Jazz Gigs in Bristol

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Bristol's Jazz Scene

There are two distinct sides to Bristol's jazz scene and in the middle a line that's rarely crossed...

Jazz in Bristol's Large Venues
On one side are the (usually larger) international jazz events, typically at venues like Colston Hall and St Georges. These are great venues to see contemporary jazz in Bristol with recent (2009 - 2010) highlights including Portico Quartet, Cinematic Orchestra and the Neil Cowley Trio. Live jazz in these Bristol venues has more of a concert feel, almost always seated and usually around the £15 mark depending on the seats. Bristol is fortunate to be a key stop over in most UK jazz tours and it is always worth keeping an eye on who's playing when and where and get jazz tickets early for decent seats.

Jazz in Bristol's Small Venues
The otherside of Bristol's live jazz scene couldn't be more different. Bristol is home to some awesome jazz musicians, many of international standard playing international gigs. What's great about Bristol is you can often catch these artists while they're at home often for free. Notable examples include Daisy Palmer (drummer - Goldfrapp), James Bateman (sax - Badbone & Co, Ronnie Scotts) and James Morton (sax - Pee Wee Ellis, The Herbaliser). Unlike the large tours at the bigger venues jazz gigs in Bristol pubs are more organic and unpredictable. With so many quality musicians playing in so many different bands or improvising with different artists, live jazz in Bristol is constantly evolving. When looking for whats on jazz in Bristol it's often more important to consider which individual musicians are playing where, rather than browsing by band or headliner. At live music events in Bristol pubs for the best views you'll need to stand but sometimes tables if you're lucky enough to get one.. ***** Where to see live jazz in Bristol
The whats on listings to the left show all upcoming jazz gigs in Bristol but it's still worth mentioning some consistent venues. Always check whats on at the Coronation Tap on Tuesdays and Sundays, (usually jazz or blues, always free). Other key jazz venues in Bristol include the Old Duke (live music every night, always free) and the Grain Barge (gigs every Friday, around £3).

We also have whats on info and listings for gypsy jazz, which we have decided to keep separate.

Is there a new generation of jazz?

Many people who lived through the golden era of jazz will tell you it's dead. But many international publications say jazz is having a new dawn in the UK and that the genre is evolving because of multiculturalism. Some of this can be seen in the Bristol jazz scene, the non-purist outlook of Worm Disco Club and Bristol Jazz and Blues Fest. With a new generation of jazz fans, comes a new outlook on jazz - Bristol has always had young and adventurous music makers from it’s local community and insurgent student population. Will Bristol be the new centre of a new kind of jazz in the UK? Only time will tell.

Buy tickets for jazz events in Bristol

Our recent jazz recommendations

Delirious instrumental post-punk / post-jazz / post-prog genre-melters for your enraptured ears! The Brackish tie together idiosyncratic artistry and psychedelic experimentalism FFO: Frank Zappa, Gentle Giant, John Zorn, Elephant9, The Jelas. THE BRACKISH // THE PSYCHICS // EARL TEMPLE FOUNDATION at The Thunderbolt.

What happens when nine free-jazzheads get their hands on an ensemble's worth of gamelan goodies? Nist-Nah erupts in dizzying, metallic swarms of controlled chaos conducted by master polymath percussionist Will Guthrie, elevating you to a sonic nirvana only achieved by fearless adepts of Steve Reich, The Art Ensemble of Chicago, La Monte Young and The Necks. Will Guthrie & Ensemble Nist-Nah , Laura Phillips at Strange Brew.

Spectral, drone-damaged guitar works from one of the underappreciated masters of post-everything ambient. Rafael Toral’s place alongside O’Rourke, Fennesz and Ambarchi is assured, now he’s floating on tonal clouds with a 40 year retrospective of his sweeping six-string experiments in infinity. Rafael Toral + Jo Johnson at Strange Brew.

A Stokes Croft triple-hitter of underground fire! Holy Popes channel post-garage punk into animalistic distortion and visceral noise; Vile Imbeciles gurgle experimental high-guitar hell with rhythmic jank; and Repo Man collapse rock into shards of sax, ping-ponging bass lines and plunking riffs. Relentless FFO: The Fall, The Stooges, The Birthday Party. HOLY POPES + VILE IMBECILES + REPO MAN at Cafe Kino.

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What our editors say

“Bristol’s funkiest secret is back to deliver deep, heavy grooves that’ll have you glued to the dance floor. From acid jazz and fusion to old-school JBs, these groove masters channel the true essence of instrumental funk — no gimmicks, just pure fire.”
From: NEW YEARS EVE - MR WOLFS

“Based out of Chichester (wedged somewhere in between Brighton and Portsmouth), Beatroot have been taking their special brew of dirty funk across the UK and winning over audiences with their high-energy performances, unique instrumental arrangements and surprising ability to fit onto stages that should really be much too small for them. A big band with a big sound: brass in your face; relentless rhythm section; artery popping trumpets and a baritone that hits you where it hurts.”
From: Beatroot + The Everyday Quartet

“It's Madness meets notorious B.I.G, we want to bring ska to a new generation in a new light and have the best time in doing so. Having met at university, we have members from Cornwall to South London which naturally fuse an unlikely set of characters together to create what is Technicolour Steam Train. Join Charlie Mulford as he brings you into his world of freestyle that cuts to your core with a big band energy to back him.”
From: Technicolour Steam Train + Panda & The Moniums + Ryan D'Auria

“Curated by renowned jazz vocalist Karolina Griškutė, Karolina’s Jazz Club celebrates Bristol’s rich jazz talent while offering a platform for rising stars. Whether you're a seasoned jazz lover or exploring the genre for the first time, this is your chance to immerse yourself in the magic of live jazz and become part of Bristol's thriving music community.”
From: Pmg at Karolina's Jazz Club

“Beatroot are a nine-piece funk powerhouse serving up original grooves with a punch of rock and plenty of horn-fuelled fire. Hailing from the south coast, they’ve been taking their dirty funk across the UK, winning over crowds with their high-energy performances, inventive arrangements, and knack for squeezing a big band sound onto even the smallest of stages.”
From: Beatroot