What's On / Bristol Gigs / funk and soul

Funk, Soul and Motown in Bristol

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Bristol's Funk And Soul Scene

Funk and soul - the secret undercurrent to Bristol music?
Funk and soul is now synonymous with radio personalities like Craig Charles and long-running nights like Soul Train (in Bristol). While its roots are deep, there was a period in the 90s when soul ran freely through the city via trip-hoppers Massive Attack who combined a soulful edge with current, to the minute electronic production. The more tortured soulful grooves of Tricky were like a bleak West Country version of neo-soul acts like Erykah Badu. While these acts rarely get called soul, their debt to 70s funk and soul legends like Sly and the Family Stone, James Brown and Bootsy Collins is undeniable.

Live Funk in Bristol
Funk isn't huge in Bristol but there are still some good funk bands playing regular gigs, even if the market is slightly smaller than it used to be. Quality hammond led jazz-funk jams can often be found at the Golden Lion on Gloucester road. For faster more sweaty funk gigs, keep and eye on what's on at the Mr Wolfs in Bristol city centre.

Live Soul in Bristol
In the early 2000's there was a much needed soul revival in the UK. At the core of this revival was Brighton and in particular it's Tru-Thoughts record label. Artists like Alice Russell and Belleruche ventured into 'nu-soul', while bands like the Quantic Soul Orchestra revisited raw early funk. While the albums made during this period were nothing hugely special, the performances that came with them were a welcome return of quality and engaging soul music. Being an important city in the UK's live music scene, Bristol and it's venues were (and still are) a key tour-stop for modern soul gigs. Whilst the revival is not as strong as it was, there are still some consistent soul and funk venues in Bristol to check whats on. Trinity Centre is the new home of Tru-thoughts / Stones Throw / Freestyle Recs type tours, with recent (2010) Bristol events including Belleruche, Speedometer and The Bamboos. The 02 Academy, Colston Hall and the Bristol Thekla are Bristol's main venues for bigger name musicians or comeback tours for legendary Motown and soul singers. It's also worth checking the Lost Horizon listings, they seem to have a great ability of booking upcoming talent before it hits the big time. While not strictly soul or funk, the venue has hosted some great cross over artists including Little Dragon and The Apples.

The Park Bar in Clifton with it's Hot Buttered Soul nights is also worth looking into.

If you're looking for disco clubnights in Bristol check the mainstream city centre venues (which we don't list on this website).

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Our recent funk and soul recommendations

Woi oi! Iconic 'ardkore action incoming from the unrivaled Moving Shadow fold! Reinforced / Altern8 / Shut Up And Dance heads will already have their tickets of course. For everyone else: breakbeat ravestalgia doesn’t come much ruffer than 2 Bad Mice, chopping samples and bombing tha bass like it was the Second Summer of Love all over again. 2 Bad Mice + Friends at The Jam Jar.

Sell out warning! Harakiri are the only band you need on your post-black sky chariot riding mix. Triumphant melody barely-disguising soul-wrenching trauma, blistering blast-beats; BM purists beware, this is pure catharsis stitched with post-rock, post-hardcore, grunge and skramz DNA. With Denmark's impossibly mournful Sunken opening things up, ethereal awakenings await disciples of: Alcest, Deafheaven, Drudkh, WitTR. Harakiri for the Sky & Sunken at Strange Brew.

Sell out warning! You’ve never heard pipes like this! Queer futurism from visionary bagpiper Malin Lewis, playing self-made instruments and the world’s first wooden Lindsay Chanter. Malin channels their pipes and drones to form a layered, shifting sonic language that lives between binaries. Malin Lewis at The Jam Jar.

British folk iconoclast Chris Wood graces the candlelit hush of John Wesley’s New Room. His everyday epics sketch sharp-edged portraits of England’s many overlooked lives, from empty nests to minor league football teams to tragedies of industrial decay. Acute compassion ballads FFO: Martin Carthy, Karine Polwart, Billy Bragg, Richard Dawson. Chris Wood at John Wesley’s New Room.

More Photos of Funk, Soul and Motown in Bristol

What our editors say

“Funke and the Two Tone Baby is a truly unique artiste. Designing music on a machine of his own creation whilst playing a genre and sound that is totally his own. Jammed between off-kilter garage beats with a flash of hip-hop, and high energy alternative blues with a dose of funk, is a whirling blur of glitches, big drops and jump up choruses. It’s Fatboy Slim meets The White Stripes via LCD Soundsystem and a smattering of IDLES to boot. No one is making music in this way or in this style, and those who know, know, and those who don’t are surely missing out.”
From: Funke and The Two Tone Baby

“Nick Bodywork from Erratic Batting says: "My love affair with Melbourne music continues with the booking of Karate Boogaloo. We caught these guys up close when they supported Surprise Chef at Bristol Beacon last year. Their music moves fluidly between classic funk, Italian library, jazz, cinematic grooves and hip hop breaks with astounding musicianship."”
From: Karate Boogaloo

“Expect an intoxicating collision of worlds as hypnotic polyrhythms and soaring vocals meet the raw, modern energy of UK jazz, heavy funk, soul, and afrobeat. Born from an Arts Council-funded exploration to push traditional Gnawa into contemporary international spaces, Tagna Groove delivers an immersive, high-energy live experience designed to lift the spirit and move the dance floor.”
From: Mohamed Errebbaa & Tagna Groove

“We've got saxes, trumpets, trombones, guitar, bass, keys, drums - everything you could want from a jazz band! Triple Scoop's fun and jazzy vibe covers a large selection of music, from traditional swing to funk, meaningful melodies to jazzed-up versions of children's TV themes and 80s crowd pleasers. There's something for everyone to enjoy at our shows. We have a big sound where the crowd can move and dance, finding positivity and connection in our modern take on a classic sound that's filled with history.”
From: Triple Scoop Big Band at The Hen & Chicken Studio

“FAWLKES - FAWLKES are an Alternative Indie-Rock project putting their unique stamp on the modern Rock scene. Having fused their mixed backgrounds into a genre-bending rollercoaster of youth angst and heartfelt shared experience, they invite you to reminisce on feelings, from ecstasy to desolation. Their unique sound can be attributed to their wide range of influences, combining elements of emo, indie rock, funk, post -punk and harsh vulnerable melodies reminiscent of the 2000s Alt- Rock Era, with a loud energy that rises through each song”
From: FAWLKES HEADLINE