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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

Free entry! Dilla-worthy breaks, grooves and languid guitar lines bumping together in a dusty atmosphere of downbeat jazz-funk / boom-bap soul-stirrers. Guaranteed blunted beauty inside FFO: Surprise Chef, Khruangbin, BADBADNOTGOOD, The Heliocentrics. The King Chameleon is a fusion jazz collective blending instrumental hip-hop, psychedelic rock, and electronic grooves, led by producer Vivek Varia’s lofi beats and featuring Amri’s soulful, Carnatic-influenced vocals.

August charms you with dreamy, hard-hitting electronics shaped by trip-hop, pop, and breaks. Already turning heads with standout sets at Bristol Beacon and The Mount Without, they’re joined by Marns’ rich, jazz-soaked soul and My Midnight Heart’s haunting alt-R&B textures. AUGUST with support from Marns & My Midnight Heart

Sell out warning! The incomparable Liane Carroll graces us with her bawdy charm, timeless soulful vocals, and wild piano chops. Her modernised jazz standards are imbued with elliptical improv detours and a riotous storytelling flow - a must-attend event for lovers of Billie Holiday and Carole King. Bristol Jazz Festival presents Liane Carroll in the next Jazz in the Loft series

Ghanian frafra superstar Alogte Oho doesn’t make gospel as you know it; this is music carried from above by spiritual vocal harmonies, blasts of afrobeat brass, vintage high-life melodies and flashing synths. Truly the sound of joy FFO: Christy Azuma, Guy One, Ebo Taylor, Marijata, Kiki Gyan, Francis Bebey. Beautifully joyous music from Northern Ghana, featuring a tremendous live show from Alogte Oho accompanied by a powerful female gospel choir, "His Sounds of Joy"

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What our editors say

“Hailing from Birmingham, Alabama, the eight-piece ensemble is led by the dynamic Paul Janeway, whose vocals have earned comparisons to the greats. Their new self-titled sixth album, recorded at the legendary FAME Studios, marks a return to raw, heartfelt soul—blending gospel, psych-funk, and cinematic rock with a renewed sense of purpose.”
From: St Paul & The Broken Bones

“Total Clusterfunk are a Bristol Soul funk 8 piece who’s shows are getting a great rep . Comprising members of Roni Size and Reprazent, The Federation and Massive, this crew give the audience a rollercoaster of a ride.”
From: Total Clusterfunk

“Tom McGuire & the Brassholes are a funk soul powerhouse from Glasgow. Combining rich arrangements with meticulous songcraft and untouchable in live performance, the band is carving a niche of their own. Since their debut in 2019, the band has steadily built a dedicated following with their high-energy performances and unique, genre-blending sound.”
From: Tom McGuire & The Brassholes

“Pianist-composer Philip Clouts is best known as one of the moving spirits in the irresistibly eclectic, critically acclaimed, African-infused world-jazz outfit ZubopGambia. His distinctive jazz-world fusion music is inspired by the natural beauty of his rural Dorset home but has deep roots in the gentle township jive of his native South Africa, cross-pollinated with lilting, carefree calypso; hip-swaying Latin American jazz; vivacious West African Afrobeat; relaxed New Orleans street funk; and earthy, gospel-fired soul-jazz.”
From: PHILIP CLOUTS WORLD JAZZ QUARTET

“Self-taught pianist and composer Daniel Inzani has been a pivotal figure on the Bristol alternative music scene for more than a decade. He leads a neoclassical chamber quartet Spindle Ensemble, co-curates Hidden Notes Festival in Stroud, and he’s worked with a baffling array of outfits, playing Ethiopian funk, Indonesian gamelan, rocksteady, 1950s-style exotica and post rock, as well as working closely with fellow maverick musicians Alabaster dePlume and Cosmo Sheldrake.”
From: PLAY