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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

Free entry! Dreamwave’s spellbinding stoner-surfbeat’s sent them stratospheric. Indulge in their Nuggets-grade garage-pop and fuzz-guitar frenzies, with all $ raised going to Caring in Bristol. Essential local act FFO: Ty Segall, Syd Barrett, Night Beats, Osees, King Gizzard. Dreamwave // Bite The Buffalo // The Dead Royals at Wiper and True Brewery & Taproom.

Grueling thrashy street hardcore from the sold gold folds of Muro and the Otro Futuro gang. Ayucuba whip up a storm of speed metal riffage and UK82 bite, in a delicious contrast with the rapturous return of sparkling Belgian powerpop-punks Coeur A L’Index. Shitty Futures ballistics with a side of anthemic twee FFO: Plasmatics, Broken Bones, GISM, Girls At Our Best, En Attendant Ana. Ayucaba , Stupid World and more at The Golden Lion.

6 hours of Brain Fog psych rock beamed from the unbeatable ET x Velvet Echoes third eye. Manchester’s Wax Head bring the scorched vocal gonzo garage fury, Bristol’s own Spin Class showcase their arid psych-prog and Hutch jangle their way through the sunshine dimension. When these two promoters get their heads together, it’s always a no-brainer FFO: Ty Segall, Osees, King Gizzard etc. Wax head / Hutch / Spin class / limited Ltd / Trans-Siberian Express at The Croft.

A biiiig Shitty Futures four-band tasting platter, headed up by Finnish power-pop-punk marvels Tiikeri. Their timeless sweet-n-snotty Ramonescore hits hard alongside needs-no-introduction garage wunderkind crew Bruno & The Outrageous Methods of Presentation, Cydernide’s scrumpy-soaked breakneck hardcore and Scarebears’ aggy post-punk. Tiikeri / Bruno BOMP / Cydernide / Scarebears at Exchange.

What our editors say

“Priscilla Andersohn is a singer/songwriter rooted in the London and Bristol scene. She crafts atmospheric alternative pop rooted in live instrumentation and emotional depth. Performing with bass, guitar and percussion, her music unfolds slowly and expansively, blending rhythm and texture to create an immersive live experience. Her sound is moody, spacious and quietly powerful — drawing audiences into a world that feels both intimate and cinematic. A night of moody alternative pop and atmospheric electronic music awaits. Website: www.priscillaandersohn.com Instagram: @priscillaandersohn”
From: Priscilla Andersohn- DIASPORA FESTIVAL

“BLUE BAYOU Blue Bayou are a new wave, chamber pop band with horns and strings. They flit between ballads and dance numbers, slacker rock and art pop: eight bands in an eight song set. This is music in the fashion of Costello’s knocking knees.”
From: Big Long Sun - Valentine's Special

“Join Molly Fletcher Hebden, Brogan Ritchie, and The Episodes for a night of alternative pop-rock and indie energy, with Ladybird kicking things off with a special acoustic set. Expect infectious melodies, gritty riffs, and a night of music you won’t forget”
From: Molly Fletcher Hebden

“Collaborations have also seen him working extensively in pop music, writing instrumental arrangements for songwriters including Little Annie, Baby Dee, and Ladan Hussein (aka Cold Specks). He has toured internationally as a solo artist and has performed with acts such as Timber Timbre, Cold Specks, Devon Sproule, and Mercury Prize nominated band Guillemots.”
From: SWIG featuring Chris Cundy and Rachel Musson

“Emelina Murphy is a rising Bristol based artist whose music channels the daring spirit of the 70s and 80s art pop and rock era. Inspired by the likes of Kate Bush, Björk, and Cindy Lauper, 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: Haystack's Alt Night