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

A stack of local live talent lights up Loco Klub to round off Trans Pride 2026. Fuzz pedal four-piece Desperate sling scrappy country-grunge-pop bangers (and stage props) alongside fresh soul-heavy alt-rockers Princess Boyfriend and Florence Welch/Sigrid-channeling indie prodigies Kodachrome. Pure queer joy! Trans Pride Bristol 2026 - gig at Loco Klub.

Sell out warning! Dean Blunt-championed darlings Bar Italia continue their steady ascent to slacker indie superstardom, gifting Trinity a fifth album haul of seasick alt-rock polished with moody romanticism and nostalgic 90s hooks. Move over post-punk, the hour of wonky pop-grunge is upon us FFO: Sonic Youth, Elastica, The Velvet Underground, Wet Leg. Bar Italia at The Trinity Centre.

Second show added due to massive demand! Beloved Ohio indie-emo quartet Remember Sports bring their ripping alt-pop and sunroof-dropping riffs to town. Big scrappy rave-ups with both goofy earnestness and subtle emotional insight – these are loud anthems for quiet people. FFO: Ratboys, Joyce Manor, Alvvays. Blowout Presents Remember Sports and Fortitude Valley at Exchange Basement, Bristol

Sell out warning! Beloved Ohio indie-emo quartet Remember Sports bring their ripping alt-pop and sunroof-dropping riffs to town. Big scrappy rave-ups with both goofy earnestness and subtle emotional insight – these are loud anthems for quiet people. FFO: Ratboys, Joyce Manor, Alvvays. Blowout Presents Remember Sports, Fortitude Valley and Hamburger at Exchange Basement, Bristol

More Photos of Indie Gigs in Bristol

What our editors say

“Panchiko is a British indie rock band originating from Nottingham, England. Formed between 1997 and 1998, the band originally consisted of lead vocalist and guitarist Owain Davies, guitarist/keyboardist Andrew "Andy" Wright, bassist Shaun Ferreday, and a drummer named John.”
From: Panchiko

“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. ⁠ ⁠ Devoutly independent, Sports return with a self-titled new album, which will land in February 2026, followed by a UK / EU tour later in the year ⁠”
From: SPORTS + special guests

“Dead Calm is a band from Liam McCay... a young, prolific Irish musician from County Donegal, known for creating music under numerous aliases, most notably Sign Crushes Motorist, Dead Calm, and Take Care, exploring genres like slowcore and indie rock with poignant, introspective, and often melancholic themes, gaining significant online traction while maintaining a low-key, hobbyist approach to his rapidly growing career. He began with the fiddle, pivoted to guitar during the pandemic, and has since released extensive work, even turning down record deals to keep his creative process personal.”
From: Dead Calm + special guests

“Sir Chloe is an American indie rock band from Vermont. Led by classically trained frontwoman Dana Foote, Sir Chloe is an indie-rock band known for an alternative melodic style with a wide range of genre influences. ∙ Originally Dana Foote's solo act, Sir Chloe was born out of an academic project she completed in college. + special guest”
From: Sir Chloe

“Dusty Cut is the wistful music project of award-winning writer Phil Jones. Together with Thomas Lavery, Simon Dowling, Lilla Farkas and Tim Swan, Dusty Cut write songs about friendships and loves gained and lost, fights in restaurants, Scottish islands and the sea. The band are based in Cardiff and released their debut album 'Hawaii' in 2017. Formed in Bristol, Dusty Cut started by playing indie folk songs at house parties where everyone wanted to listen to dubstep. Since then Dusty Cut have developed a warm sound that incorporates moody folk, 70s rock and a hint of strangeness inspired by eccentrics like Gruff Rhys, Arthur Russell and Big Thief.”
From: Jack Goodall