Indie Gigs in Bristol

upcoming gig

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!

Buy tickets for indie events in Bristol

Our recent indie recommendations

Outsider pop purveyor Dean Rodney Jr returns to town with his rootin’ tootin’ Cowboy band, serving the Brew a gold-clad spectacle of wonky disco funk and deadpan absurdism in dreeeamy company with the disquieting avant-jazz of Illegal Data’s Zoee. FFO: Gary Wilson, early Ariel Pink, Shopping, Mermaid Chunky, Wendy Miasma. Dean Rodney Jr. & The Cowboys + Zoee at Strange Brew.

Sell out warning! A veritable supergroup of DIY royalty from Tigercats, Martha, Onsind + more, Fortitude Valley CAN and WILL turn a frosty mid-January Exchange into a sun-kissed chamber of deliriously catchy, shimmering indie-pop-punk. Big-time winter blues buster if you love: The Beths, Alvvays, The Lucksmiths, Dressy Bessy, Diet Cig. With Long Neck and Permapup

Free entry / PWYC! Chamber folk/indie rock alchemists Lifter finally launch their long-awaited debut LP into the world alongside a host of local scene stalwarts. Fight your way to the front early for Foot Foot’s wizard-conjured baroque prog, Eva May’s choir-haunted soul ballads and velvety indie-folk revival from new kids English Weather. Pay-What-You-Can Entry - Bristol LIFTER celebrate vinyl release show with friends from the Bristol scene, drawing on the traditions of folk, math-rock and post-rock

Up-n-coming bedroom pop to soundtrack your sadboi Jan! Dandelion’s stripped-back, heart-on-sleeve confessionals sound like a hushed collab between Christian Lee Hutson, The Sundays and Snail Mail – slow-burn storytelling gorgeousness, well worth re-entering the world for. Dandelion + Leo Dylan + Myles Edward live at The Louisiana, Bristol

More Photos of Indie Gigs in Bristol

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

“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

“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