Indie Gigs in Bristol

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Bristol's Indie Scene

Bristol has a decent spread of indie venues for both big names (keep your eye on the O2 Academy listings) and local up-and-coming indie bands. Perhaps the most important mid-sized indie venue is The Louisiana whose "played-here-before-they-were-really-famous" list boasts Bloc Party, Kings of Leon, Fleet Foxes and Muse.

What’s become of Indie music? For many of a certain generation the early 2000s were the peak of indie music here in Bristol and in the UK as a whole. Not to be confused with the association of independent music (although indie does stand for ‘independent music’) indie came out of the 80s DIY scene and peaked in the 00s mainstream with acts like the Strokes and the Libertines. So where is indie now? Now indie in Bristol might just amount to clubnights like Ramshackle, and we have the decline of grassroots music venues to blame maybe. So while independent music might always be around, the genre formerly known as indie might be dead!

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Our recent indie recommendations

Sell-out warning! Nottingham’s freak-pop melodrama merchants Divorce bring a luminous tonic to Trinity. Serving up a smorgasbord of bitter and bright bedroom ditties that draw you in with an inviting glow then punt you right in the feelings. Unmissable FFO: Mitski, BCNR, Indigo De Souza, Grizzly Bear. DIVORCE + CURIOSITY SHOP at The Trinity Centre.

Huge huge treat for the DIY indie scene as beloved lo-fi balladeer Perkie makes a rare live outing; their melodic anti-folk-meets-avant-pop is in prime company with ex-Sissy power-punk Leigh Arthur, Permapup’s tender-hearted twee pop and Dyke Mother’s emerging experimental grunge. Essential session FFO: Emmy the Great, Erica Freas, This Is The Kit, Darren Hayman, Trust Fund. Perkie, Leigh Arthur & More @ Cafe Kino

Static spills across The Old E as local art punk outfit Year of the Rabbit deliver knotty, slow-burn noise scrapes, raising money for female-led neurodivergence-celebrating zine Neon Daisy. If you caught ‘em tearing the roof off Sportsmans at Simple Things, you’ll know they’re not one to miss. Bruised euphoria FFO: DITZ, Sonic Youth, Gilla Band, Dream Wife. A night of alt bands from all around the UK coming together to raise money for a great cause at the Old E on the 4th December

Dim Wizard deliver radiant power-pop (led by ex-Spoonboy/Bad Moves legend David Combs) with geeky humour, pop culture winks, and positively gargantuan hooks. Expect bright, restless melodies on par with fellow indie-punk newschoolers like Ratboys, Superviolet, Jeff Rosenstock and Illuminati Hotties. Washington DC power pop ex/members of Bad Moves, Flasher, Spoonboy, The Max Levine Ensemble...

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What our editors say

“The "Sports" band from Oklahoma is an indie-pop group known for their '80s-influenced, breezy sound, formed by brothers Jacob and Christian Theriot and vocalist Cale Chronister. The group have been notching up viral indie pop bangers, building a global fanbase on their own terms. ⁠”
From: SPORTS + special guests

“The Twilight Sad are a Scottish post-punk/indie rock band from Kilsyth, formed in 2003. The band is currently a duo consisting of James Graham and Andy MacFarlane. They have released five studio albums, as well as several EPs, live recordings and singles.”
From: The Twilight Sad

“San Francisco indie rockers, Carpool Tunnel head to Bristol this spring. Known for their tight musicianship and emotionally honest songwriting, the band brings a dynamic blend of driving rhythms, melodic hooks, and raw, lived-in storytelling. Their chemistry—rooted in years of playing, writing, and growing together—gives Carpool Tunnel a sound that feels both unmistakably modern and grounded in the spirit of Bay Area indie rock.”
From: Carpool Tunnel

“In 2022, The Jins returned with a vengeance and once again hit the local scene with songs that they had kept in the vault. The indie rock smoothness of “Metro”, the air punching anthem of “Stay Please”, and the garage rock cool of “Effigy”, the pieces came together to become 2023’s “It’s a Life” LP.”
From: THE JINS

“Galaxy Thief are a British indie rock 4-piece from Dorset. Formed in early 2017, influences from bands such as Nothing But Thieves, The 1975, Foo Fighters & Angels and Airwaves infuse a unique and unprecedented sound. From local music venues to festivals around the UK, they have built a reputation for energetic live shows that bring their fans back time and time again. The unstoppable band brotherhood is made up of Rhys Messenger (Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar), George Bowerman (Lead Guitar/Vocals), Ben Watton (Drums) and Jake Trim (Bass/Vocals).”
From: Galaxy Thief