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).

Buy tickets for funk and soul events in Bristol

Our recent funk and soul recommendations

One of underground folk’s boldest Bristol champions, Cuculi hosts another spine-tingling session to delight left-of-centre trad fans. Lucy and Hazel’s songs sparkle with queer femme-folk themes, lilting clarinet, sumptuous fingerpicking, and murmuring melodeon. In the late-Victorian, wood-beamed sanctuary of St Anne’s church, this’ll be simply stunning! Raw, radical folk songs from acclaimed Sheffield duo

Sensuous Levantine neo-psych threading together hypnotic tarab melodies with soft pop grooves and a nostalgic nod to 70s Turkish rock, funk and soul. Kazdoura are set to drench The Jar with trance-inducing vocals, swirling rhythms and sun-washed instrumentation FFO: Khruangbin, Bedouin Burger, Altin Gün. Original and rearranged Arabic songs fused with jazz, funk, psychedelic soul and disco

Silky Bassa-language vocals drifting over an unmistakable blend of makossa, Mississippi country-blues, bossa nova and jazz manouche… Cameroonian singer-songwriter Blick Bassy is surely set to become one of West African music’s all-time greats, here to enchant the Jam Jar with intricately arranged, richly textured folk lamentations FFO: Ali Farka Touré, Bongeziwe Mabandla, Moses Sumney. Beautifully haunting, the legendary Cameroonian artist returns to The Jam Jar.

Drawing influence from highlife, Fela Kuti and Dr. Dre, GREAT - the new alias and artistic evolution of Gee Baller - makes an unmissable UK debut at Unit 8 Studios with his soulful fusion of hip-hop and Afrobeats. He heads up the billing of Afro-revolutionary future stars including Sambee, Aloka and Sheni. A Teddy Good Event

What our editors say

“Imagine if Ray Manzarek was the frontman for the Bee Gees... It’s a neat visual introduction to Joel Sarakula, a UK-based Australian artist who writes, producesand sings Soulful Pop, gazing out at a contemporary world through vintage glasses, vintage threads and long blond hair. His music is informed by a rich, 1970s-inspired palette, drawing on soft-rock, funk and disco influences: sunny, uptempo jams for darker times. Self-aware that he looks and occasionally sounds like the love child of Ray Manzarek and the Gibb brothers, his self-deprecating sense of humour is always there just below the fringe.”
From: Joel Sarakula with guest Xav Clarke

“Reuben James, the genre-breaking pianist, singer-songwriter and composer announces the release of his third album, Big People Music, released via his label Rufio Records on May 16 2025. Reuben follows the acclaimed release of his soul-inflected 2023 album Champagne Kisses with an ambitious body of work spanning the worlds of lively funk, jazz improvisation, classic soul and pop songwriting, featuring global talents including Jamie Cullum, Jungle, Honne, Emeli Sandé, Joe Armon-Jones, Theo Croker, Keyon Harrold, Kofi Stone and more.”
From: Reuben James

“British jazz, funk, and street soul masters, Secret Night Gang, led by Manchester natives and childhood friends Kemani Anderson and Callum Connell, spread their uplifting, transcendent, and genre-blending street soul sound through dynamic melodies and jazz-inflected soul prowess, renewing the musical frontiers of the genres.⁠”
From: Secret Night Gang

“Surprise Chef’s music is based on evoking mood; their vivid arrangements utilize time and space to build soundscapes that invite the listener into their world. The quintet’s distinct sound pulls from 70s film scores, the funkier side of jazz, and the samples that form the foundation of hip hop. They push the boundaries of instrumental soul and funk with their own approach honed by countless hours in the studio, studying the masters, and perhaps most importantly, the ‘tyranny of distance’ that dictates a unique perspective to their music.”
From: Surprise Chef + Support

“Inglefest is a grassroots, independent music festival that brings together the vibrant and diverse spirit of the South West's original music scene for three days of live music and celebration. With three clash-free stages and an eclectic lineup, there’s something for everyone to enjoy - from reggae and funk to rock, rap and folk and everything in between, as well as workshops and activities across the weekend.”
From: 15th - 17th August