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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

Marla Kether graces us with her beautiful live performance in full band formation. With lashings of Theo Parrish-style house, layered percussion and spiritual Afro‑Brazilian rhythms, this is music that drifts perfectly between live gig intimacy and club-ready flow. Unmissable vibes FFO: Yazmin Lacey, Shy One, Oscar Jerome. Marla Kether + Aisha Kigs at The Jam Jar.

Bristol’s iconic outer-reaches not-dub outpost buries itself with a 10-tonne heavy assemblage of global associates. Inside: the UK debut of astral sampling raggamuffins SKRS and Brazil’s tropicalia psych-dub alchemist Felinto; plus insane live collabs between Jay Glass Dubs and EP/64’s Dali + Grove and Ossia. Life-changing FFO: Iration Steppas, The Bug, Bauhaus, On U Sound, Equiknoxx, Wackies, Holy Tongue. Resurrection ft. SKRS / FELINTO / JGD x DALI / GROVE x OSSIA at Strange Brew.

Emerging from Melbourne's underground led by Australian drummer Ziggy Zeitgeist, ZFEX blend blissful house grooves with cosmic jazz-funk rhythms. Expect psychedelic synths intertwined with lush flutes, intricate percussion and broken beats, set to stun fans of: Jimi Tenor, Yussef Daye and Tenderlonious. Zeitgeist Freedom Energy Exchange at The Jam Jar.

Bath-based singer-songwriter Luke De-Sciscio’s astral folk embodies a classic autumnal warmth and soul-searching intensity. Flighty, unabashedly emotional expressions, inviting and encouraging the audience to feel along. New fave FFO: John Martyn, Jeff Buckley, Van Morrison, Cat Stevens, Buffy Sainte-Marie. Luke De-Sciscio + William Barkley + Leo Nathan + at SouthBank.