A funk and soul gig in Bristol

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

Sell out warning! Bel Cobain sings jazz-infused R&B serenades and moonlight breaks for introverted stoners and heartbroken optimists. Easily the best of the best of London’s neo-soulsters, essential FFO: Erykah, Angie Stone, The Silhouettes Project, JGRREY, Greentea Peng, Yazmin Lacey. Mellow R&B, Jazz, Rap from London star Bel Cobain

Sell out warning! Unlimited tea, virtuoso oud and Middle Eastern percussion maestros converge in new community-centric musical extravaganza Flooka TEA. Hopefully the first of many at PRSC! An intimate musical journey through Middle Eastern sounds with unlimited tea on tap

One of the most recognisable mic-men in modern steppas, roots and culture, Fikir Amlak lands in the heart of St Paul’s for a proper soundsystem dance. King Alpha’s go-to toaster joins the mad promising Yaksha in-house stable with live brass from the mighty King David Horns (of Scratch, Dawn Penn, Horace Andy pedigree). This is live dub done right, so get down! FIKIR AMLAK meets YAKSHA SOUND ft. King David Horns & Emperor Wanje at KUUMBA LIVE. A mind-blowing gathering of DUB vibes & BAD beats!

Debut world tour for Haitian/Bostonian rapper Swooli, packing anthemic hooks and blunted atmosphere aimed straight for the A$AP / Frank Ocean big time jugular. Stacked with support from Bristol’s fast-rising trapstar Kahill Wolf + more local goodness. USA, HAITI, AND BRISTOL COLLIDE FOR A NIGHT OF VIBES

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A funk and soul band in Bristol 2024

What our editors say

“Fanfare Ciocarlia is one of the world’s greatest gypsy brass bands, a 24-legged Balkan brass beast whose eastern funk groove has torn up halls and festivals across the planet with their balkan brass sound.”
From: Fanfare Ciocărlia

“On a three-man crusade to set dance floors alight with their inimitable brand of razor-sharp funk and disco, High Fade can already count Jack Black, Cypress Hill, Deep Purple's Glenn Hughes and Brad Wilk from Rage Against the Machine as fans.”
From: High Fade + DJs

“STAGE 3 - DOWNBEAT MELODY SOUNDSYSTEM X LA BOMBA (Ska, funk, lovers rock, soul, cumbia, salsa, ethio jazz & all things lovely) played through a beautiful vintage soundsystem in the sun (hopefully) These guys have taught me so much.”
From: AnExperience Presents ~ A Fairly Feral Fable

“Since the late 1970s @adamsonbarry has carved out his own idiosyncratic path in music, composing, photography and film-making. Emerging from the punk/ post punk scene on bass guitar, first with Magazine and then as a founding member of Nick Cave’s Bad Seeds, he has since amassed a huge solo music & soundtrack oeuvre spanning decadent big band jazz, sinuous funk, hip hop grooves, Sixties thriller themes, classic strings, rock, trip-hop and soulful gospel⁠”
From: Barry Adamson

“From Whence It Came builds on an already extensive catalog from MORPHEUS, whose conversational style slips between sardonic humor and intrepid observations in an instant. The new album provides a lush new patchwork of sounds for MORPHEUS to make his own, laying quintessentially smooth raps over a varied selection of West Coast G-funk, hurried drum n bass rhythms, and soul samples like the slow spin of a radio dial. From Whence It Came features an array of guests including longtime collaborators and artists new to the fold including Fly Anakin, Jimetta Rose, MED and more.”
From: YUNGMORPHEUS

Trending Funk And Soul Gigs

The Fantasy Orchestra Presents Tropicália at Lost Horizon
— Lost Horizon
samba world contemporary classical jazz funk
Bristol Hi-Fi: Daddy G + Queen Bee + Mr Ben at Lost Horizon
— Lost Horizon
disco dancehall reggae world funk
Dr Meaker at The Trinity Centre
— The Trinity Centre
electronic drum and bass jump up soul
Haven't Stopped Dancing Yet at The Trinity Centre
— The Trinity Centre
disco soul funk
Yellow Days at The Trinity Centre
— The Trinity Centre
psych soul
Jalen Ngonda at The Trinity Centre
— The Trinity Centre
soul gospel
A funk and soul band in Bristol 2024

Bristol's Trending Live Music Venues

Exchange The Louisiana Jam Jar The Trinity Centre The Marble Factory Rough Trade Bristol

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Band playing at a funk and soul gig A funk and soul gig in Bristol
Timber Timbre at Strange Brew
— Strange Brew
folk singer-songwriter jazz soul
Smoove & Turrell at Strange Brew
— Strange Brew
pop synthpop jazz funk soul funk
Manchester Uni and Bristol Community Big Bands Gig at Fiddlers
— Fiddlers
Event Cancelled
jazz jazz funk swing
Luna Kali at The Gallimaufry
— The Gallimaufry
alternative r&b R&B folk soul
Are You Game? at The Jam Jar
— The Jam Jar
tropical cumbia afrobeat world funk
Richard The Fourth at The Gallimaufry
— The Gallimaufry
contemporary jazz blues folk folk-pop soul
Northern Soul Night at Cabot Cruising Club
— Cabot Cruising Club
northern soul
Melted Wax's Disco Takeover at The Social Bar & Cafe
— The Social Bar & Cafe
disco disco house deep house tropical funk
Shing A Lings + DJ at The Canteen
— The Canteen
salsa funk
Charlie Bones + OG / at The Love Inn
— The Love Inn
chicago house house world soul funk
Dons Of Disco #3 w/ peoplelikeusDJ at Cloak
— Cloak
disco disco house synthpop soul funk
The Black Wax Solution at The Phoenix
— The Phoenix
disco disco house hip hop soul funk
Frameshifter II - Day 2 at Sparks Bristol
— Sparks Bristol
world singer-songwriter experimental jazz soul
London Afrobeat Collective at Bristol Beacon
— Bristol Beacon
afrobeats afrobeat jazz funk