Punk Gigs in Bristol

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Bristol's Punk Scene

The longstanding, big-names in American punk have found home in many of Bristol’s large gig venues with The O2 Academy, The Fleece and Bristol Bierkeller catching the most footfall. The area around Old Market has undoubtedly built a renaissance of forward-thinking, British punk music. The Exchange and the Stag and Hounds are arguably leading the way with new, up and coming talent. Fans of the older punk scene can find tributes to bands like The Ramones and The Sex Pistols at The Tunnels, The Fleece and The Thunderbolt.

What is the link between punks and anarchism in bristol?

Bristol has a deep anarchist subculture with a local wing of the Anarchist Federation and world-famous bristol punk bands like the Pop Group. But what does an increase in local anarchist activity have to do with the Bristol punk scene? In truth, punks and anarchists might have had a closer link at the birth of the punk scene in 1977, but not all punks are anarchists and Vice versa. Many ‘punk’ looking people maybe be blamed for anarchists attacks in Bristol, but this is a media portrayal of the punk scene that is now almost 40 years out of date. Leave Bristol punks alone.

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Our recent punk recommendations

Woi oi! Iconic 'ardkore action incoming from the unrivaled Moving Shadow fold! Reinforced / Altern8 / Shut Up And Dance heads will already have their tickets of course. For everyone else: breakbeat ravestalgia doesn’t come much ruffer than 2 Bad Mice, chopping samples and bombing tha bass like it was the Second Summer of Love all over again. 2 Bad Mice + Friends at The Jam Jar.

Sell out warning! Harakiri are the only band you need on your post-black sky chariot riding mix. Triumphant melody barely-disguising soul-wrenching trauma, blistering blast-beats; BM purists beware, this is pure catharsis stitched with post-rock, post-hardcore, grunge and skramz DNA. With Denmark's impossibly mournful Sunken opening things up, ethereal awakenings await disciples of: Alcest, Deafheaven, Drudkh, WitTR. Harakiri for the Sky & Sunken at Strange Brew.

Sell out warning! You’ve never heard pipes like this! Queer futurism from visionary bagpiper Malin Lewis, playing self-made instruments and the world’s first wooden Lindsay Chanter. Malin channels their pipes and drones to form a layered, shifting sonic language that lives between binaries. Malin Lewis at The Jam Jar.

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.

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What our editors say

“After forming, the band quickly gained traction with their demo Can't Hardly Wait and their 2006 EP We Are Everywhere released by Run for Cover Records. This early success and heavy touring led to a signing with Triple Crown Records, where they released their debut full-length album, All I Have to Offer You Is My Own Confusion (2009). The album was produced by Chad Gilbert of New Found Glory, cementing the band's place in the mid-2000s and 2010s emo-revival and pop-punk scenes.”
From: Fireworks play 'Gospel' + special guests

“Hit Like a Girl is the songwriting project of Nicolle Maroulis (they/them). Drawing influence from emo, indie, pop, and even hardcore, the Philadelphia based band channels yearning, love and loss into intimate yet catchy music.”
From: Hit Like A Girl

“Montreal-based post-hardcore trio, SPITE HOUSE, blend emotionally charged songwriting with the urgency and melody of 90’s post-hardcore and emo. Spite House has toured alongside acts including Single Mothers, The Dirty Nil, Fiddlehead, Angel Du$t, Glitterer, Militarie Gun, Scowl and Slow Crush, plus appeared at festivals incl. Outbreak (UK) and Ieperfest (BE). ”
From: Spite House

“FAWLKES - FAWLKES are an Alternative Indie-Rock project putting their unique stamp on the modern Rock scene. Having fused their mixed backgrounds into a genre-bending rollercoaster of youth angst and heartfelt shared experience, they invite you to reminisce on feelings, from ecstasy to desolation. Their unique sound can be attributed to their wide range of influences, combining elements of emo, indie rock, funk, post -punk and harsh vulnerable melodies reminiscent of the 2000s Alt- Rock Era, with a loud energy that rises through each song”
From: FAWLKES HEADLINE

“We're stoked to be bringing self proclaimed doom pop group Every Hell down to Exchange Basement for an intimate show this December with their peers in Bristol art rock quartet Sans Froid and noisy alternative rock / post-hardcore trio a-tota-so.”
From: Every Hell