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

British folk iconoclast Chris Wood graces the candlelit hush of John Wesley’s New Room. His everyday epics sketch sharp-edged portraits of England’s many overlooked lives, from empty nests to minor league football teams to tragedies of industrial decay. Acute compassion ballads FFO: Martin Carthy, Karine Polwart, Billy Bragg, Richard Dawson. Chris Wood at John Wesley’s New Room.

Sell out warning! Granny’s Attic craft a mischievous folk playground, weaving original tunes into centuries-old reels and laments with effortless virtuosity. Crisp melodies, playful textures, and infectious energy celebrate the living, breathing pulse of the folk tradition. Joyous foot-stomping magic FFO: Jack Rutter, Eliza Carthy, Salt House. Granny's Attic - Greenbank Folk Club at St Anne's Church, Eastville.

Sell out warning! Kiss Facility unites Sega Bodega’s prodigious production alchemy with Mayah Alkhateri’s gossamer Arabic vocals, all refracted through a prism of shoegaze longing and soaring avant-pop emotivity. Prepare to be utterly transfixed by the ultimate creative power couple in an absolute no-brainer FFO: Erika de Casier, Eartheater, Nadah El Shazly Kiss Facility at Strange Brew.

Marauding Norsemen Agabas charge into town wielding their self-coined ‘deathjazz’: a pummeling uptempo rawk engine with a thrash gallop, horn blasts strafing through the noise, and shredding throat growls atop a storm of riffs and rhythms. A cataclysmic ruin ritual FFO: Kvelertak, Imperial Triumphant, Slipknot, Converge. AGABAS at Exchange.

What our editors say

“Stand To Order Alternative, experimental, highly expressive and wildly intriguing post rock from Bristol. FFO: Black Country New Road, The Velvet Underground https://standtoorder.bandcamp.com/track/gentle-omen-butterflies ”
From: Lost and Found Society

“Minor Conflict are no strangers to the Cube having wowed audiences on several occasions with their take on post rock and leftfield folk. Adding a dash of classical sound via a beautifully played concert harp and trumpet. Not an average band!”
From: Kelly Moran , with Minor Conflict and Maes Y Circles

“POLYGAZE Presents: The Issues & Atlas : Empire A grassroots gig at The Old England, Bristol, hosted by POLYGAZE. Join us this on Friday 27th March for an evening of alternative rock, punk & post rock music from the likes of;”
From: Empire

“Neko Refreshed from a year's meditation and fuelled by a lethal combination of extra strong coffee and those lotus biscuits with the cream in the middle, Neko, the premier act to emerge from Bristol's thriving Japanese language post rock/electronica micro scene (population 1), released Windfall, their second EP, on 22 November 2024, following on from 2023 debut King Louie.”
From: Theo Vandenhoff

“swelt Following the release of their debut album 'Bones', swelt bring their fractured, slow-burning songs to Cafe Kino. Rooted in restraint and release, their sound channels '70s folk, slowcore and first-wave post rock. FFO: Sparklehorse, Acetone, Talk Talk, Low”
From: SWELT + RILEY/RADLEY + ESTHER POLLOCK