What's On / Bristol Gigs / post-rock

Post-Rock Gigs in Bristol

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Bristol's Post-rock Scene

What ever happened to post-rock?

Britannica defines post rock as a form of experimental rock that incorporates aspects of jazz and electronica, so what happened to the genre that was so popular in the 90s and 00s. Bands like Mogwai and Tortoise have gone quiet and local Bristol post-rock acts too. The problem with post-rock is that it’s so loosely defined, that it hasn’t really gone away or at all. Rather than decline, the term has just gone out of fashion. Post-rock lives on in the fusion-ready music of local Bristol acts like Ishmael ensemble. With many kids that would’ve been rockstars in the 90s, now making electronica - maybe we should call this post-post-rock now?

What we said in 2015
Right now Bristol’s post-rock and alternative rock scene is at it’s healthiest for years. In addition to some excellent local venues and consistently strong live bookings, we also have promoters like Simple Things purveying some of the boldest festival programming in the UK. Recent Simple Things events have paired post-rock headliners like Mogwai and Godspeed You! Black Emperor with cutting edge electronic music and innovative techno producers. In terms of consistent Bristol venues for alternative rock - The Exchange, The Stag And Hounds and The Fleece (who’s past bookings include Thee Silver Mt Zion and Deerhoof) lead the way. The Thekla also makes solid bookings (past guests include 65daysofstatic, And So I Watch You From Afar) and annual ArcTanGent Festival is not to be missed.

Buy tickets for post-rock events in Bristol

Our recent post-rock recommendations

Packing both rooms of Crofters to bursting with eclectic/erratic sonic brilliance, EB celebrates 7 times round the sun with punk-jazz menaces Ex Agent, treasured DLH surf originals Los Savages, maximalist pop/noise/post-punk from MP3 Chainsaw + way more. Ex Agent, MP3 Chainsaw, Los Savages, Minas, Pink Shabab, O.G. Jigg, Rosa Brook (of Pozi), 30 Circles, The Grey Area (DJ)

Multi-instrumentalist and prolific indie scene collaborator A.L. Lacey steps into the solo spotlight on a dreamlike swell, interweaving modern classical and ambient with disquieting beauty and strangeness. Virtuosic avant-pop FFO: Julia Holter, Julianna Barwick, Agnes Obel, Clarissa Connelly. Multiple local brilliant music

Experimental post-rock from local distortion artists GRANDCHILD, whose hot-forged cataclysm soundscapes oscillate between shoegaze-inflected dark ambient and seriously muscular drone. Big trippy textures FFO GY!BE, Bowery Electric, MBV, CAN, Slint, Duster. Citizens of Nowhere presents an evening of post-rock, ambient and drone

Long-running South Wales post-metal doomgazers The Death of (Her) Money whip your ears with a towering maelstrom of sludge dynamics and darkwave emotions atop a triple bill of ultra-heavy shoegaze. Big FFO: Neurosis, Jesu, Transmission0, Isis, Ocoai. A night of Shoegaze delights

What our editors say

“"It is heavy, and it is loud. There are gentle moments of tension too, with vocals that are sung, and then vocals that are shouted, and screamed. Is it post rock? Doom metal? Post-hardcore? I dunno… give it a listen and figure it out for yourself…." - Land of Treason”
From: MADE OF TEETH // VANDAMPIRE // THRAKIAN

“With the release of their debut EP, Bible Club embark on their first tour. Having established themselves in Bristol, London, and Southampton, the band deliver their sound to new places. With a captivating live set that dynamically shifts from punchy tracks to post rock soundscapes, Bible Club’s permeating sound is a refreshing and unique experience.”
From: BIBLE CLUB

“Troy The Band is a London-based four piece boasting a distinctive sonic identity that seamlessly weaves together elements of Stoner-doom, post rock, heavy psych, and shoegaze. Cataclysm, the debut full-length album from London-based Doom-gaze four-piece Troy The Band, was released on Sweden's Bonebag Records on February 2nd 2024. They have become mainstays in the London heavy music scene, with a list of accolades in 2023 that includes appearances at Desertfest London, Masters of the Riff, and Stoomfest, as well as a craft beer collaboration with East”
From: Urzah + Guests Album Launch Party

“Intense, dynamic post rock with tinges of psychedelia. A band that talks honestly about issues that mess with us all, Dreamcaster doesn’t try to define the problem but instead make you feel that you’re not alone. Forming in Early 2022 we promote honesty and transparency through a wave of post rock tunes. We are on a journey of free expression and musical experimentation, and they'd love to have you along for the ride.”
From: Nobody's Dad + Dreamcaster + Girls Night Out

“Having crashed between the historically testing pillars of renowned venues like The Fleece and SWX, they aim to tour, release and become dominant figures in the post rock scene.”
From: Foxhole + Elephants With Shotguns + Dystonia