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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! Prolific 21st century giants of doom-laden dronegaze incoming! Stick your head into the feedback hurricane without leaving your lightly cushioned Cube seat. Nadja will tear your bloody head off alongside Urzah’s pulverizing post-metal genius and Victim Unit x sevenyearwaitinglist’s crushing queer cyber-grind rage. Serious line-up goals FFO: Sunn O))), Earth, Boris, Neurosis, Agoraphobic Nosebleed. Nadja, Urzah, sevenyearVictimUnit, Crash Bandighoul at The Cube.

Pinch us, we’re dreaming; two indispensable axes of New Weird Americana coming forth on the same bill! Six Organs’ pitch-black drone-folk mysticism sparring with Jackie O-Motherfucker’s fantastical improv psychedelic freak-outs!? Pure fucking magic FFO: Bardo Pond, Flying Saucer Attack, Current 93, Charalambides, Fahey, Sun City Girls. Six Organs of Admittance + Jackie-O Motherfucker + Riley/Radley at Strange Brew.

Looking for Glastonbury-esque feels at only 1,000 capacity + just a 30 minute drive from Bristol? Welcome to Inglefest. An intimate farmhouse location with a firm musical focus on the South West, including adorable emo-folk-punk trio Toodles & The Hectic Pity, Pocket Sun’s impossibly dreamy synth-pop, beloved Bristol boom-bap from The Scribes + oh so much more. Inglefest’s just bursting at the seams with rnb, punk, jazz and folk loveliness. 15th - 17th August at Oxwick Farm.

Free entry! Kibbo Kift thread together an esoteric mesh of post-punk and shoegaze with throbbing basslines, driving rhythms, and reverb-drenched guitars. Murky, muscular headbangers meet soaring, sensitive laments FFO: Protomartyr, Ought, No Age, Slowdive. KIBBO KIFT at The Gallimaufry.