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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

Showstopping psych-folk-tronica, stamped with the Heavenly seal of approval! Self-described ‘Sugababes of our time’ (finally!!!) Stealing Sheep come to sling DIY synth mysticism and unhinged live shenanigans into eager Strange Brew ears and eyeballs – MAKE ELECTROPOP FUN AGAIN FFO: Mermaid Chunky, Mica Levi, Robyn, Talking Heads, Tune Yards, Metronomy. Stealing Sheep + HANAH at Strange Brew.

A mini midweek Cellar Door! Yet another ace London supergroup from the ever-fertile Gob Nation Expanded Universe, SUEP’s off-kilter jangle-synth stonkers effortlessly warp 80s soft-rock camp and goth pageantry into a kind of polished weirdo-pop perfection FFO: Garden Centre, Kirsty McCall, Jona Lewie, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Bauhaus, Trust Fund. Suep + Eva May at Cafe Kino.

A stack of local live talent lights up Loco Klub to round off Trans Pride 2026. Fuzz pedal four-piece Desperate sling scrappy country-grunge-pop bangers (and stage props) alongside fresh soul-heavy alt-rockers Princess Boyfriend and Florence Welch/Sigrid-channeling indie prodigies Kodachrome. Pure queer joy! Celebrate Trans Pride Bristol 2026 with an evening of queer and trans music!

Ben Vince returns to Bristol with his first solo release in five years, diving into club terrain with spiralling sax psychedelia and industrial-weight sub-bass. An esteemed noise-maker on the London improv circuit + arch-collaborator (Joy O, Holy Tongue, Astrid Sonne etc), he’s set to spellbind with his kinetic wormholes of looping, FX and tripped-out jazz mutations. HUGE. BEN VINCE live at The Old England, Bristol.

What our editors say

“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

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