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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

Sell out warning! Total escapism awaits you with this brand new, 500 cap getaway in the breathtaking isle of Purbeck. Music, dancing, wellness, and strictly good community vibes guaranteed with afrobeat heat from K.O.G, swooning blue-eyed soulster Peter Josef, intoxicating gnawa/dub/funk six piece Electric Jalaba + so much more. This might just be the annual antidote to the other 362 days of the year ….. SEEKER - Hidden Music Festival at Secret Location Isle Of Purbeck.

Catch the absolute Queen of the Brazillian dancehall scene for £0 at the Canteen. Ain’t every day this happens, but Lei Di Dai’s singular rudegyal style’s set to light up Europe with sprinkles of jungle, reggaeton and baile madness thrown into the grinderrrrrrrr. Lei eats Beiber for breakfast, ladys to the front! Lei Di Dai + DJs at The Canteen.

Leading vocal experimentalist joins forces with fearless DIY percussionist in a boundless collaboration where politics, deep listening and raw physicality collide. Using piano, voice, gong and tapdance, their performance is as precise as it is playful. Their enchanting show at St George’s last year still echoes in our minds … catch the magic on their powerful tape release via TBC Editions as hard evidence! Maggie Nicols & Dan Johnson w/ Aly Eissa & Chris Cundy at The Cube.

The mighty queer forces of Punka and Wig In A Box join hands for a 13 hour celebration of the weird and the wonderful with alternative drag excellence from Boohoo Mann and Dominique Fleek, emotive crayola goth crooners BLED, fever dream sci-fi glam-rockers meets Jemma Freeman & The Cosmic Something + DJs, makers market and much much more. ALL OUT/ ALL DAYER at Exchange.