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Bristol's Pop Scene

80s pop, 90s pop, Bristol has all kinds of pop. Go down the Harbourside on any night of the week and the streets are packed with queuing punters going out to hear the latest tracks and pop classics from days gone by. Bristol's thriving club scene means you can go out and hear almost any music. Another key area is the Clifton Triangle (especially for students) where cheap nights and drink deals at clubs like Po Na Na and Mbargo's are all the rage.

On the live circuit, you can experience plenty of pop music in Bristol. Like any major city, larger concert venues cater towards and music and, along with Cardiff, Bristol is one of the key cities in the West (and South-West) for any international touring act to be playing. Larger venues like the O2 Academy and Colston Hall are great places to see groups of all kind.

Buy tickets for pop events in Bristol

Our recent pop recommendations

Sell out warning! Irresistible pagan dream-folk evocations of Cornish megaliths and wistful faeries through fingerpicked guitar, sitar drones and Daisy’s hypnotic contralto. A complete pastoral reawakening FFO: Shovel Dance, Incredible String Band, Nico, Alison Cotton, Karen Dalton. Daisy Rickman // LIFTER // Pictureframes at Strange Brew.

Bristol's Pop presents four understated heart-ripping acts delivering a smorgasbord of wistful melodies and communal alienation via breezy guitar lines and gentle harmonies. Unmissable FFO: Belle and Sebastian, The Magnetic Fields, early R.E.M., Teenage Fanclub, The Shins, battered cassettes, bag badges. Jeanines, Lightheaded, Darling Buds and Silk Cuts at Exchange.

Sell out warning! Harsh joy, opulent noise, beloved punk-spirited pop. Are Deerhoof the most utterly distinctive yet impossible-to-pin-down band of the 21st century? WELL DUH. DEERHOOF + special guests at Strange Brew.

Dive into the jazz-leaning queer cosmos with two of the best to do it. A former beatboxing champion, Wol’s expressive vocal dexterity melds with a resonant multi-instrumental tapestry, whilst t l k creates spellbinding audio collages blending downtempo electronica, musique concrète and cinematic melodicism. Bristol PRIDE - t l k / Wol at The Jam Jar.

What our editors say

“In the months following the release of Mirror In Blue Light, the band received significant support from the likes of CLASH, B24/7, Fame Magazine, Crack Magazine, and international radio play from Nashville to Japan. These milestones have helped build strong momentum around the album, which draws from the band’s signature blend of alternative pop, psychedelia, and jazz.”
From: Mild Orange / Magic Shoppe / Pocket Sun

“Natalie Bergman is an American singer-songwriter. She is one half of the duo Wild Belle, along with her brother Elliot Bergman. Her debut solo album, Mercy, was released on Third Man Records on May 7, 2021 - infused by rich pop music taking influence from reggae, afrobeats and soul.⁠”
From: Natalie Bergman + special guests

“Emelina Murphy is a rising Bristol-based artist whose music channels the daring spirit of 70s and 80s art pop and rock era. Inspired by the likes of Kate Bush, Björk, and David Bowie, her sound blends theatrical flair with emotional depth, offering a distinctive and genre-blurring experience. On stage, Emelina is magnetic—her dynamic performances are immersive, high-energy, and designed to leave a lasting impression.”
From: Emelina Murphy + Flump + Les Joy

“Delving into the experimental and profound, Bristol Based five piece ORIN delivers a wave of sound combining the catchy hooks and melodies of conventional pop music with math like disjointed rhythms creating an experience you won’t hear anywhere else.”
From: ORIN + Kurt Alexander + 5am Fire Alarm

“...a perfect storm of posturing gothic art pop with a grungy, low-tempo backbone, spellbindingly dark and angsty, and flecked with violin lines that lent the songs a satisfyingly Venus In Furs-esque eeriness. - Clash Music”
From: Lucy Kruger And The Lost Boys