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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! Fog rolls into Strange Brew for the return of Maria Somerville... her full-band set promises the spectral braid of folk, dream-gaze, and star-smeared pop she’s refined into a kind of sonic weather. These tickets will move fast; unmissable future icon FFO: Cocteau Twins, Broadcast, Mazzy Star, Julianna Barwick. Maria Somerville + Nashpaints + T.T. Vale at Strange Brew.

Sell out warning! Kaleidoscopic, folkloric, synthpop siren songs: Mermaid Chunky’s whimsical world is a gleefully eccentric and precious pearl to behold. The duo – whose previous gig resumé includes soundtracking the wedding of 2 porcelain pooches – return to the Brew with a fresh batch of absurdist fever-dream magic. Mermaid Chunky at Strange Brew.

Gorgeous folk-noir awash with bowed chamber strings and otherworldly harmonies. Aussie sister duo Charm of Finches summon an indie-baroque heartache of epic proportions FFO: Kate Bush, Gillian Welch, Agnes Obel, Sufjan Stevens. Charm of Finches at The Jam Jar.

More avant-garde magic from Copenhagen's ceaseless musical wellspring … Fine’s off-kilter singer-songwriting and collaborations with fellow power-Danes (inc Astrid Sonne and Erika de Casier) have launched her to cult status in just a few years. Tender, moody 90s alt-rock meets electronic bedroom pop, full of country murmurs and sleepy strangeness FFO: Mazzy Star, Why Bonnie, Maria BC, ML Buch. Fine + guests at Strange Brew.

What our editors say

“This work is an organic and introspective meditation, which began over the lonely months of lockdown. Influenced by Daniel Johnston, Anna Domino, Laurie Anderson and Kate Bush, the album tenderly explores the almost-knowing of love, through an 80s outsider art pop lens.”
From: Ronald Langestraat + Martha Rose + Spooky J

“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 Owain Crockett 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