gigs and festivals in Bristol

From mid June to the beginning of September Bristol Council and independent organisations put on some great free music events. Best of all there's something different almost every weekend and they don't cost any money! Significant large events include St Werbergh's Fair, The Harbourside Festival and St Pauls Carnival. In addition there are some great smaller, open air gigs with free entry to be found in places like Queens Square, Stokes Croft and Castle Park.

Buy tickets for free gigs events in Bristol

Our recent free gigs recommendations

Fresh free improv combinations erupting from Matt Davis’ prepared trumpet, sparring with Rachel Musson’s tenor blasts and the delirious percussive strokes of Mark Sanders. A meeting of accomplished minds, reconstructing swing and skronk in unmissable, unrepeatable moments FFO: Pat Thomas, Peter Brotzmann, Evan Parker, Paul Dunmall. Musson Sanders Davis at St Anne’s Church, Saint Leonard’s Road, Greenbank, Bristol BS5 6JN.

Look no further than this sweet Exchange matinee for family-friendly NYE joys: heartfelt acoustic guitar balladry from Washington punk-folker and ex-RVIVR frontperson Erica Freas, side-by-side with singer-songwriter duo Box Room. Free entry for under 16s + all over by 4pm = deeeeelightful. Olympia singer songwriter playing a rare one off Bristol gig

The Dovetail Orchestra lead Cotham Club on a global journey for this radiant winter gathering! A Bristol-based collective that has grown from weekly workshops into a celebrated refugee-led orchestra, their borderless sound weaves together the musical traditions of Africa, the Middle East, Latin America and Eastern Europe in a joyful and inspiring celebration of cross-cultural kinship. Art over adversity - spirited transnational music in exile.

Arc’s Thursday live broadcasts hit an end of year high with a unique dive into Majazz’s tireless archival work documenting the audiovisual legacy of Palestine. Roll through for a chance to hear everything from Bedouin field recordings to psychedelic wedding music, plus a huge resident b2b to celebrate six months of community-first radio action. Arc Radio end-of-year show fundraiser for Majazz Project / the Palestinian Sound Archive. Opening guest session, then 2 Tough Bastards and Ship Shape FM host a year-end special with guests and takeovers.